Control of House Flies in Cage-Layer Manure with Larvadex, 1982

Abstract

Abstract The effectiveness of the insect growth regulator Larvadex was evaluated utilizing four cage-layer poultry houses located at Jaskolka’s Egg Farm, Inc., in Auburn, NH. Houses 1 and 2 were each 10,200 sq feet and contained 20,000 birds; house 3 was 10,200 sq feet and contained 29,000 birds; house 4 was 12,000 sq feet and contained 30,000 birds. Larvadex 0.3% Premix was blended with layer diet at a rate of 1 lb per ton of feed. In each house, Larvadex was introduced into the diet of the chickens when adult house fly populations began to build up. Feeding of the Larvadex-treated diet was continuous until the adult fly population reached a low level or was completely absent. The birds then received untreated diet until the adult house fly populations started to build up again. Evaluations were made by using 3 by 5-in. cards fastened to the walls and posts about 5 ft above the floor in the manure pits. Twenty cards, spaced 24 ft apart, were used in each house. The cards were replaced weekly for a period of 15 wk beginning 19 Apr. and ending 28 Jul. The number of fly specks found on the cards was used to measure the adult population levels before and after feeding the treated diet. Observations on the relative adult population level in each house were also recorded throughout the study.