Pest management in feed mills
I recently had the opportunity to attend a Pest Control Management Seminar in Jakarta, Indonesia, held by Dr Subramanyam (Subi) from Kansas State University, US.
The Seminar, which was held in collaboration with the American Soybean Association (ASA) International Marketing, Masyarakat Ilmu Perunggasan Indonesia (MIPI)/WPSA branch of Indonesia, GPMT (Indonesian Feed Mills Association), and United Soybean Board (USB), was attended by experts and those affiliated with feed mills, the poultry industry, as well as veterinary stakeholders. A good opportunity was presented at the event for all stakeholders to discuss issues and problems related to pests.
Pests often associated with feed mills include stored-product insects and mites, cockroaches, flies, rodents, and birds, said Dr Subi. The economic losses caused by insects usually do not exceed 5-10%, he stated, but losses caused by rodents and birds can range from 5% to more than 50%.
Pests are present in any environment because conditions conducive for them exist, and some of these conditions have been provided by human activities through poor sanitation and production practices. Dr Subi also looked into the concepts of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), being: the management of pests below a unacceptable levels; using multiple tactics; using pesticides only as a last resort, and; preventing access to food, shelter, and moisture.
Dr Subi concluded in saying that feed manufacturers should commit to addressing sanitation and pest management problems; collect data on the types of pests encountered; monitor pests and maintain data on pest incidence, abundance, and management; develop scope of services for pest management; develop SOPs for outside pest management contractors; and evaluate benefits of pest management programs and revise when needed.
What are your thoughts?
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