Dairy Farm Disinfection Basics: Routine Disinfection Methods and Precautions

I. Reasonably Choosing the Type of Disinfectant

?? ?Disinfectants should be selected that are relatively safe for humans, livestock and the environment, have no residual toxicity, do not damage equipment, and do not produce harmful accumulation in cattle. Disinfectants that can be used include: hypochlorites, organic chlorine, organic iodine, peracetic acid, quicklime, sodium hydroxide, potassium permanganate, copper sulfate, benzalkonium bromide, alcohol, etc.

II. Establish a Long-Term Disinfection System and Measures

1. Environmental disinfection: The environment around the cattle barn, including the exercise yard, should be disinfected once a week with 2% caustic soda or spread with quicklime; the sewage pools, manure pits and sewer outlets around and within the farm should be disinfected once a month with bleaching powder. Disinfection pools should be set up at the main gate and the entrance of the cattle barn, using a 2% caustic soda solution.

2. Personnel disinfection: Staff entering the production area should change clothes and undergo ultraviolet disinfection for 3-5 minutes, and work clothes should not be worn outside the farm.

3. Cattle barn disinfection: After each shift, when the cattle leave the feeding trough, the barn should be thoroughly cleaned, regularly rinsed with a high-pressure water gun, and subjected to spray disinfection and fumigation disinfection.

4. Equipment disinfection: Feeding equipment, feed troughs and feed carts should be disinfected regularly, using 0.1% benzalkonium bromide or 0.2-0.5% peracetic acid; daily tools such as veterinary tools, midwifery tools and breeding tools should be thoroughly disinfected and cleaned before use.

5. Disinfection of the environment with cattle present: Regular disinfection of the environment with cattle present helps reduce pathogenic microorganisms in the environment. Drugs that can be used for disinfection of the environment with cattle present include: 0.1% benzalkonium bromide, 0.3% peracetic acid, 0.1% sodium hypochlorite, to reduce the occurrence of infectious diseases and hoof diseases. Disinfection of the environment with cattle present should avoid contaminating feed with disinfectants.

6. Before midwifery, breeding, injection treatment and any contact operations on beef cattle, the relevant parts of the cattle such as the udder, vaginal opening and hindquarters should first be disinfected and wiped to ensure the health of the cattle.

III. Master the Following Disinfection Methods

1. Spray disinfection: Use a certain concentration of hypochlorites, peracetic acid, organic iodine mixture, benzalkonium bromide, etc. Use a spray device for spray disinfection, mainly for spraying disinfection after the cattle barn is cleaned, disinfection of the environment with cattle present, farm roads and surroundings, and vehicles entering the farm area.

2. Immersion disinfection: Use an aqueous solution of a certain concentration of benzalkonium bromide and organic iodine mixture to wash hands, work clothes or rubber boots.

3. Ultraviolet disinfection: Ultraviolet lamps are permanently installed at personnel entrances for irradiation to achieve a sterilizing effect.

4. Dusting disinfection. Spread quicklime or caustic soda around the cattle barn, at entrances, and under calving pens and cattle beds to kill bacteria and viruses. Li Shudong