Udder Washing and Teat Disinfection

Abstract

In the mechanization of milking least progress has been made in tasks involving direct contact with cows' teats and udders, namely fore-milk examination, udder and teat cleaning, application of teat cups and teat disinfection after milking. It is not surprising that this is so, since cows' udders and teats vary widely in size and shape and cows often object to mechanical interference with these organs. The tasks listed constitute the major manual labour of milking and thus limit milking performance. Applying the teat cups is inescapable but the other tasks are frequently omitted by milkers to reduce labour.