PESTICIDE DEVICE

Abstract: A device is described for applying pesticide to livestock which includes a vertical cylindrical reservoir (10) and a wick positioning assembly. Wicks (20) extend from the reservoir (10) up through the wick positioning assembly (14, 18) and dangle down outside the reservoir to a level low enough so that they can brush against livestock walking beneath the device. When a liquid pesticide composition is placed in the reservoir, wicking action will carry the pesticide through the wicks and apply it to the livestock as they contact the wicks.

Description: This invention relates to controlling ectoparasites on livestock. More specifically, it concerns apparatus for applying pesticides to livestock to help control ectoparasites. Ectoparasites such as flies, ticks and lice are a major nuisance to livestock and a costly problem to those in the business of raising and selling livestock. The bites which they inflict can transmit disease, cause weight loss through irritation and blood loss, and cause reduced milk production in dairy cattle. This problem has been recognized for many years, and many attempts have been made to overcome it, or to at least control the quantity of ectoparasites that attack livestock. One device that has been used in the past to help combat this problem is a plastic ear tag impregnated with insecticide. Unfortunately, insecticidal ear tags usually release insecticides at rates that decrease as time passes. In addition, if parasites build up a resistance to the particular insecticide in the tag, this resistance can not be combatted without placing a new tag containing a different insecticide on the animal. In this sense, ear tags have less flexibility than would be desirable. Dust bags and back rubbers which contain insecticidal material have also been used in the past. They are also subject to a number of problems, such as poor operation in wet weather, relatively rapid deterioration, difficult maintenance, vulnerability to destruction by weather and contact from animals, and unpredictable operation, which leads to less than optimal long-term pest control. Further, dust bags and back rubbers do not lend themselves to accommodating rapid changes in the type of pesticide applied. Some devices have also been used in the past in which wicks are used to transport insecticide in liquid form to animals. Examples are illustrated in US 2998803, US 3071111, US 3187722 and US 3285231. However, such wicking devices have not always been entirely satisfactory. In general, devices previously used to apply insecticide to livestock have been relatively expensive, had limited versatility, been vulnerable to damage from weather and animals, released unpredictable amounts of pesticide, and required replacement more frequently than desirable. They have also been less than optimum in terms of maintenance, durability, ease of use (including ability to be relocated), versatility, and sureness of use. A need has existed for many years and continues to exist for an improved apparatus which can apply metered quantities of pesticides in livestock in a way that will provide good long-term control of ectoparasites. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A device for applying pesticides to livestock in accordance with the present invention includes: a vertical cylindrical reservoir which is adapted to hold liquid pesticide compositions and has an open top; a wick positioning assembly which has a base with a circular opening to receive the open top of the reservoir and which also has a plurality of apertures adapted for wicks to extend through; a plurality of wicks, one end of each wick extending down through the opening in the wick positioning assembly into the reservoir, the other end extending through the apertures in the wick positioning assembly and hanging down outside the reservoir to an elevation lower than the bottom of the reservoir; means for preventing the wicks from sliding further in or out of the apertures in the wick positioning assembly; and means for suspending the device at a selected height above a path where livestock will walk; characterised in that the wick positioning assembly comprises: a lower member, the base of which is circular and has a vertical side wall extending upward from the base with a circular cross-section; and an upper member which has a circular top and a vertical side wall extending downward from the top with a circular cross-section, and which is attached to the lower member. Devices in accordance with the present invention are intended to be suspended above paths where livestock will walk, so that the wicks hanging down will brush against the livestock. When the reservoir is filled with liquid pesticide, wicking action will carry the pesticide to the ends of the wicks, where it will be transferred to the livestock as they brush against the wicks. One example of a location where devices in accordance with present invention could be used is exit walkways in dairy barns. Several devices in accordance with the present invention could be used above the same walkway to apply several different pesticides to livestock. The present invention has a number of advantages over devices used previously. New pesticides can easily be added to the reservoir, so it is easy to change pesticides if parasites build up a resistance to the one to which they are currently being exposed. The devices are also durable, which will enable them to resist extreme weather and harsh treatment by livestock. The devices have also been found to provide a predictable and relatively constant release of pesticide in terms of flow rate. This will not only conserve pesticide and reduce the operating expense of these devices, but will also minimize environmental contamination. Furthermore, the relative constancy of the release rate may help avoid the buildup of resistance to the pesticides. Ear tags, which have an ever-decreasing release rate, are subject to the resistance problem. Because of the simplicity of construction of the devices, they are essentially maintenance-free. They are also extremely versatile and easy to install and use. They can be combined with other pest control techniques such as ear tags, sprays, or feed additives. Further, devices in accordance with the present invention can apply pesticide to livestock without requiring the animals to be worked in chutes or head gates, which require a significant amount of labor and place an undesirable amount of stress on the animals, resulting in loss of weight and/or milk production. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the top of a vertical cylindrical reservoir for use with the device of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top view of the reservoir neck shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the lower member in a wick positioning assembly in the device of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a top view of a lower member in a wick positioning assembly in the device of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the lower member in a wick positioning assembly in the device of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the upper member in a wick positioning assembly in the device of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a top view of the upper member in a wick positioning assembly in the device of Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of a portion of the upper and lower members in the device of Fig. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT Fig. 1-8 show an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 shows the device in assembled form. The device includes a vertical cylindrical reservoir 40 and a wick positioning assembly 42. The wick positioning assembly includes an upper member 44 and a lower member 46. The lower member 46 includes four upward projections 48 which go through the upper member 44 and are used to secure the lower member 46 to the upper member 44. A plurality of wicks 50 hang downward from the wick positioning assembly 42. The upward projections 48 each have a hole 52. Two or more the holes 52 can be used with ropes 54 to suspend the device in a desired location. Fig. 2 shows the top neck of the vertical cylindrical reservoir 40. The top includes threads 56 which can engage a cap (not shown) so as to seal the reservoir 40 when it is shipped or stored. The top also includes two vertical slots 58 in the threads, spaced on opposite sides of the top of the reservoir 40. These slots 58 aid in connecting the reservoir 40 to the wick positioning assembly 42. Fig. 3 shows a top view of the threaded neck of the reservoir 40, showing the two slots 58. Fig. 4 shows the lower member 46 of the wick positioning assembly 42 from the side in cross-section. Fig. 5 shows a top view of the lower member 46, and Fig. 6 shows a bottom view. The lower member 46 has a flat circular base 60. Extending upward from the circumference of the base 60 is an upper side wall 62. The upper side wall 62 is periodically interrupted by apertures 64. In the center of each aperture is a vertical pointed spike 66. On top of the base 60 are four upward projections 48 which are spaced 90 degrees from each other around the circular base 60. Each upward projection 48 in this embodiment has a rounded top and straight vertical walls, except for an indentation 68 in the outside edge. The indentation 68 causes the upper part of the projection 48 to extend outward slightly further than the rest of the projection 48. As will be explained in more detail later, the projections 48 with the indentations 68 facilitate joining the lower member 46 to the upper member 44. In the center of the base 60 is a circular opening 70, which allows wicks to be dipped into the vertical cylindrical reservoir 40. Extending downward from the base 60 around its outer circumference is a lower side wall 72. Unlike the upper side wall 62, the lower side wall 72 is continuous and unbroken by any apertures, and can be threaded on its inner surface. On the inside of the lower side wall 72 are two horizontal posts 74. The horizontal posts 74 are adapted to fit into the slots 58 on the top of the reservoir 40. As the lower member 46 and the reservoir 40 are positioned together, the posts 74 slide down the slots 58 until they are lower than a thick bottom thread 57. The reservoir is then rotated, with the posts 74 sliding underneath the thick bottom thread 57. At some point in the rotation, the posts 74 will wedge between the thick bottom thread 57 and the shoulder 59 of the reservoir 40, thereby firmly fastening the reservoir 40 to the lower member 46. As can be seen more clearly in Fig. 5, four posts 76 are located on top of the base 60, two being located on each of two opposite sides. The posts 76 are adapted to interfere with posts which are attached to the upper member 44, and will be described subsequently. Figs. 7 and 8 show the bottom and top of the upper member 44 respectively. The upper member 44 includes a flat circular top 77 and a vertical side wall 78 which extends downward from the outer circumference of the top 77. There are four rectangular openings 80 in the upper member 44, and the openings 80 are adapted to receive the upward projections 48 on the lower member 46. The walls of the openings 80 instead of being perfectly vertical are preferably bevelled to improve the tightness of the fit of the projections 48 with the openings 80. As can be seen by comparing Figs. 4 and 7, when the projections 48 are inserted upward through the openings 80, once the indentations 68 are above the top 77 of the upper member 44, a firm connection will exist between the upper member 44 and the lower member 46. Also, the holes 52 in the projections 48 can be used with ropes or the like to suspend the apparatus above a desired location. The upper member 44 also has a series of downwardly extending vertical spikes 82. In addition, four downwardly extending posts 84 are arranged so they will interfere with the posts 76 on the lower member 46. By so interfering, the posts 76 and 84 will limit the number of relative positions in which the upper member 44 and lower member 46 can be joined. Specifically, the upper member 44 and lower member 46 will have to be positioned relative to each other so that the pairs of posts 76 are each spaced 90° from the pairs of posts 84. If there is some marking on top of the upper member 44, this will help a user judge the position of the reservoir 40 while screwing it in. When the device is assembled with wicks, one end of each wick extends down through the center opening 70 in the lower member 46 so that it hangs to the bottom of the reservoir 40. Each wick extends outward across the top of the base 60 of the lower member 46. Each wick is impaled both by an upwardly projecting spike 66 on the lower member 46 and a downwardly projecting spike 82 on the upper member 44, as shown in Fig. 9. The two sets of spikes 66 and 82 are preferably arranged so that the lower ones 66 are located slightly closer to the centre axis of the device then are the upper ones 82. Whatever the spacing of the spikes from the centre axis is chosen to be, by impaling the wicks the spikes help ensure that the wicks will not slide further in or out of the wick positioning assembly 42. Referring back now to Fig. 1, the remaining ends of the wicks 50 hang downward to a level lower than the bottom of the reservoir 40, so they can brush against animals that walk underneath the device. To give an idea of suitable dimensions for this embodiment of the present invention, the upper member 44 can have an outer diameter of approximately 5.7 inches (14.5 cm), the lower member 46 an outside diameter of approximately 4.4 inches (11.2 cm), the top of the reservoir 40 an outer diameter of approximately 3.8 inches (9.7 cm), and the reservoir a capacity of approximately 9 pints (4.3 1). Of course, the dimensions could be varied to any desirable values. As an example of how such a device could be used, the support ropes can be used to suspend the device over a exit walkway from a diary barn so that the bottom of the device will be approximately six inches above the backs of the largest animals that use the walkway. This will allow the positions of the wicks that hang down outside the reservoir to separate and touch an animal walking underneath along its ears and the top of its head, and down its back line and sides. A variety of liquid pesticides compositions can be used. One suitable example is a mixture of diesel fuel and mineral oil, in a 3:1 volume ratio with a 1% solution of permethrin insecticide. Since the wicking rate will be primarily controlled by the viscosity of the liquid pesticide composition, the greater the percentage of diesel fuel in the mixture, the faster wicking will occur and the more rapidly the pesticide composition in the reservoir will be depleted. Crotoxyphos, dichlorvos, cyhalotherin, and pirimiphos methyl are examples of other suitable pesticides that could be used. Diluents other than diesel fuel could also be used. Example I Two devices in accordance with present invention were installed in a diary barn for testing during the summer and fall. One device was suspended above an exit walkway from the milking parlor, while a second was placed to the side of the walkway in order to study the passive wicking rate with no animals making contact with the device. Both devices were charged with a liquid pesticide composition containing 1% permethrin in mineral oil mixed with diesel fuel, in a 1:3 ratio. Calibrated capillary tubes on the devices allowed measurement of the change in volume of liquid pesticide composition in the reservoirs. In the device suspended above the walkway, 1665.3 ml of the composition was applied in 4,018 cow treatments over a 42 day test period. This indicates that each animal had available to it on the average 4.0 mg of technical permethrin per treatment, and 8.0 mg per cow per day based on a twice-per-day milking schedule. Control of horn flies appeared to be essentially 100% based on visual observations during the test period. The depletion rate of the liquid pesticide composition from the device suspended outside the walkway appeared to be more irregular than that from the device suspended above the walkway where it would contact animals leaving the milking parlor. However, the cumulative volume depletion was fairly similar for both devices, with the one that was allowed to drip without contact with animals being somewhat higher. The device hung above the walkway dispensed approximately 400 ml by the 10th day, 800 ml by the 20th day, and 1200 ml by the 30th day in a first test. In a second test, the cumulative depletion for the 10th, 20th, 30th, and 40th days was approximately 550, 1020, 1320, and 1600 ml, respectively. Example II A device in accordance with the present invention was suspended above an exit walkway from a milking area in a dairy barn. Once again, the device was charged with 1% permethrin in mineral oil mixed with diesel fuel in a 1:3 volume ratio. Over 200 cows were treated twice daily at milking time. Based on visual observations, horn flies were controlled by the devices during spring, summer, and fall. In addition, after an approximately two-day adjustment period, dairy cows moved through the downwardly hanging wicks without requiring any encouragement from milking employees. By comparison, a nearby herd of cattle treated with flucythrinate ear tags (available from American Cyanimid) at approximately the same time achieved control of horn flies for only approximately six weeks. After 10 days, approximately 1,000 ml of liquid pesticide composition had been dispensed by the device. At 20 days, the cumulative amount had reached approximately 1800 ml. In a second trial at the same location, the volume dispensed by the 10th day was approximately 750 ml, while the cumulative volume by the 20th, 30th, 40th and 50th days, respectively, was approximately 1300, 1650, 2100. and 2600 ml. Example III A device in accordance with the present invention was suspended above a walkway in a dairy barn. Approximately 525 cows were treated three times a day at milking with a liquid pesticide composition like those used in Examples I and II. On average each cow received approximately 2.04 mg of permethrin per day. Visual observation indicated that horn fly control was essentially 100%, and house fly and stable fly problems in the milking parlor were greatly reduced. The volume depletion of the liquid pesticide composition was approximately 1350 ml after 10 days and 2250 ml after 20 days. Table 1 shows the mean number of horn flies observed on the dairy cows in Examples I through III, with the first figure in each line representing the day on which treatment with devices in accordance with the present invention began. Example IV A device in accordance with the present invention was suspended over a narrow gap between pastures on a ranch. The beef cattle in the pastures had previously been tagged with flucythrinate ear tags at a rate of one tag per cow prior to placement of the device in accordance with the present invention. After six weeks of use of the ear tags alone, visual observation indicated that each head of cattle was infested with approximately 200-300 horn flies. After the device in accordance with the present invention was installed containing a 1% permethrin liquid pesticide composition, essentially 100% horn fly control was achieved for the rest of the spring, summer, and fall. The cattle showed no reluctance to walk under the device. Example V Devices in accordance with the present invention were suspended above two exit walkways from a dairy barn. The devices were charged with a 1% permethrin solution in mineral oil, mixed with diesel fuel in a 1:3 volume ratio. Table 2 shows the volume depletion rates over an approximately seven week period. Based on the three-milkings-per-day schedule, cows from the wet herd using the East exit had available approximately 2.26 mg of technical permethrin per treatment, while for the West exit the figure was approximately 2.37 mg. For comparison purposes, a dry herd of dairy cattle in a nearby pasture was sprayed with Anchor Permectrin II (available from Anchor Labs) at labelled rates several times during the same period. Table 3 gives the mean number of horn flies (HF), house flies (HOF) and stable flies (SF) per cow on the days indicated after the beginning of treatment. day Wet Herd 1% permethrin Dry Herd (check) sprayed as required HF HOF SF HF HOF SF 1 60 60 80 50 50 70 8 10 10 40 50 50 70 15 4 4 40 30 70 60 22 4 10 44 30 30 50 29 10 10 50 20 30 30 36 6 8 40 30 30 50 43 12 12 40 50 50 150 50 10 10 40 10 10 50 57 20 20 50 40 50 50 64 15 15 30 50 40 60 71 15 15 30 40 50 50 78 10 15 40 50 40 60 82 20 20 50 50 40 60 89 15 20 30 50 60 80 96 10 15 40 60 50 80 106 10 30 20 60 50 80 113 20 20 20 300 100 80 120 10 20 30 350 100 80 127 5 15 40 350 100 80 Totals 266 329 754 1670 1000 1290 Average 14 17 40 89 53 68 Example VI A device in accordance with the present invention was tested on a herd of dairy cattle with a 1% permethrin liquid pesticide composition as used in the previous examples. Table 4 gives the treatment parameters. Table 5 shows the mean number of horn flies per cow on various dates after the initiation of the treatment. Data is also given for a dry herd of dairy cattle which was not treated with the device in accordance with the present invention.

Claims: A device for applying pesticide to livestock, including: a vertical cylindrical reservoir (40) which is adapted to hold liquid pesticide compositions and has an open top; a wick positioning assembly (42) which has a base (60) with a circular opening (70) to receive the open top of the reservoir and which also has a plurality of apertures (64) adapted for wicks to extend through; a plurality of wicks (50), one end of each wick extending down through the opening in the wick positioning assembly into the reservoir, the other end extending through the apertures in the wick positioning assembly and hanging down outside the reservoir to an elevation lower than the bottom of the reservoir; means for preventing the wicks from sliding further in or out of the apertures in the wick positioning assembly; and means for suspending the device at a selected height above a path where livestock will walk; characterised in that the wick positioning assembly comprises: a lower member (46), the base (60) of which is circular and has a vertical side wall (62) extending upward from the base with a circular cross-section; and an upper member (44) which has a circular top (77) and a vertical side wall (78) extending downward from the top with a circular cross-section, and which is attached to the lower member. The device of claim 1, where the plurality of apertures (64) in the wick positioning assembly are in the side wall (62) of the lower member. The device of claim 1, where the means for preventing the wicks from sliding further in or out of the apertures in the wick positioning assembly include a plurality of pointed vertical spikes (66,82) on the lower and upper members of the wick positioning assembly. The device of claim 1, where the reservoir is threaded around its open top to allow it to be screwed into the opening in the wick positioning assembly.

Inventors: COCKE, JESSE, JR., GLADNEY, WILLIAM J., VIETS, ALAN K.
Applicants: COOPERS ANIMAL HEALTH INC., THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A01K13
IPC codes: A01K13