Basic Livestock Hygienic/Sanitary Practices on the Farm
Livestock Hygienic/sanitary practices are those measures carried out on the farm which nullify the factors of health deterioration and create conditions to secure health for optimal performance of animals and consequently production of good quality yield/products.
Various problems in practical implementation for prevention of diseases are due to the fact that the majority of livestock is managed by illiterate and ignorant persons who ignore the basic principles of hygiene and sanitation.
Majority of causes for spread of diseases could be ascribed to improper sanitation which gives shelter to carriers of germs.
Proper cleaning and sanitation removes most of germs and parasites along with dirt, thereby remaining germs are few in number and possibly in weaken condition so as to be harmless under ordinary conditions.
To achieve good sanitation of farm premises the following general procedure should be adhered to:
Provision of adequate ventilation in pens and store rooms;
Ensure proper lighting on the farm premises;
Provision of adequate good drainage/sewage system for water wastes;
Proper cleaning of pens and barns;
Constant disinfection of floors and walls.
Sanitation of Different Apartments on Livestock Farm
1. Sanitation in calf pens
Having observed all precautions to ensure a healthy calf at birth, the animal can best be raised by housing it in sanitary, dry, well-ventilated quarters with provisions of sunshine, fresh air, exercise and by feeding it to induce better growth and development.
2. Sanitation in stalls and other quarters
Cow stalls and other quarters should be thoroughly cleaned particularly where milking takes place.
Plenty of bedding should be on the floor to minimize the danger of udder injuries when cow lies down. Barn must be kept dry and plenty of sunshine must be permitted to enter. It is quite desirable to practice good sanitation for care of milking utensils.
3. Sanitation in milking parlours
Cows to be milked must be arranged according to health of udders such as healthy, suspicious and infected groups and milked in this order to prevent infected cows from spreading diseases. Teats should be handled with dry hands to prevent cracking of skin.
NB: Sanitizing agents are solution which will hold the number of bacteria below four bacteria/cm3 on the surface of utensils, milk containers or dairy equipment. In general, half the strength of a disinfectant is needed for sanitizing purposes.
Example: Disinfectant consisting of quaternary ammonium compounds may be diluted with 60% water for sanitizing purpose.
Conventionally Approved Concentration of the Active Ingredient in Some Sanitizing Solutions
Preventing Losses among Livestock from Infectious Diseases and Parasites
The following essential features of adequate sanitation are adopted in the living quarters to prevent unnecessary loss:
Proper ventilation without drafts and without accumulation of moisture on walls and ceiling.
Proper disposal of manure, feed wastes and other excreta twice daily and keeping manure pit covered with straw to prevent breeding place of flies.
Proper construction of smooth and wide enough gutter for holding accumulated dropping and with proper slope to facilitate drainage of liquid excreta.
Watering and feeding utensils so constructed that may be easily cleaned and thoroughly disinfected.
Good lighting programme through doors, windows, ventilation and artificial lights to facilitate proper cleaning and keeping floor dry.
Smooth inside walls with corners rounded to facilitate cleaning and disinfection.
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Use of proper and clean bedding material (e.g. saw-dust, wheat bhusa, paddy straw etc.) and removed at least once daily.
Avoiding use of permanent pastures where internal parasites or their intermediate hosts are found.
Judicious use of such insecticides that have no adverse physiological effects on the animal body, e.g. marathon dust.
Adequate cleaning prior to effective disinfection.
Sweeping and scrubbing all feed racks, troughs and passages and disinfecting with lye solution.
Burning of all sweeping and scrapings.
Application of heavy coating of white-wash containing a reliable disinfectant to the floors, walls and partitions, mangers etc. (half kg of lime in one gallon of water + disinfectant).
In case of mud floor, a top of 12 to 15 cm soil is removed and replaced with clean soil.
Providing plenty of shade in hot weather.
Routine programme of deforming specially on pasture.
Judicious spraying for lice control.
Segregating the sick animals.
Protecting feed and water from being contaminated with sewage disposals.
Proper disposal of infected litter and carcass.
Proper cleaning and disinfection of calving pens.
Abundant supply of clean water with good pressure for easy and effective cleaning of milking parlors, etc.
Barns and stalls must be constructed with concrete metal stanchion which are easier to clean than wood.
Cleaning should be followed by the use of a disinfectant over all surfaces.
Use of Disinfectants in Livestock Sanitary Programs
Compounds used to kill bacteria and parasites are called disinfectants. The terms disinfectant, germicides, bactericidal agents, etc., are based upon the effects of the commonly used concentration on the vegetative cells of pathogenic bacteria.
Methods of Action by Disinfectants
These are grouped into three:
Destruction of bacterial cell or disruption of its organization.
Interference with energy utilization.
Interference with synthesis and growth.
Type of Disinfectants
1. Sunlight
It is often a valuable disinfectant if surfaces are exposed directly for a sufficient duration. It loses power to kill germs after it passes through thin film of water, dust or ordinary glass.
Nevertheless well lighted houses for animals are of great importance. The disinfecting action of it is due to ultraviolet rays.
2. Heat
3. Hot air
It is an effective means of disinfection but often an expensive one, hence is limited to laboratories.
4. Hot water
Almost all utensils can be disinfected by immersion in boiling water for a little more than five minutes. It is not satisfactory way for disinfecting floors as it loses its heat soon.
5. Stream
It is a satisfactory means of disinfection but being expensive, its use as disinfectant is chiefly limited to dairies for milking utensils. It is used under 15 lbs pressure.
6. Fire
Almost all utensils can be sterilized with fire. It adds to the total destruction of bacteria and spores, therefore a best means of disposing infected carcass and litter.
Chemicals as Disinfectants
Essentials of practical work of disinfection
Four Essentials of Practical Work of Disinfection;
(а) Preparation of buildings
The various surfaces, such as ceiling, walls, partitions, and floors should be swept free of cob webs, dust and dung. Any accumulation of filth must be removed by scraping, scrubbing with a wire brush and warm water.
Selection of Disinfectant
All factors for evaluation of any disinfectant before a given compound is recommended are as follows:
Effectiveness – specific or general.
Properties of solubility.
Availability.
Cost.
Any additional preparation before use.
Toxicity to tissues.
Actions on metals, wood, cement floor etc. (e.g., corrosive).
Effects if taken internally by animals.
Stability of solutions.
Odour, color, and action on fabrics, etc.
Method of Application of Disinfectant
The solution should be applied rapidly in such a manner to cover entire surface requiring disinfection. On a limited surface it may be used with brush.
For a large surface area we may use sprayers with a spraying at the end. Methods of use, concentration and disinfectants are summarized in Table 49.1.
Cautions
All disinfectants whether in the form of dust or solutions are more or less poisonous and irritating to eyes, skin and respiratory passages. Persons applying these must be careful to avoid ingestion of these.
Eyes, nose and mouth must be protected particularly from dust. Goggles, gloves, respirator etc. must be used.
In summary, livestock production premises (e.g. barns, and pens for lambing, calving, weaning and holding animals) frequently encounter disease problems mainly associated with the housing of new-born and young animals, pregnant females and suckling mothers. Thus, constant disinfection is necessary to prevent disease occurrence or outbreak.
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