Poultry Red Mite: The Hidden Menace in Poultry Farming!
Vinayak Ingredients (India) Private Limited
Adding More to Nutrition
Poultry farming is a rapidly expanding industry vital for meeting the food needs of a growing population. However, economic and production losses can significantly impact its sustainability and profitability. The poultry industry commonly faces economic losses due to the infestation of external parasites. Ectoparasites can cause a range of clinical impacts in poultry flocks, depending on the severity of the infestation. Mite parasites feed on the blood of chickens, while lice feed on dander and feathers. The red mite is more problematic for poultry producers.
Dermanyssus gallinae, the poultry red mite, is a ubiquitously present blood-sucking ectoparasite. They are typically nocturnal feeders that remain hidden during the day in cracks and crevices, cardboard boxes, nests, egg conveyor belts, and transportation cages. Flock infested by poultry red mite impacts the quality and quantity of eggs and meat produced.
The life cycle of red mites
In appropriate conditions, the time between egg laying, moulting, and becoming an egg-producing adult is short. With ideal temperature of 25-30°C and 70% humidity, the poultry red mite life cycle can complete in just 7–10 days, allowing infestations to develop quickly and reach severe levels. Adult poultry red mites can survive for around 9 months without feeding on poultry.
The poultry red mite goes through five distinct life stages: egg, larva, protonymph, deutonymph, and adult. The final three stages—protonymph, deutonymph, and adult—require blood feeding to support their development and growth. After mating, female mites lay between 4 to 8 eggs per day over a span of three days, contributing to rapid population growth. Generally, a female red mite is reproductively active for about 8 weeks in entire life span.
Impact of poultry red mite infestation on flocks
The consequences of a red mite infestation are far-reaching,
The treatments currently used for red mite management include synthetic neurotoxic acaricides like organophosphates and pyrethroids. However, the use of chemicals creates multiple challenges, including the ineffectiveness of active ingredients, mite resistance, undesirable residues in the environment, and unacceptable risks to non-target organisms. To overcome these issues, alternative strategies are required. Among different physical and biological treatments, phytochemicals can be more impactful with less environmental harm.
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LIMITER: A natural solution for poultry red mite management
Limiter is a natural red mite management supplement for poultry. Using a unique combination of plant-derived components , Limiter targets blood sucking stages of mites with a three-way mode of action:
Mechanism of action of LIMITER
The essential oil in the Limiter acts via two modes of action: first, by competitive inhibition at postsynaptic acetylcholine receptors, preventing normal acetylcholine binding, and second, by inactivating acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme responsible for breaking down acetylcholine. This dual action results in persistent stimulation of muscle cells. The resulting hyperstimulation eventually leads to muscle fatigue, paralysis, and death in red mites.
By integrating Limiter into a red mite management program, poultry producers can achieve effective, sustainable mite control while minimizing harm to the environment and supporting flock health.
"Boost Poultry Health Naturally—Say Goodbye to Poultry Red Mites with Limiter!"