Antifeeding effefts of a neem (Azadirachta indica)-based formulation botanical bird repellent against the house rat (Rattus rattus)

Abstract

A neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) based formulation botanical bird repellent was evaluated for its antifeeding effects against the house rat (Rattus rattus L.) under laboratory conditions. Its 4 concentrations, ie 0.5,1.0,2.0 and 3.0% mixed in WSO (wheat: sugar: oil, 96: 2: 2) were tested in choice to untreated WSO against 4 different groups of rats (n = 10 in each group) in bi-choice feeding experiments. Results revealed significantly (P &gt 0.05) low consumption of treated food at all the tested concentrations with per cent avoidance of 53.50, 75.24, 74.73 and 87.71% respectively showing increase in antifeeding effect with increase in concentration of botanical bird repellent. In no-choice feeding tests, the consumption of botanical bird repellent treated food was more than that in bi-choice feeding tests. However the consumption of treated food decreased from day 1 to day 4 of the treatment at all the concentrations tested in both bi-choice and no-choice feeding tests which might be due to conditioned food aversion behaviour developed in response to the ingestion of treated food. Present results clearly show the antifeeding effects of botanical bird repellent against R. rattus.