The red mite, this formidable nocturnal pest, affects 83% of egg-laying farms in Europe and costs €360 million annually across all types of farms. With productivity losses per hen estimated at between €0.60 and €2.50 per year, this pest deserves special attention, especially in summer when its cycle accelerates.
A tsunami of lice during the summer
Summer conditions accelerate the life cycle of red mites to just 8 days, with each female laying up to 9 eggs per cycle.
Let's do a quick calculation: let's say a parasitic cycle of 10 days, 4 female eggs per cycle, that would give us a population of female lice that multiplies by 4 in 10 days and 64 in 30 days. So we are dealing with a veritable tidal wave of red lice in livestock farms.
This actor knows how to be discreet, torturing the laying hens at night, quietly, long before it is actually detected. Lice traps are essential for estimating the extent of the infestation and developing an action plan combining different strategies (actions in the crawl space, acaricide products administered to the hens if necessary, repellents, and contact products).
Play tactically and strategically
Effective management of red mites requires a multifaceted approach. While chemical treatments such as Exzolt® (fluranaler) can be useful in uncontrolled situations, these products are expensive and have an impact on the environment. Red mites will, however, become dormant during the treatment's residual period and reappear at the end of it, two or three months later, even at the recommended dose. It is wise to keep this option in reserve for uncontrolled situations or to use it strategically in cases of expected high pressure, applying it at the beginning of egg laying to cut off the initial explosion in the population, then following up with other tools such as repellents and contact products. In cases of expected low to medium pressure, it can be dispensed with, but the other tools remain necessary.
MITAROM pioneer in repellents
For a more natural and sustainable solution, Biodevas Laboratoires MITAROM, a 100% natural feed supplement that repels red mites and has a calming effect on chickens. MITAROM is non-biocidal, palatable, leaves no residue in eggs, and does not alter their taste.
MITAROM is derived from plants, mainly French, extracted in-house using Biodevas Laboratoires ' own process Biodevas Laboratoires therefore has a limited carbon footprint.
Thanks to its plant-based origin, mainly French, and our internal extraction process, MITAROM has a low carbon footprint.
Available in solid form in food or liquid form, MITAROM can be used in organic farming when in liquid form or on a lithothamnion base.
MITAROM can also be concentrated to offer relevant forms in B2B.
Repellent and calming effects in conventional and organic farming
MITAROM is a valuable aid in keeping red mite infestations under control by reducing their reproduction. Instead of an immediate knock-down effect, you will see hungry, anemic mites, which is the ideal time for effective contact treatments. The calming effect of MITAROM also reduces stress in chickens caused by red mite infestations.
By promoting reduced use of chemical molecules and in combination with good farming practices, MITAROM contributes to our One Health objectives.
To establish a plan tailored to your specific situation before the summer months, contact us today by clicking here.
