The Effect of Dosing Technique on the 1080 Content of Meat Baits

Three methods of preparing meat baits for 1080-poisoning were compared: tumble-mixing where baits were sprayed with 1080 solution; tumble-mixing where baits were sprinkled with 1080 solution; and injection. The tumble-mixing techniques produced baits which averaged 91% retention of the nominated (3.3 mg) dose, and contained 1.3-6.1 and 1.2-5.3 mg 1080, respectively. Two lots of injected baits retained averages of 90% and 97% of the nominated (6 mg) dose, with ranges 3.4-6.8 and 4.5-6.6 mg of 1080, respectively. Both tumble-mixing (either sprinkled or sprayed) and injection can give good average retention of 1080 in meat baits, but tumble-mixing appears to produce baits with a wider range in 1080 content than does injection. The latter method does not require bulky equipment and is quick and convenient, except when one person has to prepare very large quantities of meat baits (e.g. 2-3 tonne). Possible reasons for variation in 1080 content of single-lethal-dose baits prepared by these methods are discussed.