What does it take to turn laboratory science into effective biosecurity on farm?
In the latest episode of At the Farm Gate, Host Jack Hughes, Biosecurity Team Manager at Livetec is joined by Nick Evans, Animal Health and Agricultural Sales Manager at Evans Vanodine, to explore the science behind cleaning and disinfection and, importantly, how that science translates into real world farm conditions.
From the lab to the farm
As Nick explains, developing a disinfectant is a detailed process involving formulation, stability testing, microbiological testing and quality control. But proving something works in the laboratory is only part of the journey.
“It's all well and good being good in the lab, but we have to be good on the farm as well,” Nick says.
Real farm conditions bring variables such as organic material, temperature, water hardness and different surface types. That is why farm trials are so important, alongside tools such as surface swabbing and ATP testing to help validate cleaning and disinfection programmes.
Getting the basics right
A major theme throughout the conversation is that choosing the right product is only one part of the process.
Nick highlights the importance of understanding the pathogen being targeted, using a product with the appropriate microbiological evidence and considering the environment in which it is being used.
Dilution, coverage and contact time all matter too. As Jack points out, simply adding “a cup full” or “a glug” isn't enough. The amount of solution required also needs to reflect the area being treated.
And before disinfection comes cleaning.
The process Nick describes is straightforward: remove excess organic material, clean with detergent, allow the area to dry and then disinfect. Getting those fundamentals right provides the foundation for effective biosecurity.
Understanding the challenge
The discussion also touches on a number of important disease challenges, including Avian Influenza, Salmonella and African Swine Fever.
Nick's point is not that every pathogen requires a completely different approach. The basic cleaning and disinfection process remains broadly the same, but where farms focus their attention and how intensive their approach needs to be can change depending on the challenge.
For ASF, for example, Nick highlights the importance of paying particular attention to areas where blood or carcasses have been present, as well as controlling the movement of people onto farms.
Making biosecurity measurable
One of the most interesting parts of the conversation is the industry's growing focus on validation and data.
Nick believes there is an opportunity to better understand how biosecurity connects with productivity, mortality and disease problems, rather than simply collecting data for the sake of it.
Jack also raises the question of whether technology could eventually help put a value on what biosecurity delivers on farm.
For Nick, this is an area where more work is needed. The aim is to move beyond knowing that a product works in a laboratory and understand how individual biosecurity measures contribute to the results seen on farm.
The right product for the right situation
Nick's final message brings the conversation back to the science.
There is no perfect disinfectant for every environment. Different products have different properties, and the right choice depends on the challenge, the surface, the time available and the conditions in which the product is being used.
His advice is simple: ask why a particular product is the right one for your circumstances.
Ultimately, the episode is about closing the gap between what we know in the laboratory and what happens on farm.
The science matters, but so does how we apply it.
Listen to the latest episode of At the Farm Gate with Jack Hughes and Nick Evans for the full conversation: