When pests are not properly controlled, poultry diseases and pathogens, including Salmonella, can rapidly spread through a poultry house. Yet as producers and applicators target pests with insecticides, they can often see a resistance build – reducing the effectiveness of their chemical insecticide programs.
In the interview below, Dr. Alissa Welsher provides insights on how producers can effectively manage pests through a targeted insecticide program.
In your experience, what are the most common challenges in managing insecticide resistance?
The most common challenge is knowing and understanding the insecticide program. Many producers know they need to rotate products but are missing crucial details such as duration of use, and chemical classes. This foundational understanding is essential to implement and maintain an effective program.
How does insecticide resistance develop, and what factors contribute to its acceleration in poultry environments?
Resistance typically develops when the same chemical class is used multiple times in a row. For broilers, we recommend rotating every 2-3 flocks or every 6 months. Factors that can accelerate resistance include disruptions in normal farm operations, such as those caused by covid or avian influenza outbreaks, when producers and applicators shift focus to other important on-farm activities that may lead to prolonged use of a single insecticide.
How does insecticide resistance impact efforts to control Salmonella in poultry flocks?
Insecticide resistance can lead to insect overpopulation in poultry houses. Since some insects are vectors for Salmonella, a resistant insect population can perpetuate the spread of Salmonella through generations. This creates a cycle where Salmonella-carrying insects continue to reproduce and spread the pathogen throughout the house.
What are some best practices for mitigating Salmonella risks while managing pest populations on poultry farms?
If a producer is managing a pest population, they are likely also managing some Salmonella risk. Effective pest management is crucial for Salmonella control. Implementing an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy is key. The IPM should include:
- Clearing away tall grass, organic material, and spilled feed to eliminate breeding areas for pests.
- Proper insecticide rotation every 6 months, based on chemical class.
- Maintaining a history of chemical classes used.
- Considering vaccinations to outcompete wild Salmonella
How can producers improve the effectiveness of their insecticide program?
Producers should work with their allied partners to conduct sensitivity testing. This process helps determine which chemical classes pests are most sensitive to, ensuring high mortality rates within beetle or fly populations. It also helps verify that the chosen chemicals will be effective against the current pest population.
Can you explain how sensitivity testing is conducted and what information it provides about resistance levels?
Sensitivity testing involves placing a specific number of beetles in a petri dish with treated poultry litter. The mortality rate is observed over 7, 14, and 21 days. This process helps identify the most effective chemical class and provides insight into how quickly different chemicals work. Some chemicals tend to work slower than others.
How does the data from sensitivity testing influence the recommendations you make for insecticide products and treatment plans?
We typically conduct sensitivity testing about a month or two before a scheduled chemical rotation. This timing allows for result analysis and product selection based on the most effective chemical class for the next flock.
What are the biggest takeaways to ensure effective management of pests on a farm?
The biggest points to take away from this are:
- Know your insecticide program thoroughly.
- Rotate insecticides by chemical class, not by active ingredient.
- If you don’t have an applicator, reach out to your distributor or allied partner to ask about sensitivity testing to ensure you have the most effective insecticide program to target issues on your farm.
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PM-US-24-1406
