THE USE OF FORMALIN FOR THE TREATMENT OF BEDDING MANURE OF DAIRY COWS

Abstract

Comparative studies have been carried out on the use of formalin at concentrations of 2% and 4% for the treatment of fresh and aged manure from litter from dairy cows for the purpose of disinfection. To do this, we monitored the change in the number of microorganisms contained in the fertilizer, as well as pathogenic test strains of Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus epidermidis, which are resistant to gentamicin and tetracycline antibiotics. Test bacteria were introduced in the amount of 105 CFU/g of their total content. It has been established that formalin treatment at two test concentrations of 2% and 4% ensures the inactivation of pathogenic test microorganisms and Clostridium perfringens contained in the tested samples of fresh and rotted manure, even after a day. Inactivation of Escherichia coli found in both manure samples was achieved after 48 hours when treated with 2% formalin, and only after 24 hours at a concentration of 4%. In fresh manure, after treatment with 4% formalin, all microorganisms died after 96 hours, and in aged manure - even after 72 hours. The introduction of 2% formalin ensures the destruction of all microorganisms in fresh and aged cattle manure within 120 hours. The use of formalin at a final concentration of 4% does not give much better results than doubling the lowest concentration of 2%, which is recommended for use.