"Phoraid" (Phorvet): ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
Combating Mastitis is a complex problem. Traditional materials used to cleanse the teats before milking must be wiped off to prevent any residues from contaminating the milk.
Pre-dipping is also a very effective step in Mastitis control, approximately 85% of the dairy farms in the U.S are pre-dipped and pre-washed at this time. The solution must cover 75% of the teat surface and it must stay on for 30 seconds minimum. Lastly, for full benefit, research has shown significant decrease in bacteria numbers when Nitrile milking gloves are worn or hands are also washed in teat dip solution first.
Drying the teats with individual wipes, cloths or towels will also lower somatic cell count and reduce clinical Mastitis.
Traditional materials include formulation made from "Phoraid" 7000 as follows:
|
"Phoraid" 7000 (70,000) ppm A/v Iodine Glycerine Citric Acid Water (TOTAL |
7.0% 2.0% 0.2% 90.8% 100%) |
Note harvesting high quality milk and controlling udder infections require clean cows. Wash only as high on the udder as necessary to assure clean teats. Pay special attention to treat teats (teat ends) to assure they are clean. Handling the teat and udder during cleaning, if done gently, helps stimulate the cow and promotes complete milk let down. Keep udders and the rear quarters of the cows clipped to enhance cleaning of the cow in preparation for milking.
Teat Dip "Phoraid" is a very highly efficient germicide which kills all Mastitis causing organisms….bacteria and viruses usually in 15-30 seconds and allows the teat to remain healthy and supple without damage or irritation to the hands or teats.
Phoraid, iodofors and chlorhexidine have been used for over 40 years.
POST-MILKING
After milking, the teats must be immediately dipped with a teat dip. Coverage is the most important part of teat dipping. At least 75% of the teat must be covered with dip. The primary reason for teat dipping is to replace the milk film with a layer of germicide after milking. If the milk film is not removed, the remaining film acts as an ideal breeding area for bacteria, and that bacteria is present at the next milking. It is also important to start each milking with a fresh clean teat dip. Teat sprayers were proven inefficient in controlling Mastitis caused by the insufficient coverage of the teats. Teat wipes enable the farmer to reach and remove any remaining milk film, and cover all potentially infected areas of the udder.
Treatment during Dry Period
Proper management of the dry cow is critical for effective Mastitis control because the risk of new intra-mammary infections is greater during the dry period than during lactation. Most research indicates that 40% to 50% of all new intra-mammary infections occur during the dry period, and peaking immediately after dry off, and again just before calving. Incidents of infection out-break is low in mid dry period, when the gland is fully involuted.
Although 40% of new dry period intra-mammary infections are cured spontaneously, 60% persist into lactation as either subclinical or clinical Mastitis. Dry period infections, especially those that persist to calving, dramatically reduce subsequent milk production by as much as 35%. Dry period infections precede 67% of the clinical Mastitis cases that develop within 30 days postpartum.
Investment in Dry treatment is economically sound for most herds because many have Strep. ag. and Staph. aureus infection problems. Dry treatment is not effective against coliforms and some environmental streptococci such as Strep. uberis in the early dry period. Little or no drug protection persists through the late dry period to calving, thus offering little bacterial suppression. Sanitation, or minimising exposure of teat ends to bacteria, is the key to infection prevention in the dry period.
