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DairyNZ Company Keep yourself and your employees safe around the farm during COVID-19 with the following tips for cleaning surfaces.

Keep yourself and your employees safe around the farm during COVID-19 with the following tips for cleaning surfaces.

We know that COVID-19 can survive on some surfaces for as long as 72 hours. However regular cleaning can greatly reduce this time. Focus especially on areas that are "touched often" such as handles, rails and switches.  

Remember - any cleaning products used in the farm dairy must continue to conform with existing requirements under your dairy company’s Terms and Conditions of supply. 

Remember that the main route of transmission is directly from person to another, via coughing or sneezing. So, the most crucial steps to reduce spread of the coronavirus are: 

  • Remain at home if sick, 
  • Direct coughs and sneezes away from others, and 
  • Wash hands regularly throughout the day. 
  • Wear gloves for milking

What can we use to sanitise surfaces in the farm dairy?  

Every farm dairy has a ready supply of detergents and chemicals that can be used to sanitise surfaces against microbes, including bacteria and viruses.

Your normal wash regime will protect your milk contact surfaces.

Note: this is our best interpretation of the information available to date. It may well change over time as more information comes to hand.

The tables below summarise different products that can be used to sanitise different surfaces.  They have been split into surfaces in the FARM DAIRY, and other surfaces AROUND THE FARM.

Note: that all chemicals used in the dairy must be MPI-approved Dairy Maintenance Compounds.

IN THE FARM DAIRY

Material

What to use

Mode of action

Hands

Soap and water.

Wash hands regularly e.g. after removing gloves, when arriving home etc.

Soap interferes with the fats in the virus shell, lifting it from a surface, and it is then rinsed off by water.

Robust or hard materials 
e.g. clusters, rubberware, railings, gate latches.

Acid detergent solution

Reserve the recycled acid hot wash after washing the plant.
Use it to scrub or wipe down rails, pipework, gates and latches where people regularly touch. Ensure gloves are worn.

Acid detergents contain inorganic acids, e.g. phosphoric or sulphuric acid, or organic acids, e.g. lactic acid, citric acid etc. All are effective at destroying undesirable organisms, including viruses on surfaces.

Walls and Floors

Use products registered for sanitising walls and floors in the dairy and follow the label instructions.

Dilutions of 100 - 200 ppm hypochlorite solution (chlorine) and 2 minutes contact time are sufficient to kill the virus. NOTE: Too high a concentration can be corrosive.

Appropriate PPE should be worn i.e. masks, gloves etc.

Hypochlorite is particularly effective against viruses, by destroying the protein and RNA.   

AROUND THE FARM

Material

What to use

Mode of action

Hands

Soap and water.

Wash hands regularly e.g. after removing gloves, when arriving home etc and avoid touching your face.

70% alcohol-based wipes e.g. antibacterial hand wipes*, teat wipes.

Only use when no access to soap and water.

Soap interferes with the fats in the virus shell, lifting it from a surface, and it is then rinsed off by water.

Work clothes & overalls

Laundry detergent and warm/hot water.

Wash work overalls as normal. Wash daily, if possible. 

All detergents are active against bacteria, most moulds, yeasts and viruses.

Electronics, soft materials

e.g. touch screens, phone cases, motorbike handles, steering wheels etc.

70% alcohol-based wipes e.g. antibacterial hand wipes*, teat wipes.

Use to wipe down surfaces and allow to air-dry.

Discard wipes that have dried out, as they are no longer active.

Ethanol can kill viruses within 30 seconds, by destroying the proteins and RNA (genetic material).

Best results when ethanol is at a 70% concentration.

Plastics, delicate materials
e.g. light switches, control buttons, door handles, fridge handle, toilet flush button, etc.

Dilute hypochlorite solution

Make up a dilute mix e.g. 100 to 200 ppm chlorine or 0.01% to 0.02% active chlorine in a spray bottle. Spray on a cloth to wipe down frequently touched surfaces.

(NB This is equivalent to a product with 140g/L Chlorine. Add 1.5mL solution per 1L of water to give a chlorine level of 200ppm)

Hypochlorite is particularly effective against viruses, by destroying the protein and RNA.

* Note that some household products, and animal housing sanitisers contain compounds such as quaternary alkyl ammonium compounds (QACs) or Nonylphenol Ethoxylates (NPEs). These cannot be used on milk contact services, and therefore are not approved for use in the farm dairy.

What are some of the shared touchpoints?

Common shared touch points to consider sanitising include:

  • Door handles and light switches
  • Vat control pad, connection points, outlet taps, hose taps, agitator switch
  • Vacuum pump switch
  • Wash system controls
  • Filter cage
  • Pens and writing surfaces
  • Shared milking aprons, sleeves, glove boxes
  • Gates, latches and handrails
  • Milk tubes, clusters, teat disinfection equipment
  • Taps and hoses
  • Cupboard and fridge handles
  • Vehicle door handles, keys, steering wheels / handlebars

How long does coronavirus survive on different surfaces?

Some surfaces are better than others at harbouring coronaviruses. Unfortunately, it can survive well on the hard and shiny surfaces that are commonly found in the farm dairy.

Material or surface

Time

Note

Air

3 hours

Amount of time coronavirus can remain infectious in airborne droplets.

Therefore, use a mask if 2 metre separation cannot be achieved.

Copper

4-8 hours

Copper is remarkably effective at killing viruses

Cardboard

24 hours

Amount of time to find no more viable traces, in research situation.

Good guide for porous surfaces.

Stainless steel

48 hours

Amount of time to find no more viable traces of virus on these materials.

They represent many hard, shiny surfaces we find in farm dairy.

Plastics

72 hours

In summary:

  • Cleaning a surface first is an essential part of disinfection, as organic matter (dirt, faeces etc) can inactivate most disinfectants.
  • Only use products for Farm Dairy cleaning which are normally used in the Farm Dairy, in accordance with MPI regulatory requirements.
  • Where possible wear disposable gloves, or gloves that can be cleaned, when conducting cleaning tasks.
  • Soap and water should be used for hand hygiene when hands are visibly soiled. Alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water can be used when hands are visibly clean but have been contaminated from contact with environmental surfaces
  • Gloves should be worn when handling and preparing disinfectant solutions.
  • Protective eye wear should be worn to protect against splashing.

Most milk processors have requirements that Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs) (e.g. benzalkonium chloride) and Nonylphenol Ethoxylates (NPEs) cannot be used on milk contact surfaces. These compounds are often found in household “spray and wipes”, surface wipes, household bleach and animal housing disinfectants, which are not approved for use in the farm dairy.

If you are unsure about a particular product, check MPI's dairy maintenance compounds register online or contact your milk processor/factory field representative.

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World Veterinary Day 2020 promotes environmental protection

As one-health advocates, veterinarians know that environmental, human, and animal health are inextricably linked, according to the World Veterinary Association. The theme of World Veterinary Day 2020, which falls on April 25, is “Environmental protection for improving animal and human health.”

World Veterinary Day logoThe WVA created World Veterinary Day in 2000 as an annual celebration of the veterinary profession, taking place on the last Saturday of April. Starting last year, the WVA has partnered with Health for Animals, the global animal medicines association, on the World Veterinary Day Award, which honors one WVA member’s activities related to the theme.

“Veterinarians, in their role as advocates for animal health and welfare, have a responsibility as well as the opportunity to safeguard our environment for future generations,” according to the award announcement. “Their actions can help mitigate the effects of climate change, ensure proper disposal of medicines, and support responsible use of natural resources (e.g. water and feed) necessary in raising livestock.”

The WVA and Health for Animals will confer the World Veterinary Day Award and $2,500 for the best contribution on the annual theme by a WVA member association working alone or with other groups.

In 2019, the theme of World Veterinary Day was the “Value of Vaccination.” The Uganda Veterinary Association won the 2019 World Veterinary Day Award for organizing a number of vaccination campaigns in different animal species and preparing public events to promote the theme and the veterinary profession in Uganda.

Details about World Veterinary Day and the World Veterinary Day Award are available at the World Veterinary Association website.

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Herd Health Scientific Association is one of the Greatest Groups in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Faculty of Veterinary medicine ...

We are helping dairy producers in a variety of ways to aim better health performance and having more Happy Cows! if you want to join us you can contact us and we will be in touch ASAP.

Chief Consultant & Scientific Advisor:

Dr Ahmadreza Mohamadnia(Associate Professor, Department of clinical sciences, Faculty of veterinary medicine)

 

 

Legal Members(2021-22):

 

 

  • Amirhosein Taqiabadi (Manager, DVM. Student)
  • Mohammadreza Ansari (DVM. Student)
  • Reyhane Afshar (DVM. Student)
  • Behafarin Zare (DVM. Student)
  • Hakime Khorsandali (DVM. Student)
  • Mohammad Shayeghi (DVM. Student)
  • Shaghayegh Safaeian (DVM. Student)

 

 

Legal Members(2019-20):

 

  • Mohammad Mirhaj (Manager, DVM. Student)
  • Mohsen Abkhofte (DVM. Student)
  • Mohammad Riahi (DVM., DVSc Student)
  • Hosein Khoori (DVM. Student)
  • Sajede Hoseinzade (DVM. Student)
  • Amirhosein Kakaei (DVM. Student)

 

Legal Members(2018-19):

  • Mohammad Mirhaj (Manager, DVM Student)
  • Mohsen Abkhofte (DVM Student)
  • Marzie Roshan (DVM Student)
  • Homa Zebarjadi (DVM Student)
  • Sajede Hoseinzade (DVM Student)
  • Ehsan Lajmiri (DVM., DVSc. Student, Board Certified in Veterinary surgery & Anesthesia)

you can follow us Here...

For more information contact us!

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By Geof Smith, D.V.M.

With coronavirus making headlines, let’s take a closer look at the strains that can infect humans and cattle.

The author is a professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh.

Can I catch coronavirus from my cows Page1 Image2

These are coronavirus particles as seen under an electron microscope. Notice the club-like projections along the surface of the virus.

As I write this article, the death toll and global panic associated with coronavirus are both steadily rising. The latest human outbreak is being caused by a strain called COVID-19.

If you remember back to 2003, there was another major coronavirus outbreak called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS. This virus originated in China during late 2002 and spread globally in 2003. There were approximately 8,100 confirmed cases of SARS across 26 countries with about 775 deaths due to the virus.

Another coronavirus outbreak called Middle East Respiratory Syndrome or MERS which originated in Saudi Arabia during 2012. It was blamed for over 850 deaths.

We still don’t completely understand where all of these respiratory coronaviruses originated, but they probably moved into humans from animals. For example, the SARS virus originated in bats and then mutated to infect cats before moving into humans. With MERS, scientists believe the virus went from bats to camels to people. 

So far, we don’t know for sure where the new virus originated from; however, recent evidence suggests that it moved from bats into an endangered mammal called the Malayan pangolin. This armadillo-like species is popular in traditional Chinese medicine and have been sold at the Wuhan Seafood Market where the virus was originally isolated.

Dairy producers often recognize the name coronavirus as an occasional cause of diarrhea in young calves as well as a possible cause of respiratory disease in cattle. So, naturally the question becomes: “Can I catch coronavirus from my calves?” Is it possible for bovine coronavirus to mutate and infect humans?

The short answer is no, or at least extremely unlikely. Coronaviruses are a diverse family of RNA viruses characterized by the clublike spikes that project from their surface. The viral strains that have caused respiratory disease in people and those that infect cattle are different. Without getting too much into coronavirus classification systems, the bovine coronavirus is in group 2a and all the human respiratory coronaviruses have been in subgroup 2b.

The disease in cattle

There are three different but distinct disease syndromes caused by coronavirus in cattle. First of all, coronavirus is a cause of diarrhea in young calves. The virus is able to infect epithelial cells of the small intestine (gut), causing them to die. Moderate to severe diarrhea will follow, lasting for four to seven days. Affected calves are usually between 1 and 3 weeks of age.

Coronavirus isn’t really recognized as a cause of diarrhea in calves much over a month of age, with the exception of “winter dysentery.” Winter dysentery is the second type of disease in cattle commonly associated with coronavirus infection. Winter dysentery is a highly contagious gastrointestinal disease most commonly seen in dairy cattle housed indoors during the winter.

The most common sign is explosive diarrhea in multiple animals within the milking herd. The diarrhea often contains some amount of blood. Cows typically go off feed and milk production can drop significantly. Producers often describe a musty, severely unpleasant odor in the barn during winter dysentery outbreaks. There is no specific treatment other than keeping the cows hydrated with fluids, but the actual death loss is usually low and the diarrhea typically resolves within a week or so.

Lastly, there is research to suggest that coronavirus is involved in the bovine respiratory disease complex. There is conflicting information in veterinary literature about the true role of bovine coronavirus in causing cattle pneumonia. Several studies have shown that coronavirus represents one of the important viruses involved in the development of bovine respiratory disease. Meanwhile, others have not been able to find any correlation between the prevalence of pneumonia and coronavirus shedding in the field.

At least three studies have been unable to reproduce any clinical signs of respiratory disease after experimental challenges with bovine coronavirus, while other studies have been able to consistently find the virus in healthy calves. Despite this, other studies have produced pneumonia with experimental coronavirus infection, and some field studies show the virus to be more commonly isolated from calves with pneumonia than from healthy calves.

Questions about the virus

Interestingly, it is still not clear whether or not the virus that causes calf diarrhea, winter dysentery, and respiratory disease are exactly the same or different. The bovine coronavirus that causes these three distinct diseases may be the same virus or there may be slight differences.

Several publications have suggested that the enteric (gut) bovine coronaviruses are genomically the same as the respiratory coronaviruses while other studies have shown small differences between isolates. At present, we still aren’t sure whether or not the bovine coronavirus that causes diarrhea is exactly the same virus that causes pneumonia.

There is one vaccine commercially available in the United States for protection against coronavirus. It is an intranasal vaccine labeled for prevention of diarrhea due to coronavirus in calves. Interestingly, it also seems to prevent winter dysentery outbreaks in adult cattle.

The human strain

Human coronavirus was first isolated in 1967 and actually is fairly closely related to bovine coronavirus from a genetic standpoint. Bovine coronavirus, however, has been shown to be species specific for cattle and does not infect people.

Coronviruses use special molecules called “sialic acids” to attach to the surface of cell membranes in the body, but other proteins are required for the viruses to actually enter the cells. Studies in the lab using human cells have shown that the bovine coronavirus can attach to human airway epithelial cells but are unable to actually enter the cells. Despite genetic similarities between different strains of coronaviruses, most scientists believe they have very narrow host ranges. Past epidemics of coronavirus in humans have included animal vectors such as pigs, chickens, ducks, and camels, but not cattle. We can never say never, but the chances that a human strain of coronavirus would come from a cow are extremely low.

I’ll conclude by answering the original question posed in the title of this article: Can I catch coronavirus from my cows? No!!!

the Orginal Article first published on Hoard's Dairyman Website on 20th March 2020; Persian Translated Article also available in persian version of HHSA Website.

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