“Cleaning and Sterilization”

Health is wealth for all living beings and livestock is not exception. All domestic animal farms must follow regular practices of cleaning, microbicide and sterilization for trim health of livestock. The part of regular management practices includes hygiene and biosecurity measures through cleaning and disinfection on farm, which is useful to avoid diseases and ill health of animals.

Biosecurity is a broad term and includes external and internal measures. Dust, dirt and particles are carried through air currents, winds, human interference, vehicles and parcels. Protective trees, entry restrictions, footbaths, proper security measures are important to avoid these external factors under strict hygienic precautions. Footbath facilities are most important at the entrance of all animal farms and each animal shed, carrying copper sulfate 5%, zink sulfate 5% or Formaldehyde/ Formalin 5% like agents.

On animal farm cleaning and hygienic practices are more important under internal biosecurity measures. Cleaning is the first and fore most important point under daily and routine practices. Floorings, passage, walls, utensils needs to be cleaned repeatedly to avoid dust and dirt. It is possible to wipe out the dirt and clean all the surfaces with water, but ensuring immediate drawing of the surfaces is equally important.

Dairy animals are important for which cleaning and hygienic practices are adopted. Indian traditional system of animal management continues with regular washing of animals with ample water. The system needs to be changed to scientific and advanced management and practices, which includes only regular brushing of animals. Moreover, washing of udder before milking should only be practiced, if it is to be followed by complete drying with clean cloth.

Water is generally considered as perfect source for cleaning, but excess use of water, excess retention of water, excess wet surfaces facilitate for bacterial multiplication and spread of diseases. Hence, dry and wet cleaning for all external surfaces of building and material on farm must be proper.

Thorough cleaning is possible for floorings, walls, utensils, clothes, plastic and fibrewears with different detergent powders having alkaline or acidic properties. Sodium carbonate4%, sodium hydroxide, sodium salicylate are good examples of detergents to wipe out dirt, oil or glue from the surfaces. It is advisable to use these detergents diluted in slightly warm water for cleaning purposes.

Sanitizers are chemical agents to remove infective agents from surfaces of material items. 1% quarternary ammonium compounds, sodium hypochlorite, iodophers, hydrogen peroxide, paracetic acid etc. Are useful sanitizers. Cleaning, washing followed by use of sanitizers and then again washing is necessary for animal farm materials.

Labours, managers, technicians regularly visit animal farms hygienic precautions should be followed necessarily by them. Antiseptics are agents to clean skin, membranes, wounds to reduce infective agents and keep the body surfaces safe. Antiseptics can be used for human and animal hygienic body care. Chlorhexidine, alcohol, boric powder, hydrogen peroxide, povidine Iodine our best examples of antiseptics.

Microbial disinfectants are used to destroy organisms, stop their multiplication from non living material. Phenyle, formaldehyde, Sodium Bicarbonate, boric acid powder, strong alkali strong acids are used to sterilize utensils, glassware, steel items etc. on animal farm.

Sterilization is a method of complete destruction of disease causing agents and their spores along with fungus and viruses. This is possible with autoclave, hot air oven, radiation and chemical means. Laboratory equipments and material needs to be sterilized completely, but on regular basis this is not required on farms.

Cleaning, hygiene, use of sanitizers, antiseptics and disinfectants are best remedies to avoid antibiotics for farm animals and also to keep animals healthy and productive.

Similar Words: 

• Microbicide = Disinfection or Microbial Killer