Ep. 12, Wayne Olbison, Lanxess: Foot Dips, Wheel Washes & AI Vigilance

In this episode of the Poultry Network Podcast, host Tom Willings is joined by editor Jake Davies.

Their guest is Wayne Olbison, Head of Sales for UK and Ireland at Lanxess Biosecurity Solutions, who discusses the company’s role in agricultural hygiene and offers practical biosecurity advice in light of recent avian influenza outbreaks.

Wayne introduces Lanxess as a global chemicals business, with the Biosecurity Solutions division focused on cleaning and disinfection products for agriculture and aquaculture.

The timing of the conversation is significant: in late July five new cases of avian influenza were confirmed in the UK, including several in Somerset.

Such unseasonal outbreaks underline that AI may now be endemic in wild bird populations, with risks present year-round rather than only in winter.

Both the hosts and Wayne emphasise vigilance and strict farm hygiene as critical defences.

Wayne stresses that biosecurity is often misunderstood.

Some see it purely as terminal hygiene – cleaning and disinfecting once birds leave a house – while others recognise continuous measures during a flock cycle.

In reality, both are essential.

The first day of the next flock cycle starts immediately after the previous flock leaves, and any carry-over risks must be eliminated.

Farmers may handle cleaning themselves, use in-house teams, or hire contractors, but consistency and thoroughness matter most.

Too often, people look for shortcuts: a fast clean rather than a correct clean, which leaves organic matter behind and undermines disinfection.

The discussion then focuses on common pitfalls.

Continuous farm practices frequently fail due to poor maintenance or incorrect use.

Wheel washes may not contain active disinfectant if pumps aren’t working or chemical drums are empty; foot dips, the “first line of defence,” are often contaminated, degraded by sunlight, or incorrectly mixed.

Without lids or regular replacement, disinfectant quickly becomes ineffective.

During terminal cleans, failure to fully remove organic matter or using disinfectants at the wrong concentration reduces efficacy. 

For example, a DEFRA-approved product rated at 2% may be ineffective if applied at 1.5%. 

Wayne stresses that washing and disinfection are separate processes: muck must be removed before applying disinfectant, otherwise the chemistry is neutralised. 

Attention to dilution rates, contact time, and correct rotation of chemistries is also critical. 

Oxidising products are often best used first to knock down viruses, but order matters – misapplication can cancel out effectiveness.

Tom probes Wayne on wheel wash technology, from simple knapsack sprayers to integrated spray bars. 

While drive-through systems are ideal, they are costly and require space, so most farms rely on sprayers. 

Whatever the system, doing nothing is not an option. Equally, over-mixing or combining incompatible products can reduce performance or create hazards. 

Wayne underlines that advice should be tailored: the target pathogen, the chemistry in use, and the sequence of application all matter.

1. Control entry – restrict visitors and ensure every vehicle entering has wheels properly disinfected with working, charged systems.
2. Prioritise foot dips – maintain them with the correct product, at the correct dilution, and replace them frequently to ensure they are active.
3. Enforce accuracy – whether cleaning houses or mixing disinfectants, precision matters. Guesswork or shortcuts leave pathogens behind and waste money.