Dairy

Evaluation of Teat Coverage Persistency and Teat Health for One New Prototype and One Commercial Dry Period Persistent Barrier Teat Dips

---

Abstract

Mastitis research has shown that 40-50% of intramammary infections (IMI) are contracted during the dry or non-lactating period with the greatest percentages of these occurring during the first and last two weeks of the dry period. The ability to develop and apply external persistent barrier teat dip products (like a liquid bandage) that can persist for these 1 week periods could decrease IMI, thus improving animal health and performance, and product quality and safety. The objective of this study was to evaluate 1 new prototype faster drying persistent barrier dry cow teat dip compared to a commercially available dry cow barrier teat dip, with particular interest and comparisons of dip persistency in providing teat end protection, and overall teat end and skin health.

Dipping with the new fast drying blue dip (E) compared to T-Hexx Blue (commercial dip - B) resulted in similar excellent teat end and skin health. Although a small % of cows had similar short (48 hours or 2 days protection) and long protection (> 5 days with both teats protected) across both dips, the majority of cows showed ~ 1 day longer persistency with T-Hexx compared to the fast drying blue experimental dip with this difference being greater in front compared to rear quarters but both front and rear quarters were higher with the T-Hexx group. Front teats averaged .5 days greater persistency than rear teats. Overall, the new experimental dip was slightly inferior to the commercial T-Hexx product.

Keywords: ASL R2794

How to Cite:

Smith, E. A. & Timms, L. L., (2013) “Evaluation of Teat Coverage Persistency and Teat Health for One New Prototype and One Commercial Dry Period Persistent Barrier Teat Dips”, Iowa State University Animal Industry Report 10(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/ans_air-180814-113