ASSESSING THE EFFECT OF ECTOPARASITIC INFESTATION ON HEALTH AND PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE OF LAYERS AND CONTROL METHODS
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Date
2022
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Abstract
In India, commercial layer production plays an important role in providing high quality protein and employment to rural people, besides its sizable share in the nation’s GDP. Thalaivasal taluk is a semi-arid region where the layer farming is operated as an integral part of agriculture to improve income level of farmers. As ectoparasitic infestation appears to be a major issue in layers recently, huge expenditure is incurred on application of insecticides to achieve a temporary reduction in the population of ectoparasites. This ultimately increases the cost of production, causing economic loss to the farmers. Hence, the present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of ectoparasites, their impact on production and health of the layers and also effectiveness of various control options.
A cross-sectional study was carried out from December 2020 to November 2021 on 16 selected farms at monthly intervals. During the survey, data pertaining to feed intake, egg production, insecticide application, particulars of birds and meteorological data (from TNAU Research station) were collected to determine the risk factors associated with occurrence of ectoparasitic infestation. Ectoparasites collected during this period were identified as Menopon gallinae, Lipeurus tropicalis and Megninia ginglymura with a prevalence rate ranging from 15 - 98, 6 - 24 and 98 - 100 per cent respectively. The prevalence of ectoparasitic infestation was found to be ranging from 93 - 100 per cent during winter and summer whereas 100 per cent during rainy season.
Single infestation was recorded in 21 - 68 per cent of the birds, especially among younger birds while older birds were invariably found to have infested with more than one species at a time. A high percentage of feather mite and lice infestation was recorded in younger and older birds respectively. Feather mite Megninia ginglymura was recovered from myna and crow which were found dead in the layer shed.