In modern pig farming, hygiene is no longer just a routine task—it is a strategic business decision directly linked to biosecurity. The introduction of strict all-in/all-out production requirements has turned the time between two production batches into a race against the clock. Barns must be washed, disinfected and dried within a very short period, raising one important question: who should perform the most physically demanding work?
The Hidden Cost of Manual Washing
Cleaning a section housing 100 pigs requires significant resources. According to the guidelines of Ireland's Teagasc – the Agriculture and Food Development Authority – the technical minimum for pressure washing is one minute and 20 litres of water per animal space. In reality, however, staff fatigue, the need to clean feeders thoroughly and the lack of a proper soaking stage mean that the process usually takes between five and eight hours of intensive manual labour.
These demanding working conditions, combined with constant exposure to ammonia fumes, result in high staff turnover. Worker fatigue after the third hour inevitably leads to reduced cleaning quality. Organic grease and dirt accumulate in corners and hard-to-reach areas,
creating ideal conditions for disease outbreaks, including African Swine Fever. In addition, longer cleaning times keep production facilities empty for longer, resulting in unnecessary financial losses.
The European Standard for Automation
Leading pig farms in Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands are replacing manual labour with robotic cleaning systems. Automation not only saves valuable time but also reduces water consumption by up to 50%.
Mollox is bringing this proven European practice to Bulgaria through the automated
