Even your rodent trap has an app, IoT and sensor technology tracks rodent activity in bait stations and sends the data to your phone.
To further analyze the data, a portal can be utilized that allows users to evaluate data concerning the rodent activity levels and generate reports from it. Additionally, the data enables users to know when to add additional bait stations or rodenticide, or where producers should move bait stations to target their rodent activity.
At this time, a rodent index is not able to be calculated using the technology. A rodent index is a calculation that helps producers determine what level of rodent activity they have (low, moderate, or high) over a specific time period. Utilizing a rodent index is recommended by the Food and Drug Administration Salmonella Guidance to trend your rodent activity and control Salmonella contamination through pests.
While the physical traps are offered through Motomco, the supporting technology (mobile application and portal) are offered through Bell Sensing Technologies.
The problem with rodents
When rodents enter the poultry house or an egg processing plant, they potentially can damage the facilities, contaminate feed, spread diseases such as Salmonella, affect product quality or even cause a product recall.
Robert Rowland, an independent pest control consultant previously, stated “The key to the success of a rodent control program is for a company to form a small team of dedicated experts. There is much to learn about rodent behavior, as well as how to recognize and interpret their activities. Only then can an effective treatment program be implemented for a specific farm.”
Additionally, Rowland explained that after the costs of implementing a pest control program have been acquired, farm operations could see a financial gain from less feed waste and reduced facility damages incurred. “Egg producers are taking this issue seriously. Biosecurity procedures have been put in place that keeps even consultants like me from visiting complexes. Pest control programs that follow these new procedures (the FDA’s Egg Safety Rule) have been very successful."
This article originally appeared on WattAgNet.com (login required)
