Development and Evaluation of Teat Coverage Persistency for New Prototype 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 specific aim of this study was to evaluate teat dip characteristics (teat health and adherence times) of novel prototype dry cow barrier teat dip products compared to a commercial product. Dipping with the new prototype dry cow persistent barrier teat dips compared to a commercial dip resulted in similar excellent teat end and skin health. Initially, many of the prototypes has shortened persistency on teats compared to the commercial product but results from later trials showed some prototype products to have equal persistency to the commercial product.