Ozone as an air treatment is used in the poultry industry, from the storage and incubation of eggs, to the breeding of healthy birds, as well as for effective processing, storage and transport of poultry and meat products. Ozonated water is used to wash and sterilize meat and equipment.

The most important advantage of using ozone is that it quicker and more reactive and leaves no chemical residue, and even after high concentrations have been used to disinfect an area, it is immediately possible for staff to work in that area without a health risk.

EFFICACY REVIEW :

1. It has been proven that ozone is a highly effective oxidant, which kills bacteria on the surfaces of meat and equipment.
2. Ozone is more effective than other air disinfecting systems such as chemical fogging and UV light.
3. Tests on E. coli, L.Pneuniophila, Stapharaeus, MRSA, Shigella sp and Salmonella arizonae show that ozone gas is a highly anti-bacterial agent, with more than 90% kill rates after 40 minutes, 99.9% kill rates after 60 minutes and 100% kill rates after 2 hours.
4. Ozonated water has shown to kill instantly more than 5 log units of Salmonella typhirium and Escherichia coli cells, as well as 4,5 log units of Candida albicans and Zygosaccraomyces bailli.
5. Ozonated water is effective as a disinfectant for poultry carcasses and chill water, with a greater than 90% kill rate of micro-organisms washed from the carcasses and an increase in light transmission of the treated processed water.
6. The use of the ozonated water to wash carcasses results in no significant loss of colour or of flavour.
7. The use of ozone during refrigerated storage of poultry has a pronounced effect on flora causing deteriorations and consequently prolongs the useful life of poultry in the refrigerated storage.
8. Evidence shows that strains of Staphylococcus Aureus colonise on defeathering machinery have become endemic with poultry processing plants, and become resistant to normal cleaning and disinfecting, including chlorine.(No resistance build-up to ozone)

CURRENT APPLICATIONS OF OZONE :

1. Ozone is used to disinfect incubation rooms and chambers, eliminate use of chemicals which cause a toxic build-up on the egg shell surfaces and weaken the immune system of the birds, and keeping the air which is fed into the incubators free from bacteria and viruses.
2. Ozonated water is more effective, faster and stronger than chlorinated water, killing all bacteria and viruses, including those that have become resistant to chlorine and conventional cleaning methods. There is no resistance build-up to ozone.
3. Use it in staff washrooms, in order to disinfect staff clothing and shoes over night, and to keep bacteria levels down during the day.
4. To disinfect equipment, machinery and packaging materials overnight, and to keep bacteria levels in the area low during the day.
5. In the refrigerated storage of poultry products to increase the shelf life of the meat and prevent spoilage.
6. In growing birds, ozone in the pens as a gas reduces the amount of bacteria that they are exposed to thus reducing the spread of infection and viruses thereby increasing their health and even weight by up to 18% and improving their skin colour.
7. For the disinfecting of sheds as an alternative to formaldehyde, because ozone is more effective than formaldehyde in disinfecting and requires no dormant period in which the sheds have to remain evacuated. Almost immediately after disinfecting by ozone at high concentrations, the shed is ventilated and can be inhabited by the animals and staff safely. Unlike formaldehyde, Ozone is non-carcinogenic.
8. Ozone oxidizes ammoniacal gases, methane and carbon dioxide, creating a healthier environment for the animals and staff.
9. Hatching hens which are kept in ozonized conditions show an increase in the amount of eggs they lay, and a stronger consistency of the egg shell, because of the corresponding decrease in pathogenic illness and prevention of a toxic build up of disinfectant chemicals.

BENEFITS OF OZONE :
FOR POULTRY DRINKING WATER Animal Performance

1. Reduced waterborne pathogens.
2. Accelerated weight gain.
3. Improved feed conversion.
4. Improved layer output.
5. No escalation in pathogen resistance (as seen with chlorine).
6. Increased dissolved oxygen increases.
7. Improve animal’s resilience to heat.

Water Quality

1. Non Toxic.
2. Oxidizes dissolved minerals (iron, manganese, hydrogen sulphide, etc.).
3. Reduces "fouling".
4. Eliminates chemical storage/residual.