Purina Mills develops new rodenticide
ST. LOUIS, MO. .the produce a litter of five to eight grain on hand than cash, many hog
USDA predicting a substantial baby rats every two months, the producers may feel that a rodent
grain surplus this year, and with current resistance problem can control program doesn’t pencil out.
cool weather and reduced food multiply quickly if not met head- Jackson, however, points out that
sources forcing farm rats and mice on.” the opposite is true. “If one looks at
indoors, many hog producers will When left uncontrolled, rodent the potential damage that could
begin rodent baiting to protect damage to buildings and livestock occur, it really is a ‘pay me now or
their livestock and on-farm gtain is common. “Rats burrow and pay me more later' situation,” he
supplies. But, warn rodent control gnaw away insulation from bams says.
experts, current rodenticides may and hog units,” Jackson notes. Currently, there are three types
be ineffective, because of a “They also chew on electrical of rodenticides for on-farm control,
growing number of anticoagulant- wiring, which could be the cause of according to Chuck Dickerson,
resistant rodents. many fires of unknown origin.” manager of rodent controT
According to Dr. William in addition, farm animals that research with Purina Mills, Inc.
Jackson, Professor of Biological eat grain contaminated by rodent “Acute” rodenticides, like
Sciences at Bowling Green State feces or drink urine-tainted water strychnine, are poisons that cause
University in Ohio, evidence now may contract any one of several rodent death immediately. Besides
suggests that rats and mice in diseases, including leptospirosis their high potency even to non
many parts of the country are and salmonellosis. Besides in- target animals, these poisons often
resistant to popular multiple- fecting the animal, such diseases cause rodents to die in or very near
feeding rodenticides, including are easily transmitted within the the rodenticide itself, make other
warfarin-based products. herd. rodents shy away from the poison.
“In nationwide tests, we noticed “With large numbers there will Those products containing war
a resistance rate between 5 and 30 be intense competition for food, as farin are examples of “multiple
percent when these anticoagulant well,” Jackson adds. “Rats will feeding” baits, which kill the
baits were extensively used,” he eat broken and cracked eggs, drag rodent after several feedings and
says. “In fact, some areas chicks into burrows and may even allow the rodent to die away from
reported a resistance level as high attack laying hens.” the bait.
as 70 to 100 percent. This suggests The surviving birds often “With the resistance problem
that the products currently being produce fewer eggs and may die clearly in mind, Purina has
used may be ineffective and that later, if wounded. Hens stressed by developed a new rodenticide which
larger numbers of rodents are rat infestations also tend to offers several advantages over
surviving with the resistant trait, produce eggs with more blood both acute and multiple dose
which will be passed on to their spots, he adds. baits,” Dickerson notes,
offspring.” Another problem may be the The product, Assault roden-
The problem becomes more inability of the farmer to sell his ticide, is considered a single dose
serious, Jackson notes, since these grain next spring. “If the local bait, but unlike acute rodenticides,
rodents are surviving to con- elevator accepts tee contaminated is, slower acting and therefore
taminate this year’s harvest, grain, they may be cited by the rodents usually will not die in or
“Over one winter, a single rat will FDA at tee next inspection,” near tee poison. “This is extremely
consume $l2 worth of grain and Jackson notes. “Since it’s almost important since other rodents will
pollute five to seven times that impossible to get all tee pollutants not approach or consume
amount with its urine, droppings out, prevention on tee farm is the remaining bait if a dead rodent is
and hair,” he says. “When you best defense.” lying near it.”
consider that one female rat can But, because they have more The new rodenticide is also
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economical and effective,
Dickerson continues. “Just
ounces will kill six rats or more
than 20 mice. In addition, in on
farm tests, Assault was nearly 100
percent effective against an
ticoagulant resistant rodents.”
However, Dickerson says that a
truly effective rodent control
program should include a three
pronged approach of “rat
proofing” buildings, sanitizing
facilities, and baiting infested
areas.
To “rat proof” a building,
Dickerson suggests hog producers
first use sheet metal or cement to
seal off all openings around pipes
entering buildings or areas where
rodents have already gnawed
through. In addition, housings on
aeration and drying equipment
should be covered when not in use
to prevent rodents from entering
the bins.
Next, clean out debris and
garbage and remove any spilled
grain from around feeders or
storage bins. “It’s also important
to get rid of any weeds or rubbish
from around the outside of
buildings,” Dickerson adds.
“These are ideal hiding places for
rat burrow systems and could
conceal existing rodent en
tryways.”
Correct bait placement is the
third and crucial stage in the
control program, says Dickerson.
“A potent single dose product
should be placed where rodent
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traffic is evident,” he says.
“Greasy marks along the walls
and rat droppings or hair or tellate
signs of an infestation.”
Once spotted, Dickerson
suggests that hog producers make
a checklist and a diagram of these
points, so that problem areas can
be easily pinpointed. “Then, set
out a control portion of the grain
that the rodent normally eats and
check it regularly to measure the
extent of the infestation,” he says.
1 The speed at which they consume
the grain will give you a good idea
of the primary area and intensity
of infestation.”
Once a population level has been
determined, an adequate amount
of bait should be distributed,
placing bait packets throughout
the facility. These should be
checked and replenished
regularly,” says Dickerson.
With Assault rodenticide, dead
rodents should begin to appear
within 48-72 hours, Dickerson adds.
“But, baiting should continue year
round, or new rodents will reinfest
the area, and the cycle will begin
again.”
By using this three-pronged
program and rodenticide effective
against anticoagulant resistant
rats and mice, hog producers can
help protect their harvest and
prevent costly damages to their
facility. “A little prevention right
now will make aU the difference
next spring,” Dickerson con
cludes.
According to Dow, Tordon 1 Plus
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