Pesticiάal ?orπ.τιia ior_s.

THIS INVENTION relates to insecticides, particularly pesticides for the treatment of 34-1411313.

When dipping animals, such as cattle and sheep, the animals are dipped in an aqueous dip emulsion or suspension containing insecticides. As each animal passes through the dip, it removes a portion of the wash containing the insecti¬ cide. The amount removed by each animal varies generally between 0,05 gram and 7,5 grams. The insecticides used are generally organo-chlorine compounds, organo-phosphates , formamidines and pyrethrσids. These insecticides are generally formulated as emulsifiable concentrates, wettable powders or suspension concentrates. These formulations are sually measured out in the field by the farmer and diluted with water before dipping or spraying.

The invention concerns a suitable form of such insecticides, and which avoids ha.ndling by the farmer of highly toxic insecticides.

The present invention provides a new composition of matter comprising a predetermined air.ount of a .multiple unit dose of an i.nsecticidally active compound in a package form,

said package form being soluble in water. The insecticide conveniently may be a solid insecticide. A multiple unit dose is an amount of insecticide which is calculated to be used for treating a multiple number of animals.

The package form may be a water-soluble sachet, tablet, capsule, or the like. Gelatin or poiyvinyl alcohol may be used for forming a capsule or sachet. The insecticide may be present in the package as a finely milled dispersible powder (eg of a size below 10 u) , a wettable powder, or the like.

.Any suitable insecticide can be used, particularly a pyrethroid insecticide. An example is DELTAMΞTHRI . Some of these pyrethroid insecticides are highly active and-dipping or spraying at 0,0025% or less has hs&n found to be sufficient for providing protection for many types of animals against external parasites, such as insects, ticks, flies, fleas, cattle mange mites, lice, sheep scab, goat mange, or the like. The composition may contain sufficient multiple dose for dipping from about 50 to 120 cattle, eg for dipping about 100 cattle of average size. . .

The insecticide may also be mixed with a dispersing agent {for example the sodium salt of oxylignin, or a sodium naphthalene sulphonate/formaldehyde condensation product) , a wetting agent and/or an an i—frothing agent. Examples of wetting agents are nonylphenol ethylene oxide/propylene oxide condensates and/or sodium diiscpropyl naphthalene sulphonate. A suitable an i--frothing agent is a siliccne/water emulsion.

The insecticide may make up from 10 to 90% ^" ; .τ.ore usually about 30 to 60% of the composi ion- The dispersing agent can be present in amounts varying from less than that of the insecticide to more than that of the insecticide. Amounts of from 10 to 60% of dispersing agent have bee.n found to be suitable.

Anti-frothing agents may be present in amounts of up to 1%, and wetting agents in amounts of up to 7% by weight of the composition.

The package form of the invention ma -be sold in any suitable size.

The invention also provides a method of making up an animal dip, particularly a dip for cattle or sheep, which comprises dissolving or suspending the composition of matter, as provided by the invention, in a predetermined amount of water.

The invention is illustrated in non-limiting manner by reference to the following Examples:

EXAMPLE 1

The following composition was made.up:

Deltamethrin Technical 7 , , 7%

Dispersing agent 47 , r 7 % ('TAMOL N O)

Anti-frothing agent o , , 12 % ( 'SILCOLAPSΞ 5000A')

Wetting agent (1) 3 . _r 58 %

( 'SYNPΞRO 1C NPΞ 1800 * )

Wεtti.ng agent (2) o , . 90 % ¹ '

- L -

The above mixture was milled with water to a very fine particle size (1-5 u) and dried. It was then packed into a water- soluble sachet. The sachets were made by heat-sealing together two layers of water-soluble pclyvinyl alcohol film. The sachets, when added to a dipping tank, dissolved rapidly and released the 47,7% Deltamethrin dispersible powder which dispersed easily to form a very stable suspension.

Deltamethrin can be irritant to humans. The use of the capsule avoided handling of the insecticide by the user, such as a farmer:

EXAMPLE 2

Method of fillinσ and replenishing cattle-dicoincr tanks.

15 000 litres of clean water were pumped into an empty dipping tank. 750 grams of 47,7% Deltamethrin dispersible powder packed in 7 x 100 gram sachets and 1 x 50 grams sachets, were added to the water to give a dilution of 0,0025% active ingredient. The sachets dissolved rapidly and released the insecticide. 400 Cattle were dipped. The following week, water was added until the water level reached the 15 000 litres mark. 4 x 12 grams (ie 12 g per 100 head) sachets of the 47,7% Deltamethrin were added to the dipping tank and the animals were again dipped- The following week, the same procedure was followed. After 16 weeks, the dipwash 'behaviour' was still satisfactory. The weekly dipwash concentration was found to vary between 0,0025 to 0,003% Deltamethrin. No adverse

reaction was experienced by the farmer when using this prccuci during the entire period. Tick control was excellent.