Not all teat dips are created equally. The right dip can help ensure you harvest high-quality milk and minimize mastitis incidence with proper practices. Knowing what to look for can help you find an effective teat dip that will work with your farm’s most common mastitis-causing pathogens.
If you haven’t reviewed your teat dip program in a while, now is a great time to do so. Many teat dip manufacturers have upped their teat dip development game, giving you more choices that meet today’s market needs. As you evaluate your teat dip program, here are four common myths to watch out for.
Myth 1: Iodine is the gold standard teat dip germicide
Times have changed. Many teat dips we know and love have increased in price substantially compared to what they were years ago. Iodine costs have increased by more than 80% in the last few years. Glycerin costs have risen four times and propylene glycol three times. Because of this, many teat dip manufacturers have developed and tested new formulas using different germicides and skin conditioning packages to bring more economical choices to market.
When efficacy testing these new germicide options against iodine, many have proved to be as effective or more against the most common mastitis-causing pathogens.
One 340-cow dairy using shavings for bedding and robots to milk their herd had been using an iodine-based dip for many years. They switched three of their five robots in the same barn to a noniodine dual germicide teat dip. During the first few weeks of the trial, they experienced a 50-degree temperature drop and an inch of rain. There were no new mastitis cases, and the teat condition remained the same. They are getting optimal performance on this teat dip and have since switched entirely to this noniodine choice, aiding in profitability on the farm.
There are some great alternatives to iodine on the market today. Make sure to match the right ones to your herd’s needs, then validate.
Myth 2: A germicide alone makes an effective teat dip
There are many differences in teat dip formulations. Just because a teat dip contains a germicide known to be effective doesn’t mean the teat dip is effective. For example, if you use a chlorine dioxide dip and your neighbor uses a different chlorine dioxide dip, it does not mean they have the same efficacy. The whole formulation must be efficacy tested. The parts per million (ppm) of chlorine dioxide alone does not tell the entire story. Surfactants, secondary germicides, skin conditioners and other ingredients in the formula all play into the performance.
Efficacy is how the germicidal effectiveness of a teat dip is measured. It is usually paired with teat scoring to evaluate the teat skin and ends, checking if the level of skin conditioners in the formula is appropriate. Teat dip formulas that pass efficacy testing, field testing and perform on-farm are what make a teat dip effective. Through thorough testing with our chemists, we have seen that you can have the same ppm of the primary germicide in the teat dips but get drastically different killing power because of the other ingredients in the formula that affect efficacy.
Ask your supplier for the efficacy of your current teat dip or the options you are considering. Ensure the efficacy results are for that specific dip, not a university research study on a similar formula – it needs to be for the formula that matches the product you are looking to purchase. Not every manufacturer has the efficacy testing to validate a dip’s effectiveness.
Myth 3: The same teat dips work on all farms
There are a lot of excellent teat dip options available. When deciding what is best for your farm, you need to consider the specific mastitis-causing organisms your herd is challenged with and the level of skin conditioning you need based on the environment and weather conditions. Matching your farm’s needs to the right teat dip formula will help prevent mastitis, save money, maintain a low somatic cell count (SCC) and yield more quality premiums.
Your local hygiene and milk quality specialist can help prescribe a teat dip for your farm. Be prepared with the following information to help guide your discussion:
- What are your recent bulk tank culture results?
- Do you track your clinical mastitis? If so, have you cultured your clinical cases of mastitis?
- What type of bedding do you use? Have you ever cultured it?
- Have you cultured your udder towels?
- How often do you groom and bed your stalls or lots?
When your hygiene specialist shares their teat dip recommendations, ask if they have efficacy data on the dips they recommend. Also, see if they know other farmers who can share their experience using the dip they propose implementing on your farm.
Myth 4: Expect a quick impact when making teat dip changes
If you have ever experienced an increase in clinical mastitis or a spike in SCC, it can be tempting to look at changing your teat dip as a quick fix. However, you should slow down and first consider other environmental and herd changes that could be having an impact, then adjust your teat dip program accordingly. For example, if the weather is more rainy than usual, you will likely face more environmental challenges. You may need to adjust your bedding program and switch to a barrier teat dip to keep your milk quality in check.
When you make a teat dip change, plan for at least three to four weeks to start seeing a difference – and that’s if all other variables remain the same. Remember, you are using a teat dip to help prevent mastitis, not cure it.
The right teat dip can help you achieve your milk quality goals. Look for an efficacious teat dip backed by research and real results. Work with your milking equipment dealer and milk quality hygiene specialist to find the best solution for your herd.
