[Cleaning and disinfection of cattle trucks (author's transl)]

When the Order on 'Disinfection of Motor Vehicles and Trailers, 1976' failed to fulfil its purpose in practice, the present authors made a closer examination of the bacteriological state of cattle trucks, both before cleaning as required by law and after cleaning and disinfection. The supposition that loading platforms lined with aluminum are more readily cleaned than are wooden platforms, was verified by the results. Moreover, it was found that aluminium-lined platforms can be adequately cleaned with cold water. Markedly superior results are not obtained when hot water (approximately 80 degrees C) is used. An effective disinfectant should be applied after cleaning to reduce bacteriological contamination to a further extent. When the loading platforms have been cleaned using a high-pressure syringe, satisfactory results are obtained by disinfection with a one per cent solution of Halamid or a solution of Stafilex (750 ppm of active chlorine). To ensure an effective control of disease in animals, the loading platforms of cattle trucks should be cleaned and disinfected daily after use. The above disinfectants are useful for this purpose but sodium hydroxide is unsuited because of its corrosive effect.