Clean animal and livestock transporters
Whether it's the small trailer that a farmer uses to drive five pigs to the slaughterhouse, or the large vehicle on the way to the pasture: Regardless of the size, all livestock transporters should be treated the same when it comes to cleaning and disinfection. Because only cleanliness and hygiene when transporting cows, pigs and poultry can ensure that the transmission of pathogens from animal to animal or to humans is prevented.
The legal framework for cleaning animal transport vehicles
Transport vehicles for animals are an essential part of the supply chain in food production - the maintenance of cleanliness and hygiene therefore plays a major role and is regulated nationally. In 2001, for example, the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office stipulated that livestock transporters must be kept clean at all times. The procedure, consisting of the mechanical removal of dirt and other substances as well as disinfection, is specified again in the EU regulation 2005R0001. In Austria and Germany, cleaning and disinfection is also explicitly prescribed for all animal transporters in the regulations for quality assurance in accordance with AMA and QS certification. The required documentation is checked every one to two years during an inspection.
How cleaning actually works in a livestock transporter
Livestock trucks are strewn with straw or sawdust before loading. This serves to reduce the risk of slipping, so that the animals can enter the vehicle more quickly, and to bind faeces and urine during transport. The degree of soiling depends on how long the animals were on the transporter - the size of the vehicle, however, does not matter.
Internal cleaning is mandatory in the slaughterhouse; external cleaning is only to be carried out if animal diseases occur. The driver should enter the farms, stables and loading ramps as little as possible - this also applies to unauthorized persons who should not enter the driver's cab or loading area of the vehicle in order to prevent the transmission of germs.
First, when cleaning the interior of the van, loose dirt is removed manually with a shovel, bucket and broom.
Depending on the length of time the animals stay, water is then generously distributed with a normal water hose or, preferably, with a high-pressure cleaner, in order to soak the dirt that has stuck.
In addition, a suitable cleaning foam can be used, which ensures a longer exposure time due to better adhesion. The loosened dirt is then rinsed out, preferably with a high-volume device with a water flow rate of 1,000 liters or more per hour in order to work with sufficient flushing capacity.
Clean cattle truck at the slaughterhouse
The slaughterhouse is a risk zone because vehicles from different farms with different herds can meet. Therefore, all transport vehicles must be cleaned and disinfected before leaving the slaughterhouse. Corresponding regulations such as EU Regulation 853/2004 stipulate that slaughterhouses must have suitable facilities for cleaning, washing and disinfecting means of transport for animals. However, concrete specifications for the structural design of these systems are not included in the European and national regulations.
Tip 1 – use hot water:
We recommend using a hot water high-pressure cleaner with a water temperature of 60 to 80 °C, as warm water dissolves dirt faster and more thoroughly. As a result, a better cleaning result can be achieved even without cleaning agents, and drying is significantly faster, which ensures shorter idle times for the vehicles. A flat jet nozzle is best suited as an accessory.
Tip 2 – wear personal protective equipment:
Personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn to protect the user from any germs that may be scattered around and from dirt flying around. This generally includes protective suits, gloves, boots, goggles and hearing protection. The boots must be cleaned and disinfected before leaving the washing area.
What the washing area for cleaning animal transporters should look like
The washing area provided by the slaughterhouse ideally has separate entrances and exits so that vehicles that have already been cleaned do not have to take the same route as transporters that are still dirty. At least one large-area roof should be available over several washing areas. A partition wall between the washing areas ensures that no contamination of other vehicles occurs. The floor surfaces must be closed and impermeable to liquids, the washing water must be drained off in a controlled manner.
If there is a closed hall, the vehicles dry much faster before disinfection. A hot-water high-pressure cleaner also makes an important contribution to this, because the use of warm water when cleaning shortens the drying time. If it is a large company, it is worth investing in a stationary high-pressure supply with an efficient high-pressure pump and a hot water steam generator.
Tip - drying before disinfection:
Once the dirt has been completely removed, the drying time must be observed. Otherwise, the subsequently applied disinfectant will dissolve in the water and will not have a sufficient effect. This also applies if there is still proteinaceous dirt on the surface. Because then the disinfectant concentrates on the protein contamination and not on inactivating the viruses or killing the bacteria and other microorganisms, and the performance of the disinfectant is no longer guaranteed. The cattle transporter must therefore be completely dry after cleaning before the disinfection can begin.
Disinfection and Hot water
After cleaning and drying a cattle truck, it is disinfected. The driver must keep a disinfection log book for each vehicle, documenting the day of transport, the type of animals transported, the place and date of cleaning and disinfecting the vehicle, and the disinfectant used.
In general, a list entry gives the user certainty in terms of effectiveness, since use concentrations, exposure time and area of application are specified. It is also possible to make an objective comparison between different means in order to make the best choice. Various aspects can be taken into account:
- With a low application rate, as few chemicals as possible are released into the environment.
- No residues may be detected in food or in waste water.
- Substances with allergenic potential such as aldehydes or cresols as well as so-called CMR substances, which are carcinogenic, mutagenic and hazardous to health (toxic to reproduction), should be avoided.
In the case of substances such as formaldehyde and quaternary ammonium compounds, there are first indications of resistance.
Tip – use foam:
We recommend using a foam to increase the visibility of areas that have already been treated and to increase the exposure time. In addition, a foam can be applied without spray mist with a foam lance from a distance of up to seven meters, which provides more safety for the user.
Due to the many problems associated with the use of chemicals, current studies on the disinfecting effect of hot water high-pressure cleaners are of interest. The effectiveness of Kärcher devices for combating viruses was certified by an independent laboratory in spring 2021. From a water temperature of 65 °C and a contact time of the water with the contaminated surface of less than one minute, hot water high-pressure cleaners can demonstrably effectively eliminate enveloped viruses - from 75 °C non-enveloped viruses are also effectively reduced.
Advantages of hot water high-pressure cleaners
High-pressure cleaners clean even better with hot water at constant pressure. In addition to better results and faster cleaning and drying times, a measurable reduction in germs can be achieved when using hot water high-pressure cleaners. With the help of the steam setting, sensitive surfaces can even be gently cleaned at up to 155 °C. In addition, the devices enable a reduction in the working pressure, the time required and the amount of cleaning agents to be used. Cleaning with hot water offers a number of advantages and various options for optimizing the cleaning process.
Clean animal transporters in the fish farm
In fish farming, the same regulations apply to cleaning as to the transport of other animals. However, fish farms are high-security areas because the risk of transmission is many times higher in fish stocks. In the worst case, the spread of germs can even lead to the destruction of the entire breed. Therefore, the vehicles are meticulously cleaned inside and completely foamed on the outside to ensure cleanliness and hygiene.
Clean fish transporter
Relocating fish and crustaceans, for example from the hatchery to a tank for rearing and fattening, always carries the risk of introducing germs or infections into the new habitat. To keep the risk to a minimum, thorough cleaning and disinfection is crucial for transport containers and animal transporters.
Passende Produkte für Ihren Anwendungsbereich
Hot water high-pressure cleaner
Cold water high-pressure cleaner
Detergent RM81 eco efficiency
Cleaning agent RM 81 direct
Stationary high-pressure cleaner
Mug foam lance
