Sluggoff lentil bait is the leading product across Europe for slug and snail control.
Since its launch both in Australia and New Zealand local farmers and their agronomists have continued to be impressed at the superior effectiveness in both broadacre and high value horticulture situations, ensuring Sluggoff is the first choice molluscicide choice in all-weather situations.
Sluggoff has been shown to control all pest snails and slugs at just 3kg/ha for broadacre crops such as cereals and oilseeds –and 6 kg/ha for high value horticulture and vineyards. The low application rate benefit alone continues to be a game changer in snail and slug control.
Animal Control Technologies general manager Bradley Power says this makes Sluggoff the most effective product at the lowest use rates, resulting in cost savings and greater protections for users, pets and the environment.
Bradley says the key to the product’s continued growth was its shape and formulation which makes it more palatable and edible even by smaller snails and slugs.
He describes it as robust and able to withstand wet weather, while the distinctive lentil shape is ideal for bulk ground spreading and even aerial application, giving greater flexibility to agricultural uses.
“This shape is an important feature of the product, no other one in the market provides such precise uniformity,” Bradley says.
“The aptly named lentil shaped Sluggoff lentils are precisely formed in a proprietary high pressure extrusion process at a high-tech manufacturing plant in Germany then shipped fresh to Australia,” he said.
“A uniform shape to give 100,000 baits per kilogram of product yet have no fine particles or dust to maximise operator safety and minimise drift during spreading.”
These features mean Sluggoff is highly effective yet achieves the desired control while putting less total chemical in the environment.
“The benefits of a dust-free formulation and brilliant spreading characteristics help limit risks to operators, while achieving excellent spreading and minimising aerial or ground application costs,” Bradley says.
“But the most important thing of all is the bait’s effectiveness –as proven across Europe where Sluggoff continues to retain its position as the number one selling bait.”
Bradley says the proven-performer status has now been accepted in Australasia with users and agronomists coming back season after season.
He said in the 2022 and 2023 seasons Sluggoff and ACTA were entrusted to assist many new customers due to industry wide shortages.
“This customer base and support has only continued in recent years with further growth expected in 2025.
“Sluggoff lentils are a highly palatable, rain-fast bait used to control all species of slugs and snails in all weather conditions.
“Yet at the same time it uses less chemical per hectare than other products. It is a win/win all round.”
Other bait types
Bradley says apart from the unique palatable bait shape, the key difference between Sluggoff and many other snail baits is most metaldehyde products are simple compressed pellets coated in 1.5 per cent w/w metaldehyde - most of these are known to work poorly under moist conditions.
“Metaldehyde breaks down in sunlight, so surface coated pellets may degrade in the harsh summer conditions often attributed to our Australian sowing window,” Bradley explains.
“In contrast, Sluggoff lentil bait has three per cent (w/w) metaldehyde with the active ingredient impregnated right throughout the entire palatable bait matrix.
“Application rates are as high as 20 kg/ha for broadacre crops with these baits, and even then, several treatments may be required.
“Since most baits are only surface coated with metaldehyde, some taste aversion has been reported.”
Sluggoff lentil bait continues to be available from all major rural merchants with demand expected to peak this season post summer rains when subsoil moisture levels increase.
With seeding decisions well and truly underway in most regions, resellers are suggested to be proactive and place orders early.
