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ARS Home » Plains Area » College Station, Texas » Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center » Food and Feed Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #318593
Title: Use of a foaming disinfectant and cleaner to reduce aerobic bacteria on poultry transport coops

Author
item HINOJOSA, CAROLEE - Texas A&M University
item CALDWELL, DAVID - Texas A&M University
item Byrd Ii, James - Allen
item ROSS, MARTINA - Texas A&M University
item STRINGFELLOW, KENDRA - Texas A&M University
item FOWLKES, ERIN - Texas A&M University
item LEE, JASON - Texas A&M University
item STAYER, PHIL - Sanderson Farms, Inc
item FARNELL, Y - Mississippi State University
item FARNELL, MORGAN - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: Journal of Applied Poultry Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/21/2015
Publication Date: 6/1/2015
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/61128
Citation: Hinojosa, C.A., Caldwell, D.J., Byrd II, J.A., Ross, M.M., Stringfellow, K.D., Fowlkes, E.J., Lee, J.T., Stayer, P.A., Farnell, Y.Z., Farnell, M.B. 2015. Use of a foaming disinfectant and cleaner to reduce aerobic bacteria on poultry transport coops. Journal of Applied Poultry Research. 00:1-7.

Interpretive Summary: Chicken cages that are used to transport the birds to the processing plant are rarely washed and have been shown to be the point that bacteria can be passed from chicken to chicken. Foaming disinfectants and cleaners, commonly used within processing plants, may be used to clean and disinfect these cages. In this study, well-mixed fecal material was evenly applied to the floors of precleaned broiler transportation cages and allowed to dry. Treatments consisted of a water rinse, a foam additive alone, foaming cleaner, and a disinfectant plus a foam additive. All foaming treatments were applied using a compressed air foam system, similar to what firefighters would use. A high-pressure water rinse (HPWR) was added prior to, or following the treatments to determine whether rinsing prior to product application or rinsing after product application would improve disinfection. Based on our data, a compressed air foam system may be used in combination with a commercially available disinfectant or foam cleaner to reduce bacteria on the surfaces of commercial broiler transportation cages. Furthermore, the addition of a HPWR did not further reduce the level of bacteria on broiler transportation coop floors.

Technical Abstract: Poultry transportation coops are rarely washed and have been demonstrated to be a point of cross-contamination of broiler carcasses. Foaming disinfectants and cleaners, commonly used within processing plants, may be used to clean and disinfect poultry transportation coops. In this study, homogenized fecal material was evenly applied to the floors of precleaned broiler transportation coops and allowed to dry. Treatments consisted of a water rinse, a foam additive alone, foaming cleaner, and a disinfectant plus a foam additive. All foaming treatments were applied using a compressed air foam system (2,271 L/min; 600 gal/min), similar to what firefighters would use. A high-pressure water rinse (HPWR) was added prior to, or following the treatments to determine whether rinsing prior to product application or rinsing after product application would improve efficacy. Based on our data, a compressed air foam system may be used in combination with a commercially available disinfectant or foam cleaner to reduce aerobic bacteria on the surfaces of commercial broiler transportation coops. Furthermore, the addition of a HPWR did not further reduce the level of aerobic bacteria on broiler transportation coop floors.