Submitted by: agcomm,  Thu Dec 18 12:35:24 1997


                        December 18, 1997
 
Which Is Best -- Spraying or Dipping?
     
     New research shows that teat dipping and teat spraying
before and after milking are equally effective at protecting
against infections, according to a North Dakota State University
dairy specialist.
     "Udder preparation is a crucial step in the daily routine of
dairy herds, not only to produce a quality product for the
consumer, but to maintain the health and well being of the cow,"
notes J.W Schroeder of the NDSU Extension Service.
     A recent Louisiana State University study compared teat
spraying with teat dipping under natural conditions.  A typical
teat dipping solution of hypochlorous acid germicide was used to
determine differences in new intramammary infection rates between
the two methods.  Each method was used on 75 cows for 14 weeks.
     There were more infections from the contagious forms of
mastitis such as Staphylococcus aureus among cows that received
the spray treatment. Cows that received the dipping treatment had
more infections from environmentally-tranferred forms of mastitis
such as the staphylococcus species that are found in dirty
stalls, udders and milking equipment. 
     "The bottom line is that if proper management is used, both
methods should be effective.  What works best for individual
producers will depend on what fits best into their management
system," Schroeder says.
     Teat spraying after milking has become popular, particularly
in large dairy herds, Schroeder notes.  The greatest advantage of
the treatment is that the disinfectant remains free of
contamination by milk, manure and dirt.  The method is also
faster, and typically less is lost to spillage.
     "To be effective, the spray shoud be applied to the teat
from directly below, and the entire teat should be covered so
that a drop of germicide collects at the teat end," he explains.  
                            ###
NDSU Agriculture Communication
Source: J. W. Schroeder (701) 231-9629
Editor: Tom Jirik (701) 231-9629