A COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT PRODUCTS FOR SANITIZING DAIRY CLOTHS

摘要

The increase in popularity of reusable cloth towels over paper towels for drying teats before milking is due to many reasons, including better cleaning, gentleness to cows skin, less waste and lower costs. Since cloth towels are reused, however, theyhave to be washed and disinfected between uses. Contaminated towels may facilitate the transfer of mastitis pathogens present in the environment or on infected cows to uninfected cow teats during subsequent milkings. It is possible, if not likely, that dirty towels may pass on environmental (coliforms, environmental Streptococcus) as well as contagious pathogens (Staph. aureus, Strep, agalactiae) to uninfected cows. Consequently, there is a need for an effective, efficient means of disinfection of cloth towels between uses.