CALVING: Cleaning & Disinfection Biosecurity Program

BiosolveTM HDD has excellent cleaning and degreasing properties with the ability to be applied through a standard farm pressure washer or knapsack sprayer.

Virkon™ S is proven to kill over 500 strains of viruses, bacteria, fungi and yeasts. Lambs are highly susceptible to pathogens that can cause serious and sometimes fatal disease. The powerful disinfectant formulation of Virkon S provides a highly convenient multipurpose biosecurity solution in a single pack for the disinfection of surfaces, equipment, water delivery systems, aerial disinfection, vehicles and boots. Virkon S’ formulation has been approved, as suitable for use in organic farming applications for the cleaning and disinfection of buildings by Australian Certified Organic (ACO).

As soap and water isn’t always readily available, Virkosan hygienic hand gel is a perfect solution to use after every interaction with a potentially infectious surface or object.

Cut down on cross contamination at calving and improve your continuous farm biosecurity

Within the first 6 months of life, calves are highly susceptible to pathogens that can cause serious and sometimes fatal disease such as diarrhoea (calf scour), pneumonia and septicaemia. Implementing effective cleaning and disinfection biosecurity procedures is one of the most economical and effective practices in helping to reduce the loss of vigour, and life, that disease challenges facing new-born calves frequently cause.

1. Calving Pen/Shed Cleaning & Disinfection Pre-Population

• Remove all moveable equipment from the lambing building e.g. dividing fences, feeding and water troughs.
• Brush loose debris from ceilings, walls and floors and remove all dung, bedding and unused feed, ensuring the building is as clean as possible.
• Soak all surfaces thoroughly with Biosolve™ HDD heavy duty detergent solution applied at low pressure. Leave for 20-30 minutes, and then rinse all surfaces with clean water at high pressure.
• Ensure all surfaces and equipment are visibly clean and dry before moving on to the disinfection stage.
• Using a knapsack sprayer or pressure washer on a low pressure setting apply a Virkon™ disinfectant solution evenly to all washed equipment and internal surfaces of the building, to the point of run-off.
• Allow all surfaces to dry before replacing removed equipment and replenishing with fresh bedding.
• Routinely clean and disinfect all equipment with Virkon™ S disinfectant solution during the calving cycle.

2. Disinfecting Calving Pen Surfaces & Equipment During Occupation

• Remove organic matter from all surfaces and equipment and any wet and soiled bedding from pens.
• Wash surfaces and equipment with clean water.
• Clean and disinfect feeding equipment including buckets, feed drinkers and calf cafeterias with Virkon™ S solution.
• Using a knapsack sprayer or pressure washer on a low pressure setting, apply a Virkon™ S disinfectant solution evenly to all washed equipment and surfaces and then ‘bed-up’ with clean fresh straw.

3. Continuous Farm Biosecurity

Continuous biosecurity measures will help prevent the introduction and spread of disease-causing organisms onto a farm. With this in mind, the following biosecurity procedures should be implemented at all times.

Disinfectant boot dips
All personnel must use Virkon™ disinfectant boot dips on entering the site or lambing shed.
Replace Virkon™ S solutions every 5 days (or sooner, if visibly soiled).

Hand washing and sanitising
Dirty or unwashed hands transfer infection. All visitors and staff must wash or sanitise their hands before entering the site, starting work, after breaks and when changing activities using either an antibacterial hand soap and water or instant hand sanitiser, such as Virkosan.

Wheel Wash, Vehicle Sprays & Mobile Equipment
Any vehicle entering the site must pass through a Virkon™ S disinfectant wheel wash or vehicle spray*. The wheel wash disinfectant solution should be topped-up regularly. Mobile equipment brought onto the site from other units must be washed and then disinfected before being allowed to enter.
Visitors
Care must be taken to ensure that visitors appreciate the biosecurity measures you have taken to protect your farm site, and protective equipment should be issued to visitors where appropriate.

• Always use a 1:200 Virkon™ S solution for spraying
  applications