John Roche set up his free-range poultry farm in Rochedale, near Monasterboice, Co. Louth in 2012. He has 12,000 free-range layers supplying nearby Belview Eggs.
“We’ve always had poultry red mites on the farm, but I try to keep them under control. When I first started, we used a chemical spray, but it was quite unpleasant to use.
“Around seven years ago, my vet prescribed a new product that was given to the hens through my dosing pump system. It has been a gamechanger. It is so effective and easy to use,” John said.
Poultry red mites are nocturnal ectoparasites that suck blood from host birds at night and then hide in the cracks, crevices and litter of poultry houses when they are not feeding during the day.
Red mites survive and reproduce at a wide range of temperatures, but at 17 to 25°C and around 70% humidity, their life cycle is shorter, reducing to between seven to 10 days.
John uses a veterinary licensed systemic treatment that contains fluralaner and kills mite when they feed on treated hens.
Treatment consists of two applications (via the drinking water), seven days apart, in order to target all stages of the life cycle.
The second application kills the mites that have hatched in the week after the first application. The egg withdrawal period is zero days.
Vet, Ciaran Cunningham from Agrihealth has witnessed the results:
“This is a product that continues to grow in popularity. Red mite infections can be very distressing for both birds and farmer, so effective treatment makes for happy hens and happy farmers, especially with the current price of eggs.”
As well as being medicinally licensed as an effective treatment against poultry red mites, it is the first veterinary product centrally registered in the EU to include animal welfare improvement in its licence.
Poultry
Studies showed a reduction in both behavioural and physical indicators of stress caused by red mite after treatment.
John said: “Treating for red mite has made a massive difference to the hens. Our farm is accredited under Bord Bia’s Sustainable Egg Assurance Scheme.
“We are constantly trying to reduce the energy, feed and water used to produce our eggs, while keeping a healthy flock. By reducing the impact of red mites, we’re able to maintain high levels of welfare and productivity.”
Mites are also known to carry a multitude of viral and bacterial pathogens that can be transmitted to both birds and humans.
While small numbers of mites may be tolerated by laying hens, heavy infestations result in reduced immunity that can lead to the presence of other diseases in the flock.
These health issues also affect egg production as there are more downgraded eggs in the packing station, higher rates of floor eggs and the laying pattern may be more spread out. Farmers may see a reduction in the laying rate, compared either to previous flocks or to the wholesaler’s average.
John continued: “In the early years, I tried various products in an attempt to control red mite, but the construction of housing for hens and the equipment makes it difficult.
“As far as I’m concerned, it is the best product on the market. It is easy to use and the results are really positive and immediate.
“In the morning after the treatment, the heaps of dead mites can be seen, which is very satisfying compared to the previous sprays that were so unpleasant for me to use and the mites were still there in the following days and weeks.”
