Efficacy of fluralaner in drinking water in controlling mite and improving welfare in laying hens

Abstract

The objective of the experiment was to evaluate the effectiveness of Exzolt (containing fluralaner) to control mite and improve behavior relating to welfare in layers. Monitoring and recording indicators of livestock productivity, level of mite infection, number of eggs with red dots, and behavior of hens before and after using Exzolt were performed. 4 cameras to monitor hens' behavior from 18 pm of the previous night to 6 am of the following morning were installed to record the layer's behavioral indicators caused by the mite including number of shakes, wing flaps, scratches, preening, bites, pecking (aggressive), before and after using Exzolt. As a result, the studied farm was heavily infected with mites with an average infection level of 1.79 on a scale of 0 - 2. After the treatment with Exzolt, the farm became totally free of the mites in layers for many weeks thereafter. The use of Exzolt did not affect daily feed intake, mortality. The proportion of eggs with red spots decreased significantly. Especially, the layer's behavioral expression causing annoying was significantly reduced after using Exzolt. This is the reason for good recommendation to use this product to control mite for layer farm