Effect of a disinfectant udder wash and a post-milking teat dip on the bacterial population of the teat end and on the rate of new intramammary infection

Abstract

SUMMARYA pre-milking wash disinfectant procedure employing a 2% (w/v) chlorhexidine solution in a detergent base did not reduce the rate of new intramammary infection in a lactating herd challenged with Staphylococcus aureus. Teat-end swabs showed no significant difference in the number of Staph aureus isolated from the teat-ends pre-washed with either water, or water and chlorhexidine. In contrast, disinfecting teats after milking with a solution containing 5000 mg available iodine/1 significantly reduced the staphylococcal population of the teat-ends and the rate of new intramammary infection, compared with teats not disinfected.