Evaluating Teat Skin Condition in Response to Phenoxyethanol as a Post-Milking Teat Disinfectant on Lactating Dairy Cows

Abstract

Alternatives to iodine-based teat dips may decrease risk of iodine residues in milk. The objective of this study was to evaluate how a post-milking teat dip containing phenoxyethanol as the active ingredient and a 5% emollient (treatment) affected teat skin condition compared to a 1% iodine solution (control). A 9week, split-udder, noninferiority study was conducted on 111 lactating Holstein dairy cows at the University of Kentucky Coldstream Research Dairy. The treatment (left side) and control (right side) were applied using a non-return dip cup. Teats were scored once a week, in accordance with National Mastitis Council guidelines, for 9weeks on a 1 (desirable) to 3 (undesirable) scale for teat skin chapping, teat skin dryness, and teat skin color. A 1 (desirable) to 4 (undesirable) scale was used for teat end condition. Data analyses were conducted with SAS Version 9.3 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). The FREQ procedure generated frequency distributions and the MIXED procedure generated a mixed linear model evaluating the effect of teat, week, and their interaction on teat end condition, teat skin color, teat skin chapping, and teat skin dryness. Teat skin chapping and teat skin color remained at a score of 1 throughout all 9weeks of the study and were not analyzed further. For teat end condition, no significant differences in scores between treatment and control teats were observed. For teat dryness, scores for treatment front teats were significantly greater than control front teats (1.10±0.01 vs. 1.06±0.01; P≤0.001). Temporary increases in dryness scores during study weeks 4, 5, 6, and 9 (P≤0.01) on the treatment side occurred during expected teat exfoliation. Teat skin condition gradually decreased overtime with statistically different scores during weeks 1, 3, 4, 6 (P≤0.01), and 7 (P≤0.012). The scores comparing treatment and control teats are significantly different, but are minimal enough that they do not suggest a biological difference. Results indicate phenoxyethanol may serve as an alternative to iodine-based teat dips, which raise risk of iodine residues in milk

Influence of Post-Milking Treatment on Microbial Diversity on the Cow Teat Skin and in Milk

“…Therefore, post-milking treatments with other chemicals known as emollients and humectants were added to counter these effects and also to soften and improve the teat skin condition after milking. Alternative teat disinfectants have been increasingly researched [14,15], particularly in organic agriculture or in cheese production. Indeed, preserving the integrity of the teat skin microbiota is of potential interest for its role in the health of the animal [16] on the one hand and as a reservoir of microbial diversity for milk and cheese on the other hand [6].…”

Teat Health and Mastitis in Buffalo

“…Teat dryness/roughness was evaluated using a friction test examining resistance upon touch determined by the scorer (Reeves et al, 2017). A score of 1 indicated a smooth surface with no frictional resistance involved, 2 indicated slight frictional resistance and slight roughness and a 3 indicated extreme roughness and a high frictional resistance level (NMC, 2007).…”