Housing

The World Class Pig already starts at the barn door.
To produce a World Class Pig, it is extremely important to maintain high hygiene standards and thorough cleaning in the changing room and of course in the housing units.
In this section, we will go into more detail about exactly this.

The changing room

The changing room is the primary entrance to the barn and is consequently one of the places where the risk of staff and visitors carrying infection into the herd is substantial. Delivery of goods, delivery ramps etc., however, also pose a significant risk.
Always make sure that the information at the front door is correct: Contact person, contact person telephone number and, if applicable, health status. It can be an advantage that the front door is locked. Registration of all visitors is recommended.
After entering the changing rooms, it is important to have a clear demarcation between "unclean" and "clean" areas, e.g., a half-wall, grate or similar. In Denmark, if the herd is connected to a health agreement, it is required by law that the changing room is provided with wash basins and bathing facilities.
Use an effective hand soap, and preferably use disposable paper to dry your hands.
When entering the "clean area", clean stable clothes and boots must be available. It is recommended that a washing machine/dryer is present in the changing room so that the stable clothes do not have to come outside the stable.
A boot bath, which is to be used on the way out/in, should be placed at the exit to the antechamber/entrance to the stable.

Fixed routines are important

In order to achieve the goal of producing a World Class Pig, it is important to ensure that conditions are optimal. This also concerns fixed routines for washing, drying and disinfection.
The purpose of washing and disinfecting the housing units is to create optimal conditions for the pigs. You can say that the housing units are to be reset in order to lower the infection pressure in the units. In this way, the pigs are ensured optimal growth conditions.
 
This is the best way to wash:
Pre-washing of the barn
• Manure residues are removed
• Thorough soaking
• Thorough washing: All visible dirt must be removed >90% clean 

Fine washing of the housing units

After pre-washing, the next step is washing with soap. Apply the soap evenly on all surfaces, and let it soak for 15-60 minutes, depending on the soap you use. Next, wash with a pressure washer. It is important to be aware that the various washers differ substantially in terms of the correct dosage and types of soap.
Soap contains surfactants which dissolves and removes grease and dirt. In addition, both grease and dirt are bound to water, and are therefore discharged together with the water. Another advantage of using soap is that equipment and concrete floors are degreased. This leads to the stable being easier to dry out, therefore time and the use of fuel oil are cut down. That is why Vilofoss recommends always to with soap before starting to disinfect.

• Application of soap: With foaming gun
• Leave the product for 20 to 60 minutes: Do not allow the soap to dry
• Next, wash the stable completely clean: Finish by removing all clear water from feed troughs, drinking cups and puddles, if any

Disinfection of the housing units

After the units have been washed with soap, it is important to ensure that there are no visible puddles or signs of water in cracks etc. At this stage, the units may well be damp, but it is important to avoid that the equipment is wet. Wet conditions reduce the disinfection effect, and it is important to be aware of this fact.
The type of disinfection one should choose, depends entirely on which housing units and which bacteria the herd normally is challenged with.
In the farrowing house we often see problems with coccidia and bacteria as E.coli, in early weaning sections it is bacteria such as e.coli and Lawsonia/PIA, and in the fattening house, Lawsonia and salmonella will frequently pose a challenge.
Common to all stable sections is that we must lower the infection pressure. One bacterium turns into numerous bacteria in just a few hours. Therefore, the principle of 'the cleaner the barn, the fewer bacteria' is particularly important to keep in mind.

Check that the barn is dry

• Visible water is removed manually
• Temperature with IR thermometer: same temperature on concrete floor and plastic inventory Thorough surface disinfection (remember respiratory protection)
• Use a disinfectant and concentration, suitable for the microorganisms that are present in your farm
• Be especially thorough round covers, cracks, corners, pen walls, automatic feeders and water bowls
• After disinfection, leave the units for minimum 30 minutes before starting heating and ventilation 

Cleaning of water lines and cups

• Without animals in the barn: Use formic acid or a strong acid blend 2% solution. Activate all valves so that the acid solution is distributed into the pipelines
• Leave for 6-18 hours
• Stop adding acid
• Remove the last nipple drinker on the pipeline, let it operate for 3-5 minutes
• Check other valves for adequate water output: 3 litres/minute 

Cleaning of castration/treatment cart

• To be cleaned on a daily basis
• Use a disinfectant and concentration, suitable for the microorganisms that are present on your farm 
Drying and heating of the barn
Dry out the units
• Outside temperature above 20° C. The moisture is removed using the ventilation system
• Outside temperature below 20° C. Add heat
• Oil-heating cannon: Calculate with 0.5 litres of oil per m2
• The units are dry when the temperature of the concrete floor and plastic inventory is identical, measured with IR thermometer At Vilofoss, we recommend that the temperature reaches 30-35 degrees before you start to ventilate the unit. As shown in the diagram, this is the point where the air really starts to hold moisture. If the temperature does not rise to 30 to 35 degrees, an extra oil heater is needed. Vilofoss recommends using 0.4-0.5 litres of oil per square meters.

Temperature	Saturation / water vapour content in the air, 65 g humidity
C	g/m3
0	4.84
5	6.8
10	9.4
15	12.82
20	17.29
25*	23.04
30*	30.36
35*	39.6
40*	51.14
*Recommended drying-temperature

Prior to the pig’s introduction

• Heat to proper temperature (about 1 degree higher than in the piglet creep area in the farrowing pen)
• Add Stalosan F in creep areas and on walking areas: 50-100 g/m2 

Disease prevention by dry disinfectant

Further a broad-spectrum disinfectant in powder form like Stalosan F is very effective against bacteria, fungi and virus in presence of organic matter. It is formulated for application in presence of animals, which is very important in the weaning period.  The ammonia and moisture reduction properties of Stalosan F contribute to stress reduction and animal welfare.  

Weekly application ensures profitable animal production.
In case of high pathogen pressure frequency of application can be increased to 3-4 times a week.

Make demands on suppliers

It is important that the farmer makes demands on suppliers of disinfectants, i.e., it is essential to check whether the products are tested in terms of the kind of bacteria and viruses the products combat? This is since it highly differs which bacteria disinfectants counteract. It is therefore important to be properly advised for you to choose the right product.

If you do not have definite procedures and routines for washing, disinfecting and drying the housing unit, the consequence is increased feed consumption and, of course, increased growth in the number of bacteria.