KERSIA’s chlorine-free wash programme 'greatly improves milking equipment and bulk tank cleaning regimes'

Irish dairy farmers are increasingly recognising the benefits of using a chlorine-free wash programme as part of their daily cleaning routines in order to disinfect and clean their milking machine and bulk tanks.

Why?

Well, switching to a chlorine-free cleaning routine helps to greatly reduce the levels of trichloromethane (TCM) and chlorite residues in milk – in line with milk processors requests. This ultimately allows dairy farmers to ensure the best price is paid for each litre of milk they produce.

The KERSIA chlorine-free wash programme

KERSIA takes great pride in its range of chlorine-free chemical products, which are proven to help clean and disinfect all parts of a milking machines, equipment and bulk milk tanks. Its chlorine-free cleaning regime is simple to follow to help reduce TCM levels to ultra-low in milk.

To achieve this, the company has developed a five and six-stage cleaning programme which are both simple yet effective. Its five-stage programme incorporates Autosan Blue and Hyperacid One.

Its six stage uses a peracetic acid rinse combined with its traditional products, all of which are chlorine-free. These programmes have been used successfully by many Irish dairy farmers already.

Below is KERSIA’s five-stage, chlorine-free cleaning programme, using Autosan Blue and Hypracid One.

KERSIA recommends the following chlorine-free cleaning products for milking parlours daily and weekly wash programmes.

Bulk milk tank and milking machine cleaning

Hypracid One

Hypracid One is a unique three-in-one chlorine-free detergent, descaler and steriliser. It is phosphoric acid free helping to eliminate TCM and chlorate residues in bulk milk tanks.

Hypracid One is also kind to milking rubber-ware, nitric acid free and is also an environmentally friendly disinfectant. It is available in 20kg, 60kg or 220kg drums.

For best results, it is recommended that Hypracid One is used only with hot water.

The detergents

Autosan Blue

Autosan Blue is KERSIA’s proven low foaming, alkaline, chlorine-free detergent. It provides a high-performance caustic alkaline solution that can be used in both hot and cold water.

Autosan Blue is suitable for use in all milking parlours, bulk milk-tanks and robotic/electronic cleaning systems. It is available in 20L, 200L and 1,000L IBC containers. It has been sold for many years to Irish farmers as an effective chlorine-free detergent.

Clearway Plus

Clearway Plus is a chlorine-free circulation powder. Specially formulated for use in hard water areas, for cold wash cleaning. However, it can be used hot or cold at a usage rate of 226g/45L of water.

Clearway Plus has been used extensively for many years by Irish dairy farmers to deliver effective results as it removes surface dirt from clusters and jetters. It is specifically formulated to help reduce TCM and chlorate levels in milk yields. It is available in a 20kg bucket.

Milking parlour and robotic disinfectants

Virodox

Virodox is a peracetic acid sanitiser. It can be used in the final rinse post milking on regular milking parlours, in cluster dipping and spraying and on automatic cluster flush systems. It is available in 25L and 200L drums.

Autoscan Red

Autoscan Red is an extra-strength, low foaming phosphoric acid cleaner. It is suitable for use with all automated milking equipment, including robots. It is available in 20L and 200L drums.

Below is Kersia’s six-stage chlorine-free cleaning programme, incorporating Autosan Blue, Autoscan Red and Virodox Peracetic Acid Flush.

Repeat the above cleaning routine after PM milking, using cold water (cold wash) in the main wash cycle.

In summary

KERSIA’s range of chlorine-free cleaning solutions are suitable for all types of milking parlours and bulk milk tanks.

Its range of specially developed products can help to greatly reduce chlorate and TCM levels in milk, whilst consistently providing and maintaining low TBCs. This ensures Irish dairy farmers receive the best price for every litre of milk produced.

Teagasc tested

Both KERSIA’s five-stage and six-stage chlorine-free cleaning programmes have been tested under Teagasc’s controlled testing protocols, using Autoscan Blue and Autoscan Red and Autoscan Blue and Hyperacid One.

In 2018, a study undertaken by Teagasc Moorepark at Kilworth research farm, found that a chlorine-free routine was as effective as standard cleaning protocols already in place and at a comparable daily cost.