Soft Cholecalciferol Bait Composition for Shorter Rodent Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cholecalciferol baits for controlling rodents face issues with bait shyness and require a long application time, necessitating frequent replenishment, which increases workload and duration.

Innovation Solution

A method involving cholecalciferol baits with a soft, palatable composition comprising vegetable flour and fat, placed at strategic intervals, reducing baiting time to less than 13 days for mice and less than 8 days for rats, and optionally replenished up to three times during the baiting period.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If cholecalciferol baits are used to control rodents, then rodent population control is achieved with softer environmental profile and lower risk for birds and predators, but bait shyness develops and application time extends to at least 10 days for rats and 15 days for mice

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental profile and risk for birds and predatorsVSAvoidapplication time and bait replenishment frequency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the bait by incorporating specific substances (dextromethorphan, caffeine, or theine) that counteract the rodent's aversion to cholecalciferol. This parameter change in the bait formulation allows the rodent to consume the bait without developing bait shyness, thereby reducing application time while maintaining the environmental benefits of cholecalciferol

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary substances (dextromethorphan, caffeine, or theine) that mediate between the rodent's taste receptors and the cholecalciferol poison. These intermediaries mask the unpleasant taste and prevent the rodent from associating the bait with negative effects, allowing continuous consumption without bait shyness and reducing the need for frequent bait replenishment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If cholecalciferol bait concentration is reduced to avoid bait shyness, then bait acceptance improves, but efficacy against rodent population control diminishes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebait acceptance by rodentsVSAvoidrodent population control efficacy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the compositional parameters of the bait by adding specific substances (dextromethorphan, caffeine, or theine) that interact with the rodent's nervous system or metabolism. These additions allow the bait to maintain high cholecalciferol concentration for efficacy while the added substances prevent bait shyness by affecting the rodent's perception or physiological response to the poison

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite bait material combining cholecalciferol with additional active substances (dextromethorphan, caffeine, or theine). This composite formulation synergistically combines the rodenticidal properties of cholecalciferol with the bait-acceptance enhancing properties of the additional substances, achieving both high efficacy and high acceptance simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If bait is replenished frequently to maintain uninterrupted supply, then rodent control effectiveness is maintained, but workload and time investment increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuninterrupted bait supply effectivenessVSAvoidworkload for bait maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by formulating the bait with substances (dextromethorphan, caffeine, or theine) that prevent bait shyness from developing in the first place. This preliminary preventive measure ensures that rodents will continue to consume the bait over an extended period without rejecting it, allowing the bait to remain effective for longer periods between replenishments and significantly reducing maintenance workload

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses partial action by incorporating specific substances at optimized concentrations that provide sufficient bait-acceptance enhancement without requiring complete frequent replenishment. The formulation achieves a balance where the bait remains attractive and effective for extended periods, reducing the frequency of replenishment operations while maintaining adequate control effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Achieves at least 70% reduction in rodent populations within the specified time frame, minimizing environmental impact and reducing the need for continuous bait supply, while being effective against anticoagulant-resistant rodents.

Implementation Method 1

At toxic levels it induces hypercalcaemia, tissue calcification and heart failure, which can be used to control rodents

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHypercalcaemia induction:

Implementation Method 2

At toxic levels it induces hypercalcaemia, tissue calcification and heart failure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTissue calcification:

Implementation Method 3

the cholecalciferol bait is a soft bait and comprises vegetable flour, a fat which is not completely liquid at a temperature of 35°C and cholecalciferol

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPalatability enhancement through fat and vegetable flour:

Data Source

PatentEP3154342B1Method for controlling rats and mice with cholecalciferol baits
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 BASF AGRO BV
  • EP3154342B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3154342B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for controlling undesired rats and mice comprising the steps of placing on a first day cholecalciferol baits at bait points in an environment to be protected and leaving the baits for a baiting time at the bait points, where the baiting time is less than 10 days for the control of mice and less than 15 days for the control of rats; or where the cholecalciferol baits are placed only on the first day of the baiting time and optionally on up to 3 further times within the baiting time in the environment to be protected.