Best Practices For Cleaning Houses And Equipment

Biosecurity creates hygienic conditions within the animal house to minimize the adverse effects of disease, optimize animal performance and welfare, and provide assurance on food safety issues. Site cleaning must remove all potential animal and human pathogens, and minimize the number of bacteria, viruses, parasites and insects between flocks/herds. A period of downtime between flocks/herds is essential.

The following ten step program, based on Aviagen’s best practices in biosecurity for broiler houses will be detailed in the Broiler Management, and Broiler and Layer Breeder Management AgriSchools.

1. Plan well Develop a plan, detailing: dates, times, labour, responsibilities, and equipment prior to depopulating the farm.

2. Insect control Wearing appropriate protective equipment spray the interior of the house with an approved insecticide as soon as animals are removed (while the building is still warm). A second treatment with insecticide should be completed before fumigation.

3. Remove cobwebs, dust etc. Remove all dust and cobwebs from interior surfaces and equipment.

4. Pre-spray Wearing appropriate protective equipment, spray detergent solution throughout the house, Close the curtains in open-sided houses first.

5. Remove equipment Remove all equipment from the house and raise automatic feeders and drinkers.

6. Remove and dispose of litter/bedding Litter must be removed to a distance of a least 3 km from the farm, and in accordance with any local regulations.

7. Washing Using a pressure washer with foam detergent. Ensure the detergent is compatible with the disinfectant to be used. Rinse with hot water.

8. Clean the water and feeding systems

   1. Water system

      1. Drain, clean and disinfect the water system

      2. Water pipes should be cleaned regularly when the house is populated to remove any biofilm that may have built up. If physical cleaning is not possible use high levels (140ppm) chlorine.

      3. Flush water lines with clean water prior to placement

   2. Feeding system

      1. Empty, wash and disinfect all feeding equipment

      2. Empty bulk bins and connecting pipes and brush out. Clean out and seal all openings.

      3. Fumigate wherever possible

9. Disinfection Use an approved disinfectant against specific bacteria and viruses for the type of animal housed. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions at all times. Most disinfectants are not effective against sporulated coccidial oocysts. Where required, selective coccidial treatments should be used by trained staff only.

10. Fumigation Where permitted, formalin fumigation should be completed by trained personnel, following local safety legislation and guidelines. Fumigate as soon as possible after disinfection; surfaces should be damp, and where possible the house warmed to a minimum of 21oC, and a relative humidity of at least 65%. Seal the house for 24 hours (no entry permitted). Ventilate the house to reduce formalin levels to 2ppm before entry to the house is permitted. For broiler houses, repeat fumigation after the litter has been spread.