Viper Pour On 20ltr Elanco **

Viper

Viper is a sheep lice backliner, made by Elanco, to be used up to 7 days off shears

It comes in 20L drums

It is ready-to-use, water based, but only recommend in the warmer months (see more info below)

Use through a 6 hole T-bar, with a power doser or manual applicator

ESIÂ – 56 days

Wool withhold – Do not use less than 6 months before shearing

Dose rate – See dose rate table on the drum or website

Do not re-handle sheep for 4 weeks after treatment

Elanco have an excellent Viper product info section on the Elanco Farm animal website. Please refer to this website in addition to these basic notes.

Viper can be used on shorn sheep up to 7 days off-shears, however the best time to apply the product is within 24 hours off-shears

It can also be used on unshorn lambs, from 2 weeks to 2 months of age

Do not use in adult sheep more than 7 days off-shears

Viper gives 4 weeks protection when applied within 24 hours off-shears

Viper is thick compared to Extinosad or Avenge. It generally runs slow - elevating the drum will help.

**It is terribly hard to use in cold weather. It can crystallize in cold temperatures. Recommend use from September to April, when day time temp + sun will warm product during use**

Viper contains Thiacloprid – note this is not a true “rotation” to Avenge, as they are both in the same active ingredient family

It has a high dose rate compared to Extinosad, which for some farmers can make it easier to apply in the correct pattern and get better coverage

Any lice product needs careful attention to application and be part of a management program to tackle lice (ie. Treating all sheep at the same time, not mixing treated and untreated sheep, treat bought in sheep, good fences)

Eradicating lice is not easy, and almost always needs 2 consecutive treatments (ie. In long wool then follow up off-shears, or off-shears two years in a row) plus careful management. Always seek advice from an advisor.

Use through a 6 hole T-bar, ideally using a Genesis power doser.

PSI of the power doser is usually set around 55-60 PSI, but some producers may want more pressure so the product comes out a little quicker.

It can be used through a manual applicator with a 6 hole T-bar, however this is incredibly hard work on hands if doing more than 50 sheep!

**Application is super important to have the chemical reach the lice**

For adult sheep, apply in two bands, one either side of the backbone, so they have an unbroken line all the way from poll to tail (actual application can be applied tail to poll, whichever direction the operator finds easiest). Gravity and lanolin then moves the product down and around the sheep, to reach every part of the sheep at skin level, therefore reaching all the lice present.

Often, a bit more than the dose rate is needed to achieve correct coverage.

Good technique and patience are key, taking time on each sheep then go back up and down the raceway to check, to ensure “gaps” are filled.

If sheep are moving about too much or the operator doesn’t achieve the correct coverage from poll to tail it will be necessary to take time to fill gaps.

Viper is water based – doesn’t have the same smell as Avenge, and all clean up of applicators/power doser is with water (warm soapy water can be used to first take out residue and clean mud etc off outside, then run through plenty of fresh warm water to clean thoroughly)