Pig farmers invest significant effort in preventing harm from bacteria and viruses such as salmonella, circovirus, and PRRSv. Furthermore, the entire sector is wary of diseases like African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease, which could emerge in the region at any time. Good internal and external biosecurity measures are crucial weapons in preventing the introduction of pathogens and keeping the infection pressure on the farm low. Cleaning and disinfection are essential components of this. There are still gains to be made in this area on many farms, according to Daisy Roijackers of Intracare.

Text: Gerben Hofman of Varkensbedrijf Images: Intracare

Cleaning and disinfection are a vital part of healthy farm management. It's often routine work, but that's precisely where the danger lies. Unintentionally, it frequently happens suboptimally, allowing pathogens to survive and thus enter or remain and multiply on the farm. Biosecurity manager Daisy Roijackers of Intracare guides us through the steps of a good cleaning and disinfection programme. This consists of:

Dry cleaning

Remove loose material such as feed residues, straw, and manure. This can be done manually or mechanically. The less organic material that remains, the better the following steps will work.

Wet cleaning

Hose down the area as clean as possible with a high-pressure sprayer.

Soaking

Using a foam cleaner is an important step to loosen stubborn dirt. "However, a common misconception we encounter is that people think foaming already has a disinfecting effect," says Roijackers. It doesn't. A foaming agent like our Intra Foamcleaner is intended to make it easier to remove dirt. That doesn't mean you're finished after hosing down."

Rinsing

Thoroughly rinse all surfaces with high pressure to remove the loosened dirt. "Sometimes it's not considered a big deal if dirt remains," explains Roijackers. "The thinking is that disinfection will still take place after cleaning. This is not recommended. Because a disinfectant usually cannot penetrate deep into the dirt, pathogens can still remain. If you often deal with stuck-on dirt, check whether the foaming is optimal."

Drying

Allow the area to dry thoroughly before applying the disinfectant. "If a surface is still wet, the disinfectant will be unnecessarily diluted. This reduces its effectiveness. In a wet environment, it can also be washed away, which is a complete waste," Roijackers explains.

Disinfecting

Visually clean does not mean free of pathogens. Disinfect the area as the final step in the process. "So even if you have already used foam. Foaming is different from disinfecting," says Roijackers. Use a powerful disinfectant, ensuring the correct dosage and contact time. This is precisely described on the packaging of products such as Intra Multi-Des GA. Apply the product to dry surfaces and allow it to work without rinsing.

Don't forget the drinking water system

"What we quite often see in practice is that the cleaning of the drinking water system is forgotten between batches," says Roijackers. "While pathogens can very easily reside there. Often, there is a biofilm on the inside of the water pipes. This is a kind of stubborn slime layer where pathogens can easily settle and survive for a long time. Then you've gone to the trouble of cleaning the entire building, and the animals still ingest pathogens with their very first sip of water. By cleaning the system between batches, the disease pressure can be significantly reduced." According to Roijackers, it is important to remove the biofilm using a product like Intra Hydrocare and then flush the dirt out of the pipes. "This ensures that the pigs have access to clean and safe drinking water, which is essential for their health and growth."