PRE-MILKING TEAT DISINFECTION CAN IMPROVE UDDER HEALTH
Pre-milking teat disinfection (PreMTD) can be an effective way to reduce clinical mastitis, and – carried out with a product also suitable for post-milking teat disinfection – offers a convenient and efficient addition to milking routines. So advises Alison Clark of leading dairy hygiene business Progiene, stressing that associated aspects including cow cleanliness and correct product application should also be considered part of a best practice approach. Despite continuing progress being made in udder health, she says applying attention to detail at and around milking time still creates opportunities for improvement in the majority of milking herds, with greater profitability the reward. “Only a proportion of herds carry out PreMTD, and not all will be doing so correctly, and yet it is a proven way to reduce the spread of bacteria in the parlour,” says Ms Clark. “In a UK split-herd study, correct application of PreMTD was shown to reduce clinical mastitis by 57% and improve milk bacterial counts by 70%. “There is clearly potential for this simple addition to the milking routine to make a significant difference, but only if the right product is used and it is applied correctly.”
Ms Clark recommends Progiene’s Dual Defence teat care formulation, which is suitable for both pre- and post-milking use. It contains chlorhexidine, for rapid teat cleaning and disinfection, and lactic acid for skin regeneration and conditioning, as well as peppermint to soothe inflammation. However, it will only be fully effective if used correctly, and as part of a complete routine, she adds. Dual Defence is supplied ready to use and can be applied as a dip, a foam, or a spray, but – for PreMTD – dipping is usually recommended. “It is essential to allow a minimum of thirty seconds contact time for the disinfectant to work, and then the teats should be dried before applying the cluster. If spraying, be sure to dry the udder thoroughly, to avoid residues running down onto the dried teat area. “Milking is one of the main times when bacteria can enter the udder, through the teat canal, so disinfection before the cluster is applied is a logical precaution under any circumstances.”
Dual Defence is also formulated for post-milking teat disinfection, which Ms Clark points to as another vital element of maintaining udder health. “Teat disinfection after milking is not just about killing any bacteria that may be passed on in the parlour, but it is also to provide protection against environmental bacteria outside of the milking parlour,” she adds. “Teat canals will remain open for a period of time after milking, when cows may go outside and lie down, making them particularly susceptible to infection.”
An additional benefit of Dual Defence is the improvement in teat condition that is seen, often quite soon after the first application. Bacteria survive in cracked skin so, by encouraging skin regeneration, the ambition with any teat care product is to obtain smooth teat skin, an environment that harbours less bacteria.
“Having one product that is ideally suited to both pre- and post-milking disinfection adds convenience and efficiency and will hopefully encourage more dairy farms to adopt a full udder health routine in the milking parlour.”
With a current UK industry average of somewhere over 30 cases of clinical mastitis per one hundred cows per lactation, Ms Clark says it is clear that even the best managed herds are incurring significant costs and could improve udder health.
“We know that the majority of mastitis occurs in the early stages of lactation, with around 60% of clinical cases within the first eight weeks,” she adds.
“The most common organisms responsible for early lactation mastitis are environmental bacteria, such as E.coli and Streptococcus uberis, which are picked up outside the parlour.
“Effective use of pre-milking, and post-milking, teat disinfection will help prevent the spread of these organisms, which will reduce clinical mastitis and improve milk quality.
“There is also evidence that PreMTD leads to faster and more complete milk let down, and – like the post-milking application – can promote improved teat condition.”
Source: press release issued by the issuing company.