262 – Assessment of biofilm in pipes of breeders houses and effect of purge on biofilm mastering and water quality (Research paper – Dennery – 2017)

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262 Research paper – Dennery – 2017 – Assessment of biofilm in pipes of breeders houses and effect of purge on biofilm mastering and waterquality

In Significant Impact Groups: Water \ Water quality; Housing and welfare
Species targeted: Poultry;
Age: Not stated;
Summary:
Biofilm can alter water quality in pipes. Its development is favored by breeding practices and conditions. Biofilm management in drinking water pipes is a major issue to prevent disease and to reduce antibiotic consumption and resistance. The aim of this field study is to assess the effect of purging pipes during breeding on development of biofilms, water quality, amount of water used, and breeder’s health. In order to achieve this goal it was necessary to create a methodology to characterize biofilm. A scoring method was developed, each score being definite by a picture and objective definition. The chart created was used to characterize biofilm at each observation, and to estimate its evolution during the breeding. First results highlight the importance of cleaning the pipes before starting the flock breeding. Daily and highly frequency purges seem to delay biofilm development inside pipes when compared to never purged pipes.

Where to find the original material: https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/20183183457;
Country: FR

252 Drinkwatercheck melkveehouderij by ZLTO (Tools & Checklists)

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252 ToolsChecklists – Drinkwatercheck melkveehouderij by ZLTO

In Significant Impact Groups: Water \ Water quality
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age:
Summary:
Good quality drinking water is an important prerequisite for livestock. Experience shows that the water entering the company is of excellent quality. Afterwards, however, until the water is absorbed by the animal, the bacteriological and chemical quality often deteriorates. Drinking water of bad quality has effects on animal health and can therefore be a cause of lower production or slower growth!
In order to be able to monitor the quality of drinking water itself as an entrepreneur, ZLTO has developed a checklist on behalf of VION and LIB, together with a number of dairy farmers.
With the checklist you can find out where you can improve the drinking water supply and there are tips on how to do this.

Where to find the original material: https://www.zlto.nl/stream/drinkwatercheck-melkvee;
Country: Netherlands;

251 Drinkwatercheck varkenshouderij by ZLTO (Tools & Checklists)

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251 ToolsChecklists – Drinkwatercheck varkenshouderij by ZLTO

In Significant Impact Groups: Water \ Water quality
Species targeted: Pigs;
Summary:
Good quality drinking water is an important prerequisite for livestock. Experience shows that the water entering the company is of excellent quality. Afterwards, however, until the water is absorbed by the animal, the bacteriological and chemical quality often deteriorates. Drinking water of bad quality has effects on animal health and can therefore be a cause of lower production or slower growth!
On behalf of VION and LIB, ZLTO has developed a checklist together with a number of pig farmers in order to be able to monitor the quality of the drinking water itself.
With the checklist you can find out where you can improve the drinking water supply and there are tips on how to do this.
Go through all the sections if you want to know where improvements are possible. If you already know where you can make improvements, take a look at the extra tips.

Where to find the original material: https://www.zlto.nl/stream/drinkwatercheck-varkenshouderij;
Country: Netherlands;

249 Heating drinking water of broilers by Roan Boon (Farm Innovation)

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249 Farm Innovation – Heating drinking water of broilers by Roan Boon

In Significant Impact Groups: Water \ Housing and welfare
Species targeted: Poultry;
Age: Not stated;
Summary:
Since April 2016 broiler farmer Boon has been heating the drinking water for his broilers. Because there is no more condensation from the water and drinking nipple lines in the litter, his animals suffer much less from foot sole lesions. In veal farming it is already very common to heat drinking water. The greatest health gains are achieved by reducing foot sole lesions. But intestinal health and technical results have also improved: growth has increased and there is better meat quality. The system cost Boon 3500 euros, which he had earned back after 2 rounds. Per round he has lost 250 euros more on gas. According to Boon, the payback time differs per farm, but it could at least be recouped within 1 year. It’s not only good for animal welfare, it’s also much more pleasant to work in a dry barn.

Where to find the original material: https://www.nieuweoogst.nl/nieuws/2020/06/26/vrijwel-geen-voetzoollaesies-door-warm-water;
Country: NL

248 Different systems to improve water quality in dairy stables by Mezutec Watter (Industry Innovation)

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248 Industry Innovation – Different systems to improve water quality in dairy stables by Mezutec Watter

In Significant Impact Groups: Water \ Water quality
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary:
If there is too little water or the quality is insufficient, it is immediately reflected in the milk yield and fertility. There are different ways to treat the water. The first step is filtering or membrane technology. Visible particles are filtered directly and for invisible particles there are flocculants to filter them out anyway. There are also deferrization and de-ironing installations. This can be done via aeration or ionisation. Such an installation costs between 6,000 and 9,000 euros. Finally, water can be disinfected by electrolysis. By giving a charge to the ions of a component, they can stick together. pathogens can thus be filtered. Examples of such systems are the OxAqua (3,250 euro) and Watter.

Where to find the original material: https://www.nieuweoogst.nl/nieuws/2020/06/26/waterkwaliteit-goed-in-de-gaten-houden;
Country: NL

143 Effect of administration of organic acids in drinking water on faecal shedding of E. coli performance parameters and health in nursery pigs (Research paper – De Busser, 2011)

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143 Research paper – De Busser – 2011 – Effect of administration of organic acids in drinking water on faecal shedding of E. coli performance parameters and health in nursery pigs

SIG: Water

Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young;
Summary:
This study evaluated the effect of altering the pH of drinking water on Escherichia coli in nursery piglets under field conditions as well as their performance parameters and health. This study indicates that acidification of the drinking water to a low pH can be helpful to reduce the E. coli load in nursery pigs and may be used in herds affected with post-weaning diarrhoea. As our study was performed in one herd only, further investigations are needed to confirm the findings and to determine the effects of different pH values of the drinking water on average daily feed intake (DFI), Daily weight gain (DWG), Feed conversion ratio (FCR) and clinical parameters.

Where to find the original material: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090023310001140; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2010.04.006
Country: BE

Drinking water medication: beware of interference

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Medication should never replace good management, but sometimes a treatment is unavoidable. In poultry and pigs, medication is often administered via the drinking water. The water quality largely determines how successful the administration will be. The water composition influences the solubility and biological availability of the medication and can even have an influence on the efficacy. Hardness, pH, iron and cadmium levels are some important parameters that can interfere with the medication. This counts for medicines in general, but is of particular importance for antibiotics because partial inactivation of the antibiotic can cause antibiotic resistance. The following should be kept in mind when using antibiotic water medication:

Ampicillin/amoxicillin need a neutral to basic pH to dissolve well. They are sensitive to temperature swings and to the enzyme ‘beta lactamase’ that can be produced be bacteria present in the drinking water system (biofilm!).

Tetracycline’s are poorly soluble. Calcium in hard water forms complexes with tetracycline’s. These complexes are poorly absorbed in the digestive tract. Acidification of the water can improve the solubility as well as the absorption.

Sulphonamides can be captured by organic substances.

Most antibiotics are unstable in solution (e.g. amoxicillin solution: shelf life 6h). They should be administered in an appropriate volume of water so that the animals drink everything in time.

These examples illustrate the importance of water quality when administering antibiotics. For each specific antibiotic treatment via the water, the compatibility of the antibiotic with the drinking water (and water treatment products!) should be discussed with the advising veterinarian.

Methods to reduce iron and manganese levels at the drinking water source

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Besides hardness, iron is also an important cause of problems in the drinking water system. The danger doesn’t lie within the iron itself but in the unpleasant side-effects of its presence. Iron excess gives rise to discoloration of the water, scaling, pipe or nipple blockings, metal taste, promotion of biofilm etc. This affects animal health and can therefore indirectly increase antibiotic use. Manganese excess often comes along with iron excess and causes similar problems. Luckily there are several techniques to remove iron and manganese at the drinking water source:

De-ironing: This is an automatic technique that consists of two steps. 1) By aerating, the soluble iron (Fe2+) precipitates and becomes insoluble (Fe3+). These iron particles are then filtered out with a (sand) filter. Different variants of this technique are available, e.g., with an underground installation. The functioning of the system should be monitored regularly.

Ion exchange: a cation exchanger removes iron and manganese as well as calcium and magnesium from the water by exchanging them for sodium. This happens in column with a resin medium. Removing calcium and magnesium softens the water. This is an automatic technique but periodically, the resin medium needs to be regenerated.

Sedimentation basin: only works for moderate iron/manganese excess. The water flows slowly through an open basin. By periodically aerating the basin, iron and manganese precipitate and sink to the bottom, just as other suspended particles. This results in clear water.

Zeolite filter: zeolite is a rock that can be used as ion exchanger (same principle as above) or as filter. In the latter case, three steps are performed (filtration, regeneration, washing) to remove iron and manganese.

Prevention of (blue-green) algae in drinking water sources

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Algae and blue-green algae (Cyanobacteria) typically cause problems in summertime: they thrive in stagnant or slow flowing warm water with high levels of nutrients that is exposed to sunlight. Algae can make the water pH rise or cause blockages in the piping. But especially blue-green algae are a threat to animal health. When the layer of blooming algae starts to decompose, toxic substances are released. These toxins can cause a wide range of health problems, from mild to lethal. Consequently blue-green algae can indirectly promote unnecessary use of antibiotics.

Once algae have started to bloom, there is no way back. Prevention is the key to cope with algae. When drinking water supplies are stored in a basin, different techniques can be used to prevent algae growth.

Light shielding: this is the most efficient method as algae cannot survive without light. The water surface can be protected from light with a (floating) sail or if this is not possible, floating balls/hexagons. A regular check-up of the shielding is strongly recommended.

Aerating/stirring the water: This inhibits algae growth by increasing the oxygen levels in the water (aerating) and creating water flow (stirring).

Ultrasonic sound waves higher than 20kHz are an effective method to kill present algae and prevent their growth.

Certain water plants prevent algae growth by production of substances that prevent or slow down algae growth. Other plants compete with the algae for nutrients in the water, thus inhibiting algae growth.

Why and how to prevent biofilm formation in drinking water pipes

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A biofilm is a slimy layer sticking to the inside wall of the drinking water pipe that is created by the growth of microorganisms on mineral deposits or organic material. When the biofilm loosens or bacteria are released from it, problems such as reduced production, disease, decomposition / scavenging of water additives and a reduction in the effectiveness of medication can arise. Due to the presence of biofilm in the pipes, the bacterial pressure can rise incredibly between the water source and the drinking point! Moreover, biofilms can promote the development of antibiotic resistance. It’s important to focus on prevention of biofilm. Indeed, besides a poor bacteriological quality of the drinking water, biofilm can cause other problems such as blockage but also corrosion of the pipes. Furthermore, thick and tenacious biofilms will require high doses of strong biocides. This increases the risk of health problems due to biocide residues in the water. One hundred percent prevention is often not possible, but several measures can significantly slow down biofilm formation.

The piping material: polyethylene pipes are prone to biofilm formation whereas copper piping is less sensitive.

Bacteria love stagnant (warm) water: avoid dead ends in the piping and assure a good flow at all times.

Iron and manganese in the water promote biofilm formation. Check the DISARM best practice guide for water quality for methods to remove iron and manganese.

Regularly clean the pipes (see also DISARM best practice guide for water quality)

Some water treatments / additives (e.g., butyrate, acetic acid) can contribute significantly to the formation of biofilm or slime formation, depending on the water source.