Influence of the Glutaraldehyde-based and Quaternary Ammonium Compounds Based Aerosol Disinfectant on Some of the Physiological and Zootechnical Indices in Broiler Chickens
Authors: Smirnov S. L. , Barmin S. V. , Gorbunova N. P. 
Published: July 2024

Introduction. A huge number of disinfectants are used for aerosol disinfection of poultry premises, most of them are recommended for preventive or terminal disinfection carried out in the absence of poultry. At the same time, some products available to veterinary services are recommended for concurrent disinfection and are used in the presence of poultry, although, not all of them meet the requirements on composition, purpose and mode of use. The one of interest is a glutaraldehyde-based and quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC) based disinfectant, which has already been investigated in the scientific sources, however the influence of this agent on the physiological and zootechnical status of poultry treated therewith has not been fully studied. The aim of this research is to study the physiological status and productive qualities of the broiler chickens exposed to direct aerosol treatment with the glutaraldehydeand QAD based disinfectant.

Materials and Methods. The research was conducted from October to November 2019 in the industrial poultry farm settings in a large flock of broiler chickens of the Cobb 500 cross, divided into two groups — experimental and control one. In the experimental poultry house, on the 10th day after putting the broiler chickens in the house, a preventive aerosol disinfection was carried out by means of the Nebulo cold fogger in the presence of poultry. A 0.5% solution of glutaraldehydeand QAD based disinfectant was used in a dosage of 5 ml per 1 m3 (the maximum permissible concentration exceeding the recommended one). In the control poultry house the aerosol disinfection was not carried out. The biochemical tests of blood serum (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total bilirubin, total protein, creatinine, blood urea, blood uric acid) were made using a biochemical analyser. The zootechnical indices were also studied (livability, mortality, average daily gain, feed and water consumption during the full growing life cycle, feed conversion ratio).

Results. The time history of the blood serum biochemical indices showed that the use of the glutaraldehydeand QAD based aerosol disinfectant in the specified above dosage in the presence of broiler chickens did not cause a negative, toxic effect on chickens’ metabolic indicators — all changes fluctuated slightly within the physiological norm. The zootechnical monitoring data have revealed the positive effect of the aerosol disinfection on the growth and maturing of chickens, enhancement of the livestock livability and poultry average daily gain due to the decrease of microbial burden on the growing organisms of chickens. The broiler chickens livability during the entire growing period in the experimental group was 0.84% higher than in the control group. Also, the average daily gain by the end of the growing period in the experimental group was 1.52% higher than in the control group, and the average liveweight of one bird was 2 137.7 g (experimental group) and 2 111.1 g (control group). At the same time, the feed costs in the experimental group were 0.11% less than in the control group.

Discussion and Conclusion. It was found that the use of a glutaraldehydeand QAD based aerosol disinfectant, even in the maximum permissible concentration in the presence of poultry, not only didn’t have a negative effect on the physiological and zootechnical status of the broiler chickens, but, on the contrary, fostered creation of the more comfortable conditions for their keeping and growing. The obtained research results allow us to confidently recommend this method of aerosol disinfection to be used in the animal and poultry keeping premises.