AGRIBUSINESS: HOW WATER IMPACTS POULTRY HEALTH.

Water is very essential in the poultry value chain,as its the major medium used for feeding, vaccination and cleaning. Water has also been noted as a source of infection and disease transmission,hence water safety must be part of bio security protocol for poultry health. Broiler growers move further away from using antibiotics, the importance of keeping a clean water system will continue to increase; Dr. Susan Watkins, a professor and extension specialist at the University of Arkansas, said keeping a clean water supply is a major contributor to having a healthy, successful flock. Watkins, who has been studying and speaking on the importance of clean water for years, explained how growers can keep their water supply clean at the Midwest Poultry Federation Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, on March 16. Watkins said the keys to keeping a clean water supply are: 1)knowing the water supply’s challenges and addressing them properly, an inadequate cleaning is a waste of time and effort 2) Using downtime effectively and using that time to clean water systems 3) Using a daily water sanitizer best suited for the operation that is compatible with water, easy to use, ease to monitor and cost effective for the farm. 4) Establishing a program to monitor and verify water quality. Watkins offered up a few promising methods and new products as well as tips on how best to use them to help farmers decide which water cleaning program is best for their farm: A) Chlorine for water sanitation Watkins said chlorine is a good daily water sanitizer, but it is not perfect. The halogen is available in a variety of forms and is an effective water sanitizer, however its effectiveness is affected by numerous factors such as the pH level of the water, the temperature of the water, the cleanliness of the water, the amount of time the chlorine is present in the water, and the age and storage condition of the chlorine product. While it’s an effective antimicrobial, it does not remove all harmful microbes in the water supply. She said chlorine solutions work best in pH 4 to 7. The acidic form of chlorine, which exists in lower pH water, is a better sanitizer overall. As chlorine reacts with organic compounds in the water system, it can give off strong odors of chlorine. Watkins said the smell goes away as the chlorine sanitizes the water. Chlorine is not the best choice for areas where chloride levels are already high. B) Alternatives to chlorine Watkins said there are a few options other than using chlorine to sanitize water: hydrogen peroxide and a newer product that uses ultraviolet light. Hydrogen peroxide can be a good alternative to chlorine and works especially well for sanitizing pond or river water. Like chlorine, hydrogen peroxide can be dangerous to store, and its effectiveness declines over time. Watkins said a newer product, the Silver Bullet, from Colorado-based Silver Bullet Water Treatment L.L.C., is promising. She said the product uses ultraviolet light and continuously infuses electrolyzed air into the water supply -- what the company calls an advanced oxidation process to leave a small amount of hydrogen peroxide in the water.“I love this concept because you can just continuously treat water and not over treat it,” Watkins said. Watkins said environmental factors like mold can reduce the effectiveness of the Silver Bullet – and other sanitizers – and because the product does not leave behind a residual amount of an active compound, the only way to gauge its success is microbial monitoring before and after use. She recommended using the diffuser in a holding tank or wellhead rather than with flowing water. Cleaning considerations are important to achieve aim of sanitized water,these tips are important and helpful:1) Use the right concentration of a cleaner and give it the proper amount of time to work. Improper cleaner concentration or not giving it enough time to work will result in failure. 2) The entire system must be cleaned: the water lines, standpipes, regulators and distribution pipes. If any part of the system is not cleaned of biofilm and other residue, it can undermine all the time and effort spent on cleaning and lead to health problems in a broiler flock. 3) Document which products work best for your operation. Watkins said no two farms are the same, so it is necessary to figure out which products work best and record it for future reference. Swabs of microbial content collected before and after cleaning can help determine which products work best. No matter how well the system was flushed clean: flush it with a sanitizer birds can drink after cleaning. Stabilized products work best because they keep working for days after application. The secondary treatment can kill microbes that survived the line cleaning. Excerpts from Wattagnet.com

BLEACH AS A BIO SECURITY AGENT

BIO-SECURITY,is basically keeping germs out of your production site.There are so many agents that are used but i want to talk about the use of bleach in the poultry and generally on the farm. The bleach -water mix can be made in full strength and used in the foot dip.The bleach-water combo will need to be replenished in the foot dip every 4 hrs. The bleach-water combo in medium strength can be used to wash drains,and work areas in the farm.Cars entering the poultry can have the tyres sprayed with full strength of bleach-water combo.Clothes,overalls ,boots and tools should be cleaned with bleach-water combo. Proper disposal of waste,dead animals and contaminated feed is very important.The bleach- water combo can be sprayed in the trash area to prevent swarming of flies and also kill pathogenic bacteria. ITS in your hands now:use it and stay safe. CLEAN IT# BLEACH IT# STAY SAFE.

E-B-O-L-A ON THE MOVE .

The Ebola virus has caused a lot of deaths in and outside Africa.The worst hit African countries are Liberia,Sierra Leone and Guniea. The 3 countries with highest death toll were on the verge of a declaration as EBOLA FREE by the W.H.O before pockets of new cases emerged. The president of Guinea ; Alpha Conda, has announced the 45-day health emergency in the country.The restriction involve 5 major districts which are 1) Forecaniah, 2) Coyan 3) Dubreku 4)Boffa and 5) Kindia. The president noted that the virus has been traced along the coastal areas,the restrictions is to stamp out the virus and ensure proper surveillance and isolation. The latest cases of the Ebola virus occurred within the medical community, amongst health workers.Three doctors have been infected in Conakry hospital, this has been linked to lack of infection control in the hospital, and these lapses fueled the outbreak, and further spread of the virus. Six more medical personnel have been infected across 3 clinics in the western area of the country.The health facilities where personnel were infected have been quarantined and closed. Sierra leone also declared a 3 day nationwide lock down, which was fueled by fears that the virus was making a new entry.The health workers are going on a door-door campaign ,telling the citizens about the Ebola virus ,its mode of transmission and management protocol. The authorities also have a dedicated helpline which citizens are to dial in case of any new outbreak. Mass education and mobilization of the citizens and health workers are also underway, to ensure prevention of the virus and more deaths. The lifestyle of the people in the country has been linked to the the infection with the virus and consequent spread of the virus.It is worthy of note that bush meat and bats which are reservoir host of the Ebola virus is a delicacy in these countries,also community festivals, cooking parlors which are common place in these countries are another means of spread of the virus. Complacency on the part of health workers has also been fingered in the spread and maintenance of foci of infection. The virus is inactivated with soap and water; hence handwashing is key to prevent spread ,also alcohol based hand sanitizers will kill the virus.Decontamination of clothing and premises with bleach is also another means to kill the virus.Cleaning floors,tables,walls and drains with bleach also go a long way to destroy the virus. Keep washing hands with soap and clean floors with bleach.

HOW TO USE BLEACH IN BIO-SECURITY PROTOCOLS.

BIO-SECURITY is basically keeping germs out of your production site.

There are so many agents that are used but i want to talk about the use of bleach in the poultry and generally on the farm.

The bleach -water mix can be made in full strength and used in the foot dip.The bleach-water combo will need to be replenished in the foot dip every 4 hrs.

The bleach-water combo in medium strength can be used to wash drains,and work areas in the farm.Cars entering the poultry can have the tyres sprayed with full strength of bleach-water combo.

Clothes,overalls ,boots and tools should be cleaned with bleach-water combo.

 Proper disposal of waste,dead animals and contaminated feed is very important.

The bleach- water combo can be sprayed in the trash area to prevent swarming of flies and also kill pathogenic bacteria.

 ITS in your hands now:use it and stay safe. CLEAN IT# BLEACH IT# STAY SAFE. WISHING EVERYONE A SUPER CLEAN CHRISTMAS  EVERYONE A SUPER CLEAN CHRISTMAS.

HOW TO USE BLEACH AS A DISINFECTANT.

The cleaning exercise continues; another household product that I find so useful and very effective in killing germs is BLEACH.

The common household bleach does more than you know, look@ how I use it. Sodium hypochlorite(bleach), normally used to whiten clothes, it’s a powerful disinfectant. I use a mixture of bleach and water to clean floors, kitchen units, table tops and kitchen floors.

  Undiluted bleach is used  to clean toilet bowls  and  clean bathroom walls. A mixture of the bleach and water  to wipe bathroom floors, doors  sink ,brush holder and wash shower curtain .

BIO SAFETY.

Clean it,wash it,disinfect it and discard it. Clean it; clean surfaces. Sweep and mop floors. Clean walls,windows and drains. Remove cobwebs. Wash floors,walls and table tops with soap and water,detergent or other cleaning agents. Disinfect walls,floors,table tops and drains. Discard it. Discard any rotten items/ dead animals/ disposed of promptly Discard/dispose garbage/refuse promptly. Discard animal waste properly . Keep washing hands,and be safety conscious. Home made disinfectant; get some home made bleach,put in clean squirt bottle and mix with water.This is good for floors,drains and table tops.