Reducing Microbial Contamination of Poultry Transport Crates by Improved Cleaning and Disinfection Systems Based on Better Water Use

This research project aims to improve cleaning of poultry transport crates in order to reduce microbiological contamination.

<p>Studies have shown that a major source of cross contamination between flocks of birds is from the poultry crate, which strongly suggests that current techniques for crate washing are relatively ineffective.

<p>One aim of the study is to provide an assessment of the effectiveness of current poultry crate washing and disinfection processes in reducing the physical contamination and microbiological load of poultry crates.

<p>The study will also explore the effectiveness of possible alternative methods for crate washing and disinfection.

<p>The output from the study will be the provision of recommendations for best practice (code of practice) of current techniques and possibly an alternative practical and economic technique for the cleaning and disinfection of poultry transport crates.