Hygiene of environmental surfaces in a cattle barn

Abstract

Microbiological dipslides are widely used e.g. in food production facilities for HACCP (hazard analysis & critical control points) measurements and hygiene monitoring surveys, as well as for other cleanability studies.  In this study the suitability of microbiological dipslide methods to measure the hygiene level of the environmental surfaces in a cattle barn was tested.  A total of 1112 measurements were carried out during five measurement days.  When evaluating the rooms by combining the results of the individual sampling sites and different dipslide types (total microbes, enterobacteria and β-glucuronidase-positive organisms, yeasts and moulds), the corridor and personnel rooms had the highest hygiene status.  The office and personnel kitchen and the milk room were generally the next cleanest, depending on the evaluation criteria.  The poorest hygiene level was observed in the barn and the second dirtiest in the washing room.  It was demonstrated that the hygiene level of cattle barn surfaces with no excessive amounts of visible soil can be measured using microbiological dipslides.  The results provided preliminary reference values for future studies and constitute an information source for training and self-monitoring systems.

Keywords: cattle barn, bioenvironment, hygiene, microbiological dipslides