With a myriad of pre and post-milking teat disinfectants on the market, what to use can be a difficult choice.
In the current milk market, striving to achieve all available revenue for farm raw milk to ensure as much of the income is realised as possible, should be a significant focus, according to Diversey’s agriculture specialists Siobhan Hennessy and Eddie Courtney for the dairy hygiene brand, Deosan.
“Identifying the challenges that can jeopardise total bacteria count (TBC) and cell count payments, coupled with making the correct choice of teat hygiene product is an important recipe for success,” Siobhan said.
Siobhan adds high hygiene standards are crucial to reduce the levels of micro-organisms that challenge the udder, particularly at calving, leading to mastitis outbreaks and fluctuating SCC and TBC levels.
She also stresses the need for hygiene both pre and post-milking: “Udders need to be thoroughly clean and dry before milking. A routine involving a pre-milking disinfectant and individual paper towel, or cloth wipe will ensure bacteria and soiling is effectively removed.”
Pre and post-milking
Deosan Target Pre Post is designed to meet these requirements. Aggressive on bacteria and soil but exceptionally kind to skin; Target Pre Post delivers an efficient, speedy removal of dirt, bacteria and yeast from teat skin before milking leaving the teat clean and dry and ready for milking.
With exceptional detergent and disinfectant properties, it can be applied as a spray and produces a foamy solution that clings; improving its efficiency to remove soil from the teat surface. It can also be effectively foamed or dipped.
To counterbalance the rigours of the milking process on the teat skin and to prepare them for the challenges that wait outside the parlour door, Deosan Target Pre Post contains skin friendly ingredients and glycerine – making it the perfect post-milking product to generate silky teat skin.
This is particularly useful to farmers who wish to deliver a single product through a teat sprayer system.
Siobhan said: “After milking, make sure the teats are totally covered with a post-milking disinfectant to ensure removal of bacteria from the whole teat surface and to promote supple and conditioned teat skin. It should take four seconds to post spray each cow.
“The cow should also leave the parlour to a well scraped feeding area before being given access to well prepared and freshly bedded housing.”
Ensuring teat skin condition is at its best during the initial stages of lactation is very important. Where a boost in condition is required, the use of a viscous barrier product is a sensible alternative to creams and lotions.
Target Barrier is a product designed to effectively remove bacteria and yeast from the teat skin and maximise teat health, through its superior skin conditioning properties.
Siobhan continued: “The addition of glycerine and allantoin ensures the continuity of skin condition during challenging weather and transitional lactation periods; the teat skin retains moisture, is softened and soothed between milkings.
Explaining why barrier dips are seeing an increasing interest, Eddie said: “Barriers are incredibly effective, and are highly recommended, in times of transition.
“Wherever there is a challenge to the cow, she is more at risk of infections and teat health issues, so its sensible to use teat hygiene products that offer the most protection.
“Some people always use barrier products on the whole herd, due to their experience in seeing how teat condition improves and the cow’s teat health benefits.
“The highly viscous properties of Target Barrier, also promotes more accurate coverage and less wastage. It stays put directly on the teat skin, which also allows the ingredients to get into all the nooks and crevices of the skin promoting excellent skin conditioning,” he explained.
Eddie continued: “This can also remove the reliance on teat creams, which present little value in terms of disinfection, can become contaminated with flies and faeces and add complexity to the milking routine. It is simply investing in the right product, at the right time, with the best ingredients, which will ensure that good teat skin condition is maintained.
“The choice of teat disinfectant product cannot overcome compromised habits, poor application or inconsistent hygiene routines.
“Optimising clean, disinfected teats before milking relies on giving the product time to kill the bacteria and lift the dirt, typically 60 seconds, before wiping off thoroughly.
“It is important to select products carefully to meet your herds needs. Choose a product with high skin conditioning properties, such as Target Pre Post or Target Barrier, during critical periods such as at calving, early lactation and during high environmental challenge to ensure teats remain hydrated and in good condition,”
For more information contact:
Siobhan (086)7910777
Eddie (085)8266206
