Livestock Hygiene and Teat Sealants
Milking hygiene includes preparing the teat before milking, protecting it afterwards and cleaning the parlour and equipment, in order to prevent mastitis.
Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland, almost always caused by bacteria that enter through the teat canal. Before milking (pre-dipping) the teat is cleaned to remove dirt and residues, and dried so that they do not get into the milk. After milking (post-dipping), the canal takes some time to close; that is why a product is applied that forms a protective layer on the teat and is removed before the next milking. These external sealants are not the internal sealants applied at drying off, which are veterinary medicines.
Instaquim teat products, according to their technical data sheet:
- Nippclean (pH 4.5; chlorhexidine): hygiene before milking, neat with foam applicators; wait about 30 s and remove.
- Nipplac Foam (pH 3.5; lactic acid): before milking, neat with a foam applicator, at least 25 s; remove residues before milking.
- Iod Pv (pH 4.7; povidone-iodine): before and after milking, neat by spraying or dipping; dry the teats before milking.
- Iod Pro (pH 4.7; povidone-iodine): after milking, neat by dipping; forms a protective film.
- Nipplac Pro (pH 4; lactic acid): after each milking, neat by dipping.
- Condnipple A + Condnipple B: 50 ml of B per litre of A; apply immediately after milking with an applicator cup and leave to air dry.
For facilities and equipment:
- InstaBact® 3000 Uso en entorno ganadero (registration 11551-P): disinfection of facilities and surfaces used for the housing and transport of animals.
- Vacid (pH 2.0 at 1 %): acid detergent for circuits, pipes, vats and tanks, also in milking parlours.