Cleanliness and disinfection are two aspects that can’t be ignored under any circumstances – if they are neglected; you could be paving the way for the next avian flu outbreak. Biosecurity, at its best, offers poultry good protection against a wide range of diseases through exclusion of diseases from the housing. Disinfection of poultry trucks is not only important for health reasons, but it affects the performance of livestock as well.

The problem can’t be “put on ice”

Farmers have been apprehensive ever since 50 million birds have been affected by avian influenza since December, 2014. Farmers are sincerely hoping their livestock isn’t affected by the highly pathogenic disease. The problem led to egg-laying birds being destroyed to stop the spread of disease, which made egg prices shoot up and hit consumer pockets as well. Having a proper biosecurity plan in place can help to control the spread of disease. While standard biosecurity efforts practiced by the poultry industry may have been sufficient in the past, evidence of farm-to-farm spread of the HPAI virus strain in the Midwest has rung a loud alarm bell about stricter biosecurity measures.

How to choose the right disinfectant?

While talking about biosecurity, you must be familiar with disinfectants and sanitizers. If used correctly, these products can make the difference between healthy productive birds and a poorly performing farm. There are certain points to bear in mind while choosing the right disinfectant – here goes:

• The cleanliness of the surface prior to the cleanse.
• The kind of surface that needs treatment.
• Time limitations on duration of the treatment.
• The type of organisms that need treatment.
• Durability of the material of the surface or equipment.

Is there any disinfectant that is the best?

This shift in emphasis toward disease prevention has pushed the use of disinfectants and other biosecurity products to the forefront. It gives rise to the question – “What is the best disinfectant out there?”. When selecting a disinfectant, the key is to understand the specifics of the area in question and the properties of the disinfectants available.

Ideally, it would have made everything much simpler if all disinfectants could destroy different kinds of disease causing microorganisms like bacteria, viruses and fungi on all surfaces. They would be active at all temperatures and not be affected by the presence of organic matter. Regional variations in climate, farm-building materials, animal genetics and management all impact on efficacy.

Remember these vital considerations…

• Most disinfectants aren’t instantaneously effective – it takes time to bond with the microbe and destroy it. Make sure that the contact time is adequate –30 minutes is usually sufficient. If you don’t get the desired effect, move on to another disinfectant.
• Surfaces should be allowed to dry thoroughly before you can reuse them – do this as often as you can. Surface drying helps to prevent the reproduction, transportation, and spread of disease organism. Residual water on the surface can get re-contaminated with organisms.
• What organisms are you targeting? If a certain viral disease is causing trouble, the disinfectant has to be effective for eliminating the particular organism that is causing the problem.

Biosecurity measures to follow

Biosecurity isn’t optional these days – your livestock and feed vehicles will soon become contaminated if you don’t exercise necessary precautions. Even visitors to poultry premises could cause problems. The main issue is that livestock haulage and other vehicles, such as feed trucks, engineers, and other poultry facility visitors offer a convenient conduit when it comes to transmission of diseases.

• Don’t allow non-essential vehicles – the more you prevent access to your farm or site, the better are your chances of avoiding spread of diseases.
• Trucks and trailers need to be cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis, via efficient methods and powerful products prior to arrival at the site.
• Wheels, wheel arches, undercarriages, and tires, should be paid special attention – they need to be cleaned and disinfected immediately after arriving at the facility.

From the building to the equipment to vehicles such as egg trucks, feed trucks, live poultry trucks, hatchery trucks and fertilizer trucks and trailers, you need to go over every part of your facility with a toothcomb to ensure there is no breeding ground for viruses and bacteria. Even if it might sound extreme, but for safety purposes you can create biosecurity barrier and restrict vehicles visiting the unit from entering.

Call us for help!

Although it is good to be familiar with the different kinds of disinfectants, and how each variety can be useful, it is best to call in professionals for cleaning and disinfection. At Innovative Equipment Solutions, Inc., we are dedicated towards offering a clean and healthy environment for your poultry to thrive, while ensuring you are protected from harm at the same time. We employ highly specialized methodologies so your poultry transportation vehicles are free from disease causing microorganisms.

Washing and disinfecting at Neptune Wash Solutions

All of our equipment uses the latest technology and advanced components so clear your poultry vehicles of all impurities and harmful elements.

Engineered Nozzle

Leaving voids is a strict no-no. We have come up with the perfect interior misting pattern while spraying the poultry trucks, which eliminates the problem of voids – that is why we use the right position, spacing and nozzles at the time of spraying. Open orifices fail to create the mist pattern required for proper disinfecting. Tiny water droplets generated by the nozzles can infiltrate both the crevices and smooth surfaces of the vehicle. Side-spray nozzles generate exceptional mist patterns that disinfect the area in a jiffy!

Trancinator Base

It is made using top quality 3/8” hot-dip galvanized disinfecting steel, with section measuring 102” lengthwise and 114” at the wheel base. We have constructed the base so the disinfectant can seep deeply into the tires of the vehicle where contaminants and other impurities tend to pile up the most. The Trancinator base is patented and structured to flex the treads of the tires, so that solids can drop free and let the disinfectant evenly spread to the tires.

The Canopy & Rails

Here we have the Neptune Disinfecting cage along with solid welded side walls that play a crucial role during the process. The base is 102 inches wide, which become 138 inches at the body of the truck. The dimensions are this way on purpose – it allows a wide load with extended mirrors can be easily housed inside. On extra windy days, the cage sheeting aptly prevents drift, which decreases wastage and puts a stop to disinfectant exposure in case laborers are working nearby. The square tubing used as the header system to dole out the disinfectant imparts additional robustness and durability, while acting as the framework for the Galvalum Cage too.

To know more about the services we offer, please get in touch with us at Neptune Wash Solutions, via phone or email. We can provide a preliminary quote, after which you can decide if you want to hire us – rest assured it is a no-obligations estimate. We take pride in our work and guarantee you would be more than satisfied with the job.