Chief Operating Officer
Stallen South Asia Pvt. Ltd
Product Manager (Therapeutics)
Stallen South Asia Pvt. Ltd.
Introduction
Water is the most critical nutrient in poultry production, but often overlooked. The total content of water in a bird averages from 65-70% of its lean body mass and water consumed by birds is generally utilized for nutrient transportation, body temperature regulation, joint lubrication and various intra and extracellular biochemical reactions. Water is needed in every aspect of animal metabolism. Water is also a primary constituent in two of the most essential processes of life in chicken digestion and respiration, which is key to thermoregulation. To keep the poultry flock healthy adequate quality and quantity of potable water should be provided throughout the rearing period. Drinking water systems should be cleaned and flushed on a regular basis to remove any microbiological or mineral buildup in the lines. Water is presumed safe if it has no microbial population, as long as the mineral content is safe and there are no undesirable pollutants. However, the amount of bacteria in water is not always associated with disease in flocks until it exceeds a particular infectious threshold. The Table 1 shows the allowable quantities of bacteria in colony forming units (cfu) per milliliter (ml) in drinking water for poultry operations
Table 1: Drinking Water Quality Guidelines for Poultry
| Contaminants | Ideal level | Max. acceptable level | Remarks |
| Total Bacteria | 0/ml | 100/ml | 0/ml is desirable |
| Coliform Bacteria | 0/ml | 50/ml | 0/ml is desirable |
| Nitrates and Nitrites | — | 25mg/l to 45mg/l | Levels from 3 to 20mg/l affects performance |
| pH | 6.8 to 7.5 | — | A pH of less than 6.0 is not desirable. Levels below 6.3 may degrade performance |
| Total Hardness | 60 to 180mg/l as CaCO3 | — | Hardness levels less than 60 are unusually soft; greater than 180 are very hard |
| Calcium | 60mg/l | — | — |
| Chloride | 14mg/l | 250mg/l | Levels as low as 14mg/l may be detrimental if the sodium level is higher than 50mg/l |
| Copper | 0.002mg/l | 0.6mg/l | Higher levels produce a bad odor and taste |
| Iron | 0.2mg/l | 0.3mg/l | Higher levels produce a bad odor and taste |
| Lead | — | 0.2mg/l | Higher levels are toxic |
| Magnesium | 14mg/l | 125mg/l | Higher levels have a laxative effect. Levels above 50mg/l may affect performance if magnesium and chloride levels are high |
| Sodium | 32mg/l | — | Levels above 50mg/l may affect performance if sulfate or chloride levels are high |
Source: Carter and Sneed
According to research, more than 95% of the biomass in water pipes sticks to the pipe walls as biofilm, leaving only 5% hanging in the bulk water. Under favorable conditions such as a suitable coop temperature, low water flow in the waterline, and adequate nutrients, DWS can produce a perfect environment for microbial development. Campylobacter jejuni, E. coli, Pseudomonas, and Salmonella are common bacteria discovered in poultry drinking water that create biofilms in DWS. Various tactics are used to improve water quality, including acidity and magnetization of drinking water, both of which have been shown to suppress pathogen growth. Treatment with these strategies has been found to increase animal development performance and minimize disease spread. Chlorinated drinking water is widely employed in the poultry industry due to its convenience of use, cost-effectiveness, and broad antibacterial characteristics.
Sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC)
NaDCC, a sodium salt of chlorinated hydroxytriazine, provides free available chlorine (FAC) in the form of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) for water disinfection. Sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC), a white powder with a molecular weight of 219.9 g/mol, is deemed safe and effective for disinfecting drinking water. Sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC) known commercially as Cleantab (Stallen South Asia. Pvt. Ltd).
Dissociation of Cleantab (NaDCC) in water:
NaDCC releases half of its free available chlorine initially, leaving “reservoir chlorine” that is released once the original free available chlorine has been used up. NaDCC tablets reservoir chlorine may be especially advantageous when water is subject to high organic loads, as is common in resource-poor and remote settings. NaDCC (sodium dichloroisocyanurate) which releases HOCl (Hypochlorous acid) & OCl (Hypochlorite acid) in water. While other chlorinating agents release only OCl. Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is 80-100 times more effective as hypochlorite ion (OCl¯). HOCl works faster because it is electrically neutral and is able to enter the negatively charged cell wall, while OCl is electrically negative and is therefore repelled by the cell wall (like two negative magnets) and can only act on the surface.
Dissociation of Cleantab Mode of action of Cleanatab
What is biofilm?
A biofilm is a collection of organic and inorganic, living and dead material collected on a surface. Once attached, they form extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) which are very tough polysaccharides that protect the bacteria from degradation. Biofilm provide a home for harmful pathogenic organism which are dangerous for the health of birds. Biofilms are also known to cause blockages in small tubing, pipes and nipples.
Mode of action of Cleantab:
Cleantab (NaDCC) releases HOCl and OCl on exposure with water. HOCl primarily causes cell damage of microbial cell due to its oxidative action. HOCl hydrolyzes the peptide chains of micro-organism. It decreases the ATP production of microbial cell leads to microbial cell death. HOCl can oxidize and break down the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that protect and hold the biofilm together. This disruption of the EPS matrix allows NaDCC to penetrate deeper into the biofilm. This leads to the microbicidal and biofilm disruption action of Cleantab.
Dosage:
For normal water 1 tab for 600L of water. For heavy to moderate contamination 1 tab in 300L of water.
1Tablet/Volume of water
| Application | For birds | Roof spraying | Hand washing | Equipment | Vehicle | Foot bath |
| Water (L) | 600 (normal water) 300 (heavy to moderate contaminated water) | 600 | 30 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
Advantages of Cleantab over other water sanitizers:
| Comparative points | Cleantab (NaDCC) | H202 | NaOCl | O3 |
| Stability | Very stable | Less stable at higher temperature | Stable degrade over the time | Unstable generated on site |
| Cost | Lower cost | More expensive when used in bulk | Moderate cost | Higher cost |
| Activeness on different pH | Active on broad pH range. | Neutral to slight acidic pH. | Active in neutral to slightly alkaline pH. | Active across a wide range of pH but costly. |
| Long action | It has long action due to reservoir chlorine | It does not act for long time. | It does not act for long time. | It does not act for long time as it decomposes quickly. |
Benefits:
Cleantab is effective against common microbes like E. coli, Pseudomonas, Salmonella and Campylobacter jejuni etc. It also reduces ammonia and hydrogen sulphide gas in faecal matter of poultry birds. Cleantab has broad spectrum uses in poultry. Cleans and inhibit biofilm formation. Active in hard water. Gentle, safe and easy to use.
Conclusion:
Stallen South Asia Pvt. Ltd. provides effective and affordable solution for water sanitization of water used on poultry farm. The Cleantab is effective against microbes like E. coli, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Clostridium etc which hampers production.
Refrences:
NADCC in Drinking Water-WHO Guidelines for Drinking water quality
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Carter TA, Sneed RE. Drinking water guidelines for poultry: Poultry Science and Technology, Guide No. 42, North Canada State University, 1998, 205-21
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