The Farmers Mart Aug-Sep 2018 - Issue 58 | Page 58

58 PEST CONTROL
AUG/SEP 2018 • farmers-mart.co.uk
Palatability is key in rodencticide choice
THE greatest possible
palatability is farmers’ key priority in
choosing a rodenticide, reveals the nation-
al farm rodent control study run by BASF
Pest Control Solutions. The annual study
conducted independently with more than
250 farms across the country also shows
the vast majority continue to prefer loose
grain baits. And they employ them in one of
two distinct approaches with very different
degrees of success.
“The fact that more than 70% of farms
look for the greatest palatability in their
rodenticide bait while just 28% prioritise the
least cost underlines the importance they
place on effective rat and mouse control,”
commented study co-ordinator, Helen
Ainsworth.
“Under these circumstances, it isn’t
surprising that Fortec-enhanced Neoso-
rexa Gold cut wheat formulation, which
our research shows to be four times more
palatable to rats than standard difena-
coum-treated wheat, is by far the most
widely used bait. 39% of the farms in the
study are employing it against 10% using the
next most popular brand.
“Farmers are quite clearly appreciating
the value of Neosorexa Gold’s superior pal-
atability in increasing the speed with which
rats and mice consume a lethal rodenticide
dose, allowing infestations to be stamped
out faster and more reliably than ordinary
baits,” she stressed.
But Helen Ainsworth stresses that even the
most palatable bait needs to be used in the
most effective way for the greatest value. In
this respect, the most successful of the main
approaches currently being employed on
farm involves putting down bait at the first
signs of rodent activity and wherever it can
be detected. Only 55% of farmers doing this
reported serious problems with rats or mice
last year compared with 76% of those baiting
in less disciplined and well-structured ways.
Miss Ainsworth accepts that the best
baiting strategy demands a high degree of
vigilance at all times to spot activity as soon
as it occurs. However, she sees the fact that
85% of farmers are regularly inspecting
their premises for rodent activity as clear
evidence the approach is practicable.
“Actively seek out tell-tale signs of
rodent activity like faeces, hairs, gnaw-
ing and rat runs across the farmstead
throughout the autumn and winter
months and put down Neosorexa Gold
bait as soon as and wherever you spot
any,” she advised. “This will ensure you
keep firmly on top of inevitable infesta-
tions at the least possible cost in both
rodenticide bait and damage.”