Field evaluation of cat fur and TMT odours as repellents of commensal rodents in poultry farms

Abstract

Behavioural responses of prey to predation can be used as a management tool in breeding systems where rodents cause economic losses and pose a health risk for humans and domestic animals. In this work we assessed the effect of cat fur and TMT odours on food consumption and activity of rodents in poultry farms of the Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. The study was conducted in 8 poultry farms that are devoted to breeding broiler chickens. At each farm we randomly selected three sheds, which were assigned to TMT, cat fur odour or control treatments. Odours were applied on a 5 ×5 cm piece of cloth that was either placed inside feeders or over footprint tracking tiles. Food consumption was measured in each shed at 20 stations with 10 g of wheat seeds, while rodent activity was measured in 10 footprints tracking tiles. Both feeders and footprint tracking tiles were placed outside sheds along walls. Food consumption and activity were assessed 2, 4 and 6 days after the application of treatments. The odour of cat fur caused a reduction in food consumption by rodents, but there was not a significant effect on activity. We did not detect an effect of TMT neither on food consumption, nor in activity. We conclude that cat fur has the potential to be used as repellent for commensal rodents in field conditions. However, its application for large-scale rodent control requires the development of a product that incorporates the active substance responsible for the aversion effect.