Pre-Milking Teat Disinfection

Introduction

Pre-milking teat disinfection is the application of a fast acting disinfectant to the teat prior to milking the cow. The objective is to reduce the bacterial load on the teat. This will reduce the level of bacteria entering the milk, thus controlling the Bactoscan, and will help reduce the incidence of mastitis associated with environmental pathogens, predominantly Escherichia coli and Streptococcus uberis. Another benefit is to stimulate milk let down by the udder and reduce the extent of bimodal milk flow as well as improving teat condition.

Disinfection takes place once cows are settled into the parlour typically occurring after forestripping. When a cow has a very dirty udder, the udder may have to be washed first but this is not a substitute for teat disinfection. For reasons of efficiency and to help ensure adequate contact time (typically 30 seconds) cows are often prepared in batches. For a herringbone parlour, cows may be prepared in a batch of 5-6 before returning to the first cow to wipe the teat clean and attach the cluster. Failure to leave adequate time or not wiping the teat before cluster attachment will decrease the effectiveness and may even raise the Bactoscan level. Additionally, chemicals may enter the milk causing milk taint. In a rotary parlour, application and wiping should occur when the cow has reached a certain point to indicate sufficient contact time.

Application is usually through the use of a teat cup or spray. The product may be a liquid (often iodine or chlorhexidine based) or foam. Application may also be applied with a motorised brush although drying is still essential when this is used. It is important that the correct type of disinfectant is used with post milking teat disinfectants usually being inappropriate.

References and further reading

Biggs, A., 2009. Mastitis in Cattle, 1st Edition. The Crowood Press Ltd.

Blowey, R., Edmondson, P., 2010. Mastitis Control in Dairy Herds, 2nd Edition. CABI International.