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- Dry disinfection preparations are a valuable supplement to disinfection used between production cycles.
- In addition to their biocidal properties, they also have a positive impact on the microclimate of rooms.
- What should you pay attention to when using dry disinfection?
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As we have written many times, hygiene is the most effective method of preventing animal diseases. And there is no hygiene without cyclical disinfection of production premises. Although it will never allow pathogens to be completely removed from them, it will nevertheless reduce their pressure to a level that the animal's body will have a chance to cope with without the intervention of a veterinarian.
Complementing classic disinfection
In classic pig farming, disinfection procedures are usually performed by applying preparations (e.g. by spraying or fogging) in breaks between production cycles. Properly performing such a procedure requires first thorough cleaning of the surface, which is impossible in the presence of animals. In addition, direct contact of animals with the active substances of preparations could be harmful to their health.
A valuable addition to classic disinfection procedures is the so-called dry disinfection, which involves applying a powdered preparation to critical surfaces on the farm. A huge advantage of this technology is that it can be successfully used in rooms where animals are kept, which will allow you to fill the gap between cyclical "classic" disinfection procedures.
Read more ABC of biosecurity of pig farms: Washing the facility
Chlorine compounds in the fight against pathogens
Most commercially available dry disinfection products are based on one and the same substance. It is chloramine T, a compound that decomposes in contact with moisture, releasing sodium hypochlorite, which has strong biocidal properties. Importantly, when the manufacturer's recommended dosage is maintained, the release of hypochlorite is low enough not to pose a threat to the health of animals in the premises. It also does not irritate the eyes or mucous membranes of people working on farms.
However, the effectiveness of dry disinfection preparations is not limited to the effective reduction of the population of pathogenic microorganisms. The active substances of such products are also effective in the fight against fly larvae, which allows to significantly reduce the negative effects of their occurrence on the farm. Additional advantages of using this technology include binding excess moisture in the room and reducing the odor nuisance of production.
What should you pay attention to when using dry disinfection?
Of course, the key issue is to maintain the manufacturer's recommended amount of the preparation per unit of surface area (usually 50-100 g per m2). Underdosing will limit the effectiveness of the treatment, while an excess of the product may lead to negative health effects in animals and humans, such as the aforementioned irritation of body tissues.
Another thing is to observe the principles of personal protection by the staff themselves. Although such preparations are considered safe, it can be dangerous to health if the powder gets into the eyes or respiratory tract. The absolute minimum is therefore the use of basic personal protective equipment such as gloves, safety glasses and a dust mask.
Read more ABC of biosecurity of pig farms: Disinfection of production premises
