Profitable livestock production requires many quality management skills that all impact the technical results. Factors such as health status, barn temperature, ventilation, water quality and nutrition all play a big role in animals reaching their genetic potential and improving the producer’s bottom line.
Exposure to suboptimal water sources
Often, waterlines that are poorly maintained contain biofilm build-up caused by contaminated water sources or sources high in minerals, like iron and manganese. This can offset the water-feed ratio and decrease feed efficiency and therefore milk production. When we consider the fact it takes 4 litres of water to produce 1 litre of milk, the role of quality water is crucial.
As not all animals are healthy, respiratory diseases (and others) will sit and grow in water bowls and troughs; in combination with feed deposits left in water sources, there are many challenges to keeping water clean and fresh. With evolving concerns like the rise of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), there is a chance that animals cross-contaminate each other by drinking out of the same water source. Furthermore, most dairy animal housing systems have birds flying in and out, which increases the risk of spreading diseases.
A common practice of tipping water troughs and cleaning them thoroughly twice a week will help keep contamination to a minimum. However, effectively disinfecting and securing proper waterline sanitation (Figure 1) to keep communal water sources safe involves treating the water with a stock solution like chlorine dioxide.
Chlorine dioxide oxidizes hydrogen sulphides, which produce bacteria that can cause leaky gut and inflammatory bowel disease. These bacteria and diseases lead to reduced feed efficiencies, lesions (black holes in the intestines) and possible ulcers. There is a range of hydrogen sulphide-producing bacteria commonly found in the gastrointestinal microbiome (the collection of all the microorganisms and viruses that live in the digestive system). Major players of hydrogen sulphide production in the gut are:
- Klebsiella
- Salmonella
- Enterococcus
- Streptococcus
- Campylobacter
- Staphylococcus
- E. coli
Role of chlorine dioxide (ClO2)
Chlorine dioxide consists of one chlorine atom and two oxygen atoms; these atoms are held together by electrons to form the chlorine dioxide molecule. Chlorine dioxide is highly effective as both a disinfectant and an oxidant. It is also a broad-spectrum microbiocide effective within a wide pH range (4 to 10), unlike chlorine which becomes less effective once the pH exceeds 7. Chlorine dioxide is a known disinfectant for bacteria and viruses. Using chlorine dioxide instead of chlorine can assist in reducing the formation of harmful disinfection byproducts, for example, trihalomethanes and halogenated acetic acids.
When applying chlorine dioxide to dairy cattle water sources, it is important to pay attention to the concentration as it causes oxidation which, when administered at too high a dose, can create byproducts like chlorite and chlorate, which can impede rumen function. However, at the right concentrations, chlorine oxide mixed with water to form what is known as a stock solution can be added to the dairy’s water distribution system to disinfect water fed to cows.
Alternative water disinfectants
The chlorine dioxide molecule in water will oxidize the cell walls of pathogens (by pulling layers off). It can adopt five electrons (5e), which gives chlorine dioxide a higher capacity to deactivate pathogens at lower dosing rates (Figure 2) compared to most other disinfectants, like ozone and hydrogen peroxide which can only adopt two electrons.
Hydrogen peroxide and ozone are short-actives and usually require high dosing rates to maintain a residual at the end of the line. The high dosing level makes them extremely powerful and non-selective oxidizers, therefore capable of killing pathogens and harming healthy (aerobic) cells.
The impact of oxidation on the rumen
Like most mammals, ruminants’ bodies are designed around oxygen, and they require the best oxidation potential to maintain a healthy life. When used in appropriate quantities, chlorine dioxide has a similar oxidation potential to regular oxygen in the body. It is not only important what will be oxidized, but also what will not be oxidized (such as beneficial bacteria in the stomach).
The rumen is anaerobic (meaning there is little to no oxygen present). Microbes present in the rumen cannot grow in the outside air and can only tolerate small amounts of oxygen. The rumen allows for the growth of rumen microbes and the process of fermentation to digest feed and forages for the cow. Any disruption to the delicate balance of the rumen environment will result in poor growth of the microbes, poor health and digestion, and ultimately lower milk production.
Conclusion
Maintaining high water quality in dairy farming is crucial for optimal milk production and feed efficiency by reducing pathogens, while ensuring correct disinfectant dosages to protect beneficial rumen microbes. By treating your water with an appropriate dosage of chlorine dioxide, you should notice an overall decrease in pathogens while seeing an increased return on investment.
