18/02/2021
*DISINFECTION OF POULTRY PENS*
Good flock health starts with a clean environment for new birds ( be it day old chicks or Pullets at point of lay). A clean environment refers to an environment free from debris, dirt and micro organisms. Disinfection is the destruction and elimination of microbial forms especially vegetative pathogens on any surface.
*WHY?*
Proper disinfection could mean the difference between a successfully reared flock with optimum performance and a problematic flock with recurrent incidences of disease outbreaks. Proper disinfection is always neccessary to eradicate organisms that already are present or prevalent on a particular poultry farm. It is especially critical when past flocks housed in same pen have suffered from disease outbreaks. A number of micro organisms are ubiquitous. This means that they are almost always present irrespective of whether or not there have been the occurrence of previous outbreaks in a given space. Thus, the importance of proper disinfection cannot be over emphasised.
*HOW TO PROPERLY DISINFECT A POULTRY PEN*
1. *Prepare and Plan*: As with everything else, proper cleaning and disinfection begins with preparing and planning. Have a scheduled date and time for this taking into consideration, the proposed arrival date of the birds. Also ensure the ready availability of equipment for cleaning, disinfectants ( e.g. *Intra Multi Des GA* ) fumigants, manpower and everything else needed for the cleaning and disinfection process before hand.
2. *Remove all equipment*: Remove feeders, drinkersand all other portable equipment. Automatic drinkers should be raised. If using battery cages, this is not applicable.
3.*Dirt and dust Removal*: sweep pens thoroughly and remove cobwebs.
4. *Clean water system*: Drain, deslime and clean water systems using *Hydrocare.*
5. *Prespray i.e. wet the pen with detergent/ soapy solution: This should be done just before washing and may be left for about thirty minutes or up to an hour to loosen dry dirt and scabs before washing.
6. *Wash*: It is preferable to use a pressure washer (such as is used in the car wash). Use a detergent for washing and rinse with hot water, if possible.
7. *Wash and disinfect feeding equipment*: Empty, wash and disinfect all feeding equipment.
8. *Disinfect:* Use an approved disinfectant that is effective against specific poultry bacteria, fungi and viruses.Different disinfectants have different target ranges.
*Note that not all kinds of disinfectants kill all microorganisms. Intra Multi Des GA* contains *Glutaraldehyde* which is the strongest product for disinfection, even stronger than *formaldehyde.* In addition, it also contains *Quartenary Ammonium Compounds* .
Dilute as recommended and spray or fog the walls, floors and ceilings of the pen. Again, note that disinfectants are less effective in the presence of dirt and organic matter and already diluted disinfectants should not be applied to extremely wet surfaces as this would result in further dilution. Also ensure that volume of diluted disinfectant applied is enough to last the duration necessary for complete disinfection before it dries out. For *Intra Multi Des GA*, this is just *5 minutes* and so not much volume is required.
9. *Fumigate* : This should be done as soon as possible after disinfection. Ensure pen is dry. Temperature should not be too low (minimum of 21 degrees celcius). Fumigation is the use of a fumigant to destroy living organisms such as microbes, insects, rodents, etc. Fumigants are volatile/gaseous poisonous substances used for the purpose of fumigation. There are different kinds of fumigants and fumigations.
In a deep litter system, fumigation should be done twice. First, in a completely empty pen, then secondly, after the litter has been spread. This is best done a few days before arrival of chicks or birds, in order to avoid re- infection and reinfestation.
Other fumigants to destroy insects, rodents or other pests could further be used to fumigate.
10. *External areas* : It would be a grave error to disinfect the pen and ignore the environment such as access routes, under and around ventilators and extractor fans, gutters, areas around the house,etc. Ideally, a perimeter of about three meters width around the pen should be floored or covered in gravel. This should be level and well drained and must also be cleaned, washed and disinfected.
*_Biosecurity is cheaper, more effective and less problematic than treatment of diseases. As much attention should be paid to disinfection procedures as is paid to Vaccination schedules._*
Thank you.
Dr Sherifat Abubakar,
BDO Kaduna State,
Adamore Nig. Ltd.
