The MSD Animal Health kits are available now from specialist poultry vets.

MSD Animal Health are offering poultry farmers free monitoring packs as part of a campaign to encourage commercial egg producers to actively monitor the red mite burden on their farms.

The goal of the campaign is to encourage farmers to be more proactive in their approach to red mite monitoring, as this will not only help to improve bird welfare but also the productivity and profitability of the industry.

Research by MSD Animal Health suggests that a moderate infestation of poultry red mite may cause productivity losses of around 60 cents, rising to around €2.50 for more severely affected birds.

John Shiels, technical sales manager at MSD Animal Health, said: “Red mites are found on most farms so it’s easy to overlook just how much it’s costing our industry.

"Egg producers, farmers, vets and companies like ours need to work together to tackle the issue and the first step is to understand the scale of the challenge.”

Because red mites only come out at night and live in cracks and crevices in the poultry house rather than on the birds, it can be hard for farmers to gauge the level of infestation.

The kits are an easy way to monitor the levels of red mite and are available from specialist poultry vets.

Placed strategically around the poultry shed, they offer a simple visual indication of the level of infestation.

Farmers can then work together with their vet on a control programme that is suited to the individual farm and continue to monitor regularly as necessary.

Chris McKeown has two 16,000 bird houses supplying Farmlay Eggs in Co. Armagh and recently used the red mite kits.

Chris said: “I found the kits useful and would certainly use them again. They’re very easy to place around the sheds and read the results.

Ian Stewart, poultry specialist at Parklands Vet Group, said: “There probably isn’t a shed in Ireland that doesn’t have some poultry red mite, but it doesn’t mean that we can’t control them.

“There are environmental controls such as good hygiene and biosecurity, and licensed veterinary treatments available to farmers.”

MSD Animal Health produces a highly effective poultry red mite treatment containing fluralaner that is conveniently administered via the drinking water (two treatments, seven days apart).

It has been proven to improve the welfare of hens previously suffering from poultry red mite by reducing stress and improving behaviour.

Ian said: “Many farmers will have already used this treatment and seen the benefits, in terms of both hen welfare and productivity.

"As an industry, we’re trying to extend the period of lay of these birds and so controlling red mite effectively is an important consideration.

"There are real benefits to increasing laying cycles and maximising the numbers of eggs per bird. Proactively monitoring and reducing levels of poultry red mite is essential to our success.”

For information and advice on the threat of Poultry Red Mite and the best control strategy for your farm, contact your veterinary practitioner or MSD Animal Health, Red Oak North, South County Business Park, Leopardstown, Dublin 18, Ireland.

MSD Animal Health can be contacted at: +353 1 2970220