Lewis' Story
The History of the Lewis Cattle Oiler
LEWIS CATTLE OILER
The History of the Lewis Cattle Oiler
The face fly first arrived in North America on the East Coast in 1952. By the 1960s, these pests had spread across the country, bringing with them pink eye and other health issues for cattle. Ranchers also battled mosquitoes, horn flies, stable flies, lice, and ticks, all of which caused stress, disease, and reduced weight gains in their herds. During this time, Joe Lewis was developing a solution. While observing his own cattle, he noticed they naturally scratched and rubbed against fallen trees—especially those leaning at a 45-degree angle. This particular position allowed them to reach most of their body. Inspired by this behavior, Joe invented the Lewis Cattle Oiler, a self-treatment system designed to provide effective pest control without the hassle of running cattle through chutes or dip tanks.
The First Lewis Cattle Oiler
In 1966, Joe rented a small shop and built the first Lewis Cattle Oiler. His design featured a canvas-covered cotton wick wrapped around a chain to hold the insecticide. To ensure durability and provide something for the cattle to scratch against, he enclosed the oiler in a three-chain harness. The early models were 5½ feet long and required hand-oiling. Cattlemen would secure one end to a tree and the other to a stake in the ground. As the cattle rubbed against it, the wick compressed against the center chain, releasing the insecticide and applying it directly to their coat. This eliminated stress on the cattle while effectively controlling pests.
The Free-Standing Cattle Oiler
Recognizing that not all pastures had trees, Joe designed a free-standing model. This version improved upon the original design by incorporating a five-gallon reservoir with an on-off valve. Ranchers needed to open the valve every few days to recharge the wick, preventing excess pesticide waste.
The First Automatic Cattle Oiler
By the late 1960s, customers were asking for a fully automatic oiler. Other systems relied on gravity-fed insecticide, which often led to over-saturation or running dry due to a lack of fluid regulation. At a rate of one drip per second, a five-gallon reservoir could run dry in just 36 hours, leaving cattle unprotected.
In 1969, Joe introduced an automated pump system that regulated the insecticide flow, ensuring the wick stayed properly charged without dripping or drying out. This innovative system featured adjustable settings to provide the optimal amount of insecticide for effective pest control.
Why Choose a Lewis Cattle Oiler?
Purchasing a Lewis Cattle Oiler means investing in reliable, stress-free pest management. Designed to work naturally with cattle behavior, it offers an effective, low-maintenance solution to keep your herd protected while also being cost-efficient for ranchers.
