The Farmers Mart Aug/Sep 2014 - Issue 35 | Page 28

ARABLE Robust Trials Highlight Leading Rodenticide Value Particularly severe laboratory and field trials with Neosorexa Gold have shown it to be substantially more palatable, arresting and effective in controlling rats and mice than a standard difenacoum cut wheat bait without the leading rodenticide’s patented Fortec technology. Conventional trials with 120 laboratory rats and mice have revealed highly significant improvements in palatability with the foraging grain bait (Figure). Head-to-head pen trials with semi-wild mice have further shown they spend nearly 40% more time overall and over 80% more time per visit at baiting stations containing Neosorexa Gold. Head-to-head field trials with wild rats have also highlighted bait consumption more than five times the level of the standard bait on the first day. “We wanted to put our foraging grain technology to the severest possible test,” explains BASF rodenticide development manager, Sharon Hughes. “So, in addition to conventional palatability studies, we ran head-to-head trials giving rodents access to both baits alongside one another at the same time and recording their behaviour. ‘we ran head-tohead trials’ “Laboratory pen monitoring with a video camera for the first 10 minutes of each hour over two consecutive nights showed semi-wild mice chose to spend significantly more time overall and per visit at the Neosorexa Gold-containing bait stations. “The much more arresting nature of the foraging grain bait was particularly evident on the second night of the study,” Sharon Hughes reports. “The mice spent 60% more time overall at the enhanced bait and over three and a half times as long per visit on average. As a result, we achieved 100% control after just seven days. “We also tested the new bait against a standard cut wheat formulation in tandem over four days in a farm trial with wild rats on the Welsh borders, alternating the bait stations each day to eliminate any locational effect. The differences in bait consumption over the first two days in particular were huge, clearly showing the value of the technology in overcoming rat neophobia; especially so since alternative food sources were readily available.” This superiority was confirmed in further wild rat trials showing a clear increase in activity at baiting points when untreated whole wheat was replaced by the bait, in marked contrast to the decrease normally seen at the start of rodenticide baiting as a result of neophobia. Figure: Relative Palatabilities of Different Rodenticide Baits Gold Rush The UK’s No.1 rat and mouse bait with Fortec technology for increased bait consumption Multi-purpose, cut wheat bait for effective and consistent control Extremely palatable with Fortec technology for increased bait consumption A lethal dose consumed within just one day Proven superior performance to ordinary baits Enabling the most effective solutions to your pest problems. BASF Plc, Pest Control Solutions, PO Box 4, Earl Rd, Cheadle Hulme, Cheadle, Cheshire, SK8 6QG www.pestcontrol.basf.co.uk Tel: [phone] email: [email protected] Neosorexa® Gold contains difenacoum. Use biocides safely. Always read the label and product information before use. Neosorexa® is a registered trademark of BASF. DS097 - Neo gold Rush 180x121 advert.indd 1 28 Aug/Sep 2014 FarmersMart 07/08/2014 14:38:10 To read more, visit www.farmers-mart.co.uk