Evaluation of Experimental Chlorine Technology Pre and Post Milking Teat Dips vs. a Commercial Hydrogen Peroxide Pre Dip and Iodine Barrier Post Milking Teat Dip on Teat End and Teat Skin Condition and Health

摘要

Objectives were to evaluate (using half udder design model) a novel chlorine predip and postdip combination (ECAlogix™ System) versus a control commercial hydrogen peroxide pre-milking teat dip and iodine barrier post milking teat dip on overall teat end and teat skin condition and health. There were 3 pens (10, 11, and 12) in the trial (7 weeks). Pen 12 (48 cows) had all teats dipped with current herd pre and post dips (herd sentry pen). Pen 11 (48 cows) and Pen 10 (24 cows) had left side teats dipped with commercial herd pre and post dips while right teats were dipped with 1000 ppm chlorine predip and 2000 ppm chlorine post dips (experimental prototypes). Teat skin (1=normal, 2=slightly dry; 3 = chapped) and teat end (1-1.5 = normal; 2-3= smooth ring; 3.5-4 = rough ring; 4.5-5 very rough ring) scoring was performed two times per week. Mixed procedure of SAS with repeated measured (mixed model with quarter within cow as a repeated measure) were used to analyze average teat skin score (TSS), average teat end scores (TES), and % rough teats, with p \u3c.05 considered significant. Prior to trial initiation, pens 12 (sentry) and 11 (experimental) had similar and higher TSS, TES, and % rough teats (1.08, 2.5, and 60%) compared to pen 10 (1.01, 2.1, 30-40%: used in a previous trial with experimental chlorine post dips that improved teat integrity). Pen 12 (sentry) showed no overall change in TSS, TES, and % rough teat ends during the trial. Chlorine dipped teats in pens 11 and 10 showed significantly better (p \u3c .01) TSS, TES, and % rough teats than control dipped teats within 10 days of trial initiation (1.01, 2.0, 30-40% vs 1.03, 2.6, and 60%, respectively) and maintained this improved teat integrity through the trial. Prototype chlorine teat dips were stable and provided significantly better teat skin and teat end health and integrity compared to commercial products.