Lpg Helps Combat Bird
Flu
Poultry producers in Texas have been using
lpg to combat a strain of avian influenza that last year shut
down several major poultry operations in the state.
Flame Engineering
Inc developed the Red Dragon, which utilises six propane torches
that project intense, sweeping flames underneath
a steel hood to kill bacteria. The heat of the flames stays at
a constant temperature of approximately 760°C, which is hot
enough to effectively eliminate a host of harmful pathogens.
"The
use of propane to help in the sanitisation process of poultry
houses is important for both the poultry industry and the propane
industry,” said Mark Leitman, director of agriculture programmes
for the Propane Education & Research Council. “Hopefully,
growers will see these positive results from Texas and seek out
flame sanitisation in their area.”
In response to the outbreak,
the Texas Animal Health Commission said the poultry operations
affected by the disease needed to
use a form of flame sanitisation before they could reopen their
houses for production.
"It is our recommended practice for growers
to use flame sanitation to rid poultry houses of any pinfeathers,
dust or other residue
capable of carrying disease,” stated Carla Everett, director
of public information for the Texas Animal Health Commission.
Mike and Wes Welch of Welch Gas in Linden, Texas, were called
on to help with the avian flu dilemma. Since treatment using
the Red Dragon, there has not been a reoccurrence of the disease.
This could mean good things for both the lpg and poultry industries.
"I
think flame sanitisation will really help the poultry industry,” said
Wes Welch.
"Growers are getting tired of chemical treatments
that are now becoming less and less effective.” Operating
at half a mile per hour, the poultry house sanitiser consumes
approximately 47 gallons of lpg to treat a 16,000 sq
ft house.
In addition to controlling avian flu, research
on the effectiveness of the poultry house sanitiser conducted
by Dr
Susan Watkins
at the University of Arkansas showed that exposure to heat dramatically
reduced other pathogens, such as salmonella, E coli and coliform.
The results of this research confirm that heat is a consistent
pathogen killer, as these microorganisms cannot build up a resistance
to its cell rupturing effects.
"Nearly every grower that has used
the flame sanitiser in their poultry houses has seen an improvement
in their birds,” said
Wes Welch. “Most notably, growers are seeing increased
livability in the third and fourth week. Ammonia vapours in the
litter are also flamed off, allowing for the first three weeks
to be virtually ammonia free.”
Contact Flame Engineering
Inc on +1 800 255 2469
www.flameengineering.com
Return to December/January
2006 News
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