Disease-causing germs can enter pig areas on boots, clothing, tools, vehicles and other equipment. Cleaning and disinfecting these items helps protect your pigs from African swine fever and other pig diseases.
Cleaning must come before disinfecting. Manure, mud, bedding, feed, dirt and other material can prevent a disinfectant from reaching the surface and working properly. CFIA swine biosecurity guidance recommends routinely cleaning and disinfecting buildings, equipment, clothing and footwear.
Keep pig equipment separate
Where possible, keep separate equipment for pig areas and do not use it elsewhere.
This may include:
- boots and clothing
- buckets, feeders and waterers
- shovels, brooms and brushes
- handling boards and tools
- cleaning supplies
- equipment used to move bedding or manure
Store clean equipment somewhere dry and protected from pigs, wildlife, rodents and dirty equipment.
Use separate equipment for sick or isolated pigs. Do not use it around healthy pigs until it has been cleaned, disinfected and dried.
Follow these five steps for cleaning and disinfecting
The basic process is to remove visible organic material, such as manure, bedding, mud and feed, then wash, rinse, disinfect and dry.
Remove visible dirt
Scrape, sweep, brush or wipe away:
- manure
- bedding
- mud and soil
- spilled feed
- grease
- dust and cobwebs
Pay attention to cracks, joints, handles, boot treads, tires and the undersides of equipment.
Collect dirty material so it does not contaminate feed, water, clean equipment or other pig areas.
Wash the item
Use water and an appropriate detergent or cleaning product.
Scrub areas where dirt or manure is stuck. Take apart removable equipment when needed so you can reach all surfaces.
Avoid pressure washing while pigs are in the same room or pen. Pressure washing can spread manure and microorganisms through the air. Canadian Pork Council barn sanitation guidance (PDF) provides more detailed information for barns.
Rinse and inspect
Rinse away the detergent and loosened material.
Check:
- corners and cracks
- hinges and joints
- handles
- wheels and tires
- ramps and gates
- surfaces underneath the item
Wash the item again if visible material remains.
Clean equipment in an area where dirty water will not drain toward pig housing, feed, water or clean equipment.
Allow the items to dry before applying disinfectant, especially horizontal surfaces where water can pool, such as floors, tables. Follow the product label directions.
Apply a disinfectant
Use a disinfectant authorized for sale in Canada that is suitable for the item, surface and livestock environment.
Follow the product label, including directions for:
- dilution
- application method and rate
- contact time
- personal protective equipment
- ventilation
- rinsing
- storage and disposal
The surface must remain wet for the contact time shown on the label. Do not mix cleaning products or disinfectants unless the label directs you to do so.
Health Canada provides information on authorized biocides and surface disinfectants.
Let the item dry
Rinse the item when required by the label and allow it to dry before returning it to the pig area.
Store clean, dry items separately from dirty items so they are not contaminated again. Drying is part of the sanitation process.
Clean items before they enter pig areas
Equipment from another farm, livestock property, sale, show or shared workspace may carry manure, mud or other contaminated material.
Before bringing an item near your pigs:
- ask where it was last used
- inspect it for visible dirt or manure
- clean and disinfect it in a designated area
- allow it to dry
- keep it in a clean area until it is needed
Leave unnecessary equipment and personal items outside the pig area.
Avoid borrowing or sharing equipment between properties. When sharing cannot be avoided, clean and disinfect the equipment before it enters your property and again before it leaves.
Clean boots, clothing and handheld items
Designate boots and clothing for use only in pig areas. Store clean pig-area clothing and footwear separately from outdoor footwear, dirty clothing and used equipment.
Before entering the pig area:
- put on clean clothing and footwear designated for pig areas
- leave unnecessary personal items outside the pig area
After leaving:
- remove manure and mud from boots, then clean and disinfect them
- place used clothing in a separate bag or container until it can be washed
- clean and disinfect handheld tools and reusable items
- store clean, dry items in a clean area
- clean personal items such as phones that must enter using a method that will not damage them
The Canadian Pork Council provides additional guidance on cleaning and disinfecting clothing, footwear and personal items.
Clean vehicles and trailers
Keep personal, visitor and delivery vehicles outside pig areas whenever possible.
Vehicles and livestock trailers may carry contaminated material on:
- floors and floor mats
- ramps and gates
- tires and wheel wells
- mud flaps
- the undercarriage
- handles and latches
- steering wheels
After transporting pigs or visiting another livestock property:
- remove manure, bedding and loose material
- wash the inside and outside
- inspect hard-to-reach areas
- apply an appropriate disinfectant
- allow the vehicle or trailer to dry
The CFIA biosecurity measures for pig transportation - PDF (279 kb) provide more detailed transportation guidance.
Separate equipment used around manure or sick pigs
Equipment used around sick pigs, manure or deadstock should not be used around healthy pigs unless it has been properly cleaned, disinfected and dried.
Care for healthy pigs before entering an isolation or sick-pig area. Clean manure-handling equipment where waste and dirty water cannot reach pig housing, feed, water or clean equipment.
Learn more about what to do when pigs appear sick.
Keep simple records
Record people, vehicles, tools and shared equipment that enter pig areas after being at another property with pigs. This may include veterinarians, service providers, temporary workers or friends and family who help care for pigs.
Note:
- the date
- the person or item
- where they or the item came from where they went or where the item was used
- what cleaning, disinfection or clothing and footwear measures were taken
These records can help identify possible sources of disease if pigs become sick.
If you suspect African swine fever
Do not move pigs, equipment or potentially contaminated items to another property.
Contact a veterinarian and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency immediately and follow their instructions.
Use the biosecurity checklist to identify tools, vehicles, footwear and other items that could carry disease into your pig areas.