[The effect of selected preparations for the protection of draft horses against dipterous blood-sucking insects].

The study examined the impact of some preparations on protecting draft horses from dipterous blood-sucking insects and found that these preparations significantly improved the horses’ work performance in forest enterprises.

Background

• Dipterous blood-sucking insects, which include horseflies, black flies, gnats, and midges, negatively impact the performance of draught horses, often used in forest enterprises.

Method and Preparations Used

• The researchers used three preparations to protect the horses. These include diethyltoluamide, Oxamat (which contains N,N-diethyloxamine acid), and Stomoxin (a synthetic pyrethroid product of the firm Wellcome).
• The mentioned products were applied every 24 hours to test their efficacy.

Performance Enhancement

• The performance of the test animals that were treated with a 10% water emulsion of diethyltoluamide increased significantly. A boost of 0.74 cu. m. wood per horse/day (21.65%) was noted, compared to the control group.
• There were also savings in prime cost per test horse/day of 16.99 Czechoslovak crowns.
• A greater improvement in performance was observed with the application of a 5% water emulsion of Oxamat, with an increase by 1.29 cu. m. wood per horse/day (38.00%) compared to the control group.

Stomoxin Effects and Conclusion

• Stomoxin, although confirmed to have insecticidal properties, did not exhibit marked repellent effects against the dipterous blood-sucking insects.
• The study concludes that the production of effective repellents should be introduced in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic considering the beneficial results of these bug repelling preparations on the performance of draught horses.