It has been shown that transportation can be a major vector for disease transmission, and improved sanitation is a key factor in reducing transmission. The need for better cleaning and sanitizing procedures, and development of easier to clean trailers are important considerations for pork producers. This became clear, both to reduce the spread of PEDv, and to control other potential disease risks. [Source: Prairie Swine Centre News, September 28, 2016]
A number of problems have been identified which hinder the efficient and thorough cleaning of trailers. These include the low number of transport units available, downtime required between loads, and limited trailer wash capacity. In addition, some current trailer designs are difficult to clean, requiring the use of manual labor at a high cost, and potentially leading to problems with cleaning consistency.
Ongoing research project, led by Terry Fonstad at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Engineering, in partnership with the Prairie Swine Centre (PSC), the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, and Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute, to address these problems.
PSC is involved in the initial stages of the project, with the goal of producing an inventory of the current trailer designs being used in Canada. The main trailer types in use will be ranked based on their ease of cleaning as well as on their animal handling characteristics (e.g. ramps and ease of loading). Some potential modifications to aid in cleaning, or to improve the handling of animals during loading and unloading will then be identified.