Cow-calf producers' willingness to pay for bulls resistant to horn flies, Haematobia irritans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae)

Authors: MCKAY, LETTIE - University Of Tennessee; DELONG, KAREN - University Of Tennessee; SCHEXNAYDER, SUSAN - University Of Tennessee; GRIFFITH, ANDREW - University Of Tennessee; Taylor, David; Olafson, Pia; TROUT FRYXELL, REBECCA - University Of Tennessee

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/15/2019
Publication Date: 2/15/2019
Citation: Mckay, L., Delong, K.L., Schexnayder, S., Griffith, A.P., Taylor, D.B., Olafson, P.U., Trout Fryxell, R. 2019. Cow-calf producers' willingness to pay for bulls resistant to horn flies, Haematobia irritans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae). Journal of Economic Entomology. Vol 112(3):1476-1484. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toz013.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toz013

Interpretive Summary: Horn flies pose a threat to animal health and welfare, and are of economic concern due to losses linked to the fly's blood-feeding behavior, i.e. decreased weight gains, loss in milk productivity, and transmission of bacteria causing mastitis in cattle. Horn fly management strategies are labor intensive and can become ineffective due to the horn flies’ ability to develop insecticide resistance. Research indicates that for some cattle, genetically similar animals consistently have fewer flies, suggesting those animals are horn fly resistant (HFR) and that the trait is heritable; however, it is currently unknown if producers value this trait. Thus, Tennessee and Texas cow-calf producers were surveyed to determine their willingness to pay (WTP) for horn fly resistant (HFR) bulls and the factors affecting their decision to adopt a HFR bull in their herds using the contingent valuation method. Results indicate that Tennessee and Texas cow-calf producers were willing to pay a premium of 51% and 59%, respectively, for a HFR bull; indicating producers are willing to adopt HFR bulls into their herds to control horn flies. Tennessee producers who observe greater horn fly intensities on their cattle, tended to expect greater increases in weight gain from a HFR herd and valued the HFR trait by indicating they would be likely to purchase the HFR bull. Similarly, Texas producers who were older and had greater household incomes, expected greater increases in weight gain from a HFR herd, considered horn fly management labor more burdensome, used insecticides, had Angus cattle and larger herd sizes, and valued the HFR trait by indicating they were more likely to choose the HFR bull. Knowing that producers are willing to pay a premium for the HFR bull underscores the value of the HFR trait and suggests the HFR trait should be considered as an additional management tactic for horn fly control.

Technical Abstract: Horn flies (Haematobia irritans (L.)) have long posed animal health and welfare concerns. Economic losses to the cattle and dairy industries from their blood-feeding behavior include decreased weight gain, loss in milk productivity, and transmission of bacteria causing mastitis in cattle. Horn fly management strategies are labor intensive and can become ineffective due to the horn fly’s ability to develop insecticide resistance. Research indicates that for some cattle herds, genetically similar animals consistently have fewer flies suggesting those animals are horn fly resistant (HFR) and that the trait is heritable. However, it is currently unknown if cattle producers value this trait. Tennessee and Texas cow-calf producers were surveyed to estimate their willingness to pay for HFR bulls and to identify the factors affecting their decision to adopt a HFR bull in their herds. Results indicate that Tennessee and Texas cow-calf producers were willing to pay a premium of 51% and 59% above the base price, respectively, for a HFR bull with the intent to control horn flies within their herd. Producer perceptions of horn fly intensities and the HFR trait, along with their pest management practices, were factors that affected Tennessee and Texas producer willingness to adopt a HFR bull. In Texas, demographics of the producers and their farms also had a role. Knowing producers are willing to pay a premium for the HFR bull indicates that producers value the HFR trait and suggests the HFR trait should be considered as an additional management tactic for horn fly control.