We all know how important it is to keep calves in a clean environment, but are we cleaning and disinfecting correctly? It is not uncommon for products to be used at the wrong dilution or applied with the wrong equipment, leaving harmful bacteria, virus and parasites behind that infect the next group. The pig and poultry industries have amazing systems to ensure their housing is fully biosecure between batches, and there is a lot we can learn from them for the dairy and beef calf rearing systems.
Detergents
Detergents are soaps and are not the same as disinfectants. Their purpose is to remove contamination from surfaces and equipment, and to dissolve fats and proteins left on the surface. Alkaline
detergents are best used for removing organic matter – faeces, saliva, urine etc – from calf housing and equipment. Acidic washes are best used for cleaning
water troughs and buckets, milk feeding equipment, and tube feeders.
Disinfectants
Disinfectants are designed to kill bacteria, virus and parasites (such as cryptosporidium). They are used after the housing or equipment has been cleaned with detergent and left to dry. Otherwise they can be diluted by wet surfaces, meaning the correct strength is not achieved.
Most farms need both types of products, used in the correct order with the correct equipment.
Using the Correct Disinfectants
The most important pathogen to consider in your choice of disinfectant is Cryptosporidium. It is a very hardy parasite, with the eggs sticking to all contaminated surfaces e.g. railings, feeding equipment and troughs. In all cases, the housing needs to be thoroughly cleaned and washed with detergent, mixed with water which is at least 65°C first. After being left to dry the disinfectant is then applied, often using a pressure washer wand. Both concentration and contact time are critical – people often make the mistake of rinsing it off too soon, before it has had time to work.
Your options are:
• Bi-OO-Cyst: 3% dilution with 2 hours of contact time
• Kilcox Extra: 3-4% dilution with 2-4 hours of contact time
• Hydrogen peroxide: 3% dilution rate with 2 hours of contact time, or 6% dilution with 20 minutes of contact time
Rinsing is also important, especially with feed equipment. Setting up a cleaning area in your rearing area, ideally with somewhere to hang equipment up to dry, makes it easy and efficient for staff to keep equipment clean and prevent the spread of disease. This includes their hands, waterproofs and boots. Wherever possible, boot dips should be used and maintained into the calf rearing unit and nobody with soiled clothing or hands should be permitted into the calf rearing area. This also includes equipment such as scrapers, hoses, buckets – have a separate set just for calf use and ideally
keep stored off the ground, including the ends of hoses.
Some surfaces are particularly hard to clean, especially wood and breeze blocks, or roughened surfaces such as worn teat feeders. Replacing worn parts, and up-grading to smooth, nonporous materials such as parlour board can make cleaning much easier and more effective.
Synergy Calf Hygiene Visits
The Synergy Youngstock Team now offer calf hygiene visits, where we can review your cleaning and disinfection protocols with your calf rearer, and give advice on where improvements can be made. This can be advising on the best products to use in your system, writing cleaning protocols for your team, staff training or helping to work out an “all in all out” management system
Written By Vikki Wyse, Veterinary Surgeon
