Chicken producer Gallus Elit outside Mariefred had problems with animal growth. Different solutions were tested, but Swedish Anolytech’s system for disinfection of water without harmful chemicals proved to be the game changer.
Vinterled houses a poultry farm with an impressive hen and chicken history. Already 100 years ago, the farm is said to have been the place where “animal doctor Lotta” could cure sick animals. In 1956 associate professor Börje Hansen built a modern breeding and hatchery operation based on the American novelty broiler. Modern broiler chicken production in Sweden took off at Vinterled.
The farm has since been owned by, among others, cooperative KF and Lantmännen, but has belonged to Peter Vårenius since 2001. He has expanded to now include five pens that together hold 200-220,000 chickens per litter.
– We try to combine large scale with concern for the animals. The latter is expressed, among other things, in the fact that we heat the water they drink. This way we avoid condensation, and I think it’s good for the chickens that the water is not too cold.
Clean water produces healthier chickens that grow faster
A disadvantage of heating the water is that bacterial growth increases. That may have been a reason why growth during a period did not develop as planned.
– We tested different feeds and adjusted the temperature and ventilation in the pens, but nothing helped. We then tried purifying the water with different filters, but only when we added Anolytech’s hypochlorous acid did we get the right growth.
The chickens are very sensitive to bacteria and viruses, so in hindsight it is clear that poor water quality was the problem.
– Even though we handle many animals in a year, it takes an animal eye for them to feel good and develop well. You have to move among the animals to at an early stage understand if something is wrong. Small details can make a big difference to how they develop.
One reason why he is satisfied with the system from Anolytech is that it continuously supplies a low dose of hypoclaric acid which is completely harmless to the chickens. This keeps the delicate balance of water quality constant during the time they spend in his house.
Certification builds credibility
As Anolytech started back in 2005, there were many sceptical voices regarding it’s sustainable method for disinfecting water without using harmful chemicals. 16 years later, a commonly increased environmental awareness is paving the way for a game changing shift towards disinfection based on Anolytech’s sustainable solution instead of using traditional chemicals.
AnoDes is used within different areas where fighting unwanted bacteria like Campylobacter, Cyanobacteria, Escherichia coli and Legionella pneumophila is needed. One important reason is that it’s very effective without being harmful to animals and humans.
The fact that Anolytech’s technique has been certified according to leading standards regarding hand and surface disinfection, contributes to the increased demand from clients in new markets and segments.
