Effect of Pre-Milking Teat Foam Disinfection on the Prevention of New Mastitis Rates in Early Lactation.

Abstract

Simple SummaryThe benefits of pre-milking teat disinfection have varied depending on management, practices and bacterial strains present in the environment, with some studies stating a reduction in the incidence of new infections and other studies stating little benefit of pre-milking teat disinfection. Furthermore, the effectiveness of pre-milking teat disinfection using foam has not previously been evaluated in a pasture-based dairy herd. This study has shown little benefit of applying a foaming pre-milking teat disinfectant in early lactation in a pasture-based dairy herd. However, the foaming teat disinfectant reduced bacterial counts on teat skin and may reduce the bacterial contamination of milk.The objective of this study was to determine the benefit of pre-milking teat foam disinfection on the prevention of new infections by contagious and environmental bacteria in two spring calving herds managed outdoors (Herd 1 [H1]; 331 cows and Herd 2 [H2]; 142 cows). Four pre-milking teat preparation treatments were applied post calving; with each herd receiving two treatments; using a split udder design (for approx. 15 weeks). These treatments included; (1) ‘water wash, foam application and dry wipe (WFD) in H1′; (2) ‘water wash and dry wipe (WD)’ in H1; (3) ‘foam application and dry wipe (FD)’ in H2; (4) ‘no teat cleaning preparation (NP)’ in H2. Individual quarter foremilk samples were collected on four occasions and all clinical and sub-clinical cases were recorded. The mean SCC of quarter foremilk samples was 134 × 103 cells/mL and 127 × 103 cells/mL for WD and WFD, respectively, and 109 × 103 cells/mL and 89 × 103 cells/mL for NP and FD, respectively (p > 0.05). Lower bacterial counts were observed on teat skin that received a foaming treatment. Pre-milking teat disinfection using a foaming product may be of little benefit, in early lactation, for a pasture-based dairy herd.