Cleaning & Disinfection - Pigs

How to clean a pig pen effectively?

Creating and maintaining a low-pathogen environment is the most crucial step to ensure pigs health and overall performance. The impact of a clean barn correlates directly with the health status of your pigs. Furthermore, its affecting growth rates, feed efficiency, and reproductive success. But which steps are required for an effective cleaning and disinfection program?

Take charge, improve performance with hygiene.

Clean your pig pen in 7 steps

Why is cleaning and disinfecting important?

Each step in cleaning and disinfecting reduces germ levels in pig pens. This is essential for preventing diseases in pigs such as coccidiosis, E. coli, PRRS and Clostridial enteritis.

After emptying

50.000.000 Germs/cm²

After rough cleaning

20.000.000 Germs/cm²

After cleaning with MS TopFoam

100.000 Germs/cm²

After disinfecting with MS MegaDes

<500 Germs/cm²

The 7 steps for cleaning your pig pen

Cleaning and disinfecting a pig stable is crucial for maintaining animal health and ensuring a productive farming environment. This comprehensive guide outlines a step-by-step approach to effectively clean and disinfect your pig barn, ensuring a fresh start for each new round.  Extra tip: download the cleaning protocol. 

Safety first: Ensure your own safety when cleaning the pig pens by wearing protective clothing, including disposable coveralls, face protection, gloves, footwear and earmuffs.

Step 1: Empty the pig pens and clean it thoroughly

For an effective cleaning process, it is crucial to start with an empty, dry-cleaned pig pen. Make sure most of the manure has been removed and the pens are prepared for cleaning with water.

Remove pigs and equipment

Begin by relocating all animals and removing any movable equipment from the barn. This step is essential for comprehensive cleaning and disinfecting.

Start with dry cleaning

Use brooms, brushes and scrapers to sweep and scrape away loose organic materials and dirt. This initial cleaning reduces the amount of contaminants and prepares the surface for more intensive cleaning.

Person in protective gear pressure washing a dirty pig pen floor

Step 2: Clean with water

After manual cleaning, this step removes the remaining contamination from the surface with high-pressure water.

Use a high-pressure cleaner

Remove all the remaining contamination with a high pressure cleaning.View high pressure cleaners

Step 3.1: Identify pollution type

Understanding the types of contamination present in your swine barn is necessary before your can select the right cleaning products. Contamination in a swine barn is normally classified into two types: organic and inorganic contamination. We recognize a third type: historical contamination; which is the result of ineffective cleaning over several rounds. Historical contamination can build-up over time, and consist of multiple layers of left-over organic and inorganic pollution.

Organic pollution

Manure, feed residues, skin fats, and other biological wastes

Inorganic pollution

Water minerals, lime or calcium deposits, and iron

Historical pollution

A build up of multiple mixed layers of pollution, caused by ineffective cleaning over multiple rounds.

Step 3.2: Choose the right foam for the job

The detergent in foam cleaners breaks down the organic pollution left behind after high-pressure cleaning. Organic pollution consists of several layers and forms a barrier that can keep disinfectants from reaching pathogens. Removing fats by cleaning with a detergent is a crucial step in creating a low pathogen habitat because it exposes all pathogens for elimination during disinfection.There are two types of foam cleaners:

Alkaline foam cleaners are most effective against organic contaminants and can be effective against historical contaminants in high concentrations.
Acidic foam cleaners excel in removing inorganic and historical contamination.

Historical contamination can be organic or inorganic. A knockdown treatment is the most effective in resetting heavy historical pollution. Determine whether alkaline or acidic foam cleaners are more suitable based on the pollution type and cleaning frequency.

Foams comparison

Characteristics
	MS TopFoam Power - Foam cleanerProduct information	MS TopFoam LC Acid - Foam cleanerProduct information	MS Reset Acid - DetergentProduct information	MS Reset Alk - DetergentProduct information	MS T&T Cleaner 2.0 - Vehicle cleanerProduct information	MS TopFoam Animal - Animal shampooProduct information
	-	30 min	-	-	10 min	5 min
	Alkaline	Acid	Acid	Alkaline	Alkaline	-
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Extensive comparison

Person using a pressure washer to clean a tiled floor, with a hybag topfoam power

Step 3.3: Foam the pig pen

Applying foam cleaner is an important step, which ensures effective cleaning of every surface by breaking down biofilms layers and organic matter.

Apply the foam cleaner - 30 min

Spread the foam evenly over all surfaces and follow concentration and contact time guidelines to maximize cleaning effectiveness.   Foam all surfaces that pigs may come in contact with and use a 1-2% concentration of MS Topfoam. Allow the foam to act for 30 to a maximum of 120 minutes (avoid letting it dry).About MS TopFoam

Person cleaning an orange grid floor with a high-pressure water hose, wearing blue gloves and boots.

Step 4: Rinse with water and let it dry

After the foam has done its job, it's time to rinse off the cleaning agents and dry the area.

Use a highpressure cleaner

Rinse the area thoroughly with high-pressure water to remove any dislodged contaminants and residual cleaning agent. Follow up with a low-pressure rinse.

Inspect the room

Conduct a visual inspection to ensure cleaning quality before moving to the disinfection stage.

Let the pig pen dry completely

Ensure the area is fully dry to prevent dilution of the disinfectant, which can reduce its effectiveness.

Person in protective gear cleaning a pig pen with a hose

Step 5: Disinfect the pig pen

Proper disinfection is key to eliminating pathogens and ensuring a healthy environment for the pigs.

Use MS MegaDes Novo - 5 min

Apply this disinfectant according to guidelines, ensuring a contact time of at least 5 minutes for optimal germ-killing action.About MS MegaDes

Person in blue coveralls and yellow boots cleaning a floor with a hose in a pig pen.

Step 6: Rinse again with water and dry

Rinsing post-disinfection removes any chemical residues, leaving the pig pen safe and clean.

Use a highpressure cleaner

Rinse thoroughly with high-pressure water, paying extra attention to areas that come into direct contact with the pigs.

Let the pig pen dry completely

A completely dry environment helps to inhibit the growth of new pathogens, if they are introduced into the environment.

Step 7: Inspection, monitoring and training

Ensuring that your cleaning and disinfection efforts are effective involves regular inspections and staff training.

Check the barn after each cleaning round

Perform thorough inspections to identify any missed spots or areas that require additional attention.

Train your staff

Educate your team on proper cleaning techniques and the importance of maintaining a clean environment. Emphasize the role of cleanliness in preventing disease and promoting animal welfare.