Rats and mice cost producers millions of dollars a year in feed loss. That's feed you're buying but your livestock isn't eating. A single rat can eat 20 or more pounds of feed a year and a mouse, nearly 5 pounds. On top of that, rodents contaminate 10 times that amount with their urine and droppings.
When margins are tight, the loss in feed efficiency or weight gain can directly impact profitability and the bottom line. Some producers only worry about a rodent problem after it’s too late. By building a regular control program into your operation as a fixed cost, it prevents problems from happening and saves you money in the long run.
Example of Costly Feed Loss:
With a large infestation, feed loss can be quite substantial. In a poultry operation, an infestation of 500 to 1000 rats could translate into a 1 to 2 point increase in feed conversion. Since profit depends on the amount of weight gained per unit of feed, for an operation with 1 million birds, a 1 point increase in feed conversion could cost as much as $10,000 per week.
