Pre-dipping and post-dipping protocol for dairy cattle milking

This protocol describes teat hygiene before milking (pre-dipping) and teat sealing after milking (post-dipping) on dairy cattle farms with Instaquim's teat-care range, following their technical data sheets. The whole range is applied neat, without dilution; the only mixture prepared is that of Condnipple A with Condnipple B.

Materials required

• Pre-milking foam sanitiser: Nipplac Foam (lactic acid, glycerine and emollients; pH 3.5 ± 0.5) or Nippclean (chlorhexidine digluconate, surfactants and skin conditioners; pH 4.5 ± 0.3). Used neat with a foam applicator.
• Iodine alternative for before and after milking: Iod Pv (povidone-iodine and emollients; pH 4.7 ± 0.3), neat by spraying or dipping.
• Post-milking dip by immersion: Iod Pro (povidone-iodine and emollients, viscous; pH 4.7 ± 0.3) or Nipplac Pro (lactic acid and skin conditioners; pH 4 ± 0.8). Applied neat.
• Two-component conditioning teat dip: Condnipple A (lactic acid, glycerine and emollients; pH 2.5 ± 0.5) activated with Condnipple B (sodium chlorite; pH at 1 % 10.5 ± 0.5), 50 ml of B per litre of A, applied with an applicator cup.
• Single-use drying paper.
• Foam applicators for pre-dipping; dip cups, applicator cup or sprayer for post-dipping.
• Graduated container and a well-ventilated area for preparing the Condnipple A + B mixture.
• Protective gloves, clothing and eye protection (P280 statement on all data sheets in the range).
• Record sheet (product, batch, date, animal and incidents) integrated into the HACCP plan.

Step-by-step procedure

1. Initial inspection: observe the teats and udder; note cracks, chafing, inflammation or coarse dirt. If there are small handling injuries, plan on Nipplac Pro for post-dipping: its data sheet states that it helps small wounds to heal.
2. Removal of the previous dip residues: the Iod Pro and Nipplac Pro data sheets require product residues to be removed before the next milking, and those of Condnipple A and B call for the teats to be cleaned to remove product residues and dirt before milking. This function is performed by the pre-milking sanitiser.
3. Application of the pre-milking sanitiser: apply Nipplac Foam neat with the foam applicator, covering the whole teat; its foam does not drip, which avoids product loss. Leave to act for at least 25 seconds. Alternative: Nippclean neat with a foam applicator; its compact foam prolongs the contact time on the teat skin; wait about 30 seconds. If an iodine product is preferred, Iod Pv neat by spraying or dipping.
4. Foam removal and drying: remove all product residues from the teats completely with single-use paper, one sheet per cow, wiping from the base to the tip. With Iod Pv the data sheet is explicit: dry the teats completely before milking. A clean, dry teat prevents product residues from passing into the milk or onto the teat cups.
5. Milking: attach the teat cups to clean, dry teats. Vacuum and pulsation parameters are set by the equipment manufacturer.
6. Post-dipping by immersion: immediately after removing the teat cups, dip each teat in neat Iod Pro (it forms an aseptic protective film against dirt and micro-organisms that helps to seal the teat) or in neat Nipplac Pro, which is applied by dipping after every milking and prevents irritation and contamination by micro-organisms. Iod Pv can also be used post-milking. Do not dilute any of them.
7. Post-dipping with Condnipple A + B (two-component option): prepare the mixture by adding 50 ml of Condnipple B per litre of Condnipple A in a well-ventilated area. Immediately after milking, apply to the teats with an applicator cup. Do not wipe dry with a cloth: leave to air-dry. The mixture forms a protective layer that prevents microbial contamination. For external use only.
8. Air-drying and milker hygiene: allow the dip to dry on the teat without rubbing before the animal lies down. Wash hands or change gloves between groups of animals and after handling a quarter with clinical mastitis; the data sheets do not set an interval.
9. Record: note product, batch, date and time, number of animals treated and incidents (damaged teats, skin reactions, product change). All containers are stored closed; Condnipple A and B in a cool, dry place protected from sunlight and frost, as their data sheet indicates.

Verification and control

Verification is visual and documentary. Every day, check that the teats go in clean and dry and come out covered in dip, and that no redness, cracks or flaking appear; if they do, switch to the dip with skin conditioners (Nipplac Pro) or review the application. The bulk-tank somatic cell count and the clinical mastitis record that the farm already keeps are the outcome indicators; the protocol does not promise a specific reduction because the data sheets do not quantify one. For limescale deposits in the milking installation, the Vacid data sheet indicates circulating it at 5-10 g/l for 5-10 minutes at 50-60 ºC after a pre-rinse, rinsing with cold potable water, and increasing to 50-100 g/l for old scale; the alkaline wash is done with a low-foaming alkaline detergent suitable for circuits.

Safety and PPE

• Protective gloves, clothing and eye protection for handling any product in the range (P280 on all data sheets).
• Iod Pro, Iod Pv, Nipplac Foam, Nippclean, Nipplac Pro and Condnipple A carry H319 (causes serious eye irritation): in case of contact with eyes, rinse with water for several minutes and seek medical advice if it persists.
• Condnipple B is the highest-risk product: H312 (harmful in contact with skin), H315 (skin irritation), H318 (serious eye damage) and EUH032 (contact with acids liberates very toxic gas). Prepare the mixture in a well-ventilated area and remove and wash contaminated clothing.
• Iod Pro carries H412 (harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects): avoid release to the environment.
• Do not ingest or mix with other chemical products; Nippclean also calls for thorough washing after handling (P264).
• Keep containers out of reach of children (P102). The classifications cited follow Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP); each product's safety data sheet expands on them.

Recommended Instaquim products

Pre-milking foam: Nipplac Foam (lactic acid, glycerine and emollients, pH 3.5 ± 0.5), which removes dirt and residues of the previous dip and protects the teat from the physical stress of milking, with at least 25 seconds of contact; and Nippclean (chlorhexidine digluconate, surfactants and skin conditioners, pH 4.5 ± 0.3), with about 30 seconds of contact.

Iodine pre- and post-milking: Iod Pv, a liquid of povidone-iodine and emollients (pH 4.7 ± 0.3) that is applied neat by spraying or dipping and protects against dirt and micro-organisms.

Post-milking by immersion: Iod Pro, a viscous dip of povidone-iodine and emollients (pH 4.7 ± 0.3) that forms an aseptic protective film; and Nipplac Pro, a viscous dip of lactic acid and skin conditioners (pH 4 ± 0.8) that helps small wounds to heal.

Two-component post-milking: Condnipple A (blue liquid; lactic acid, glycerine and emollients) activated with Condnipple B (sodium chlorite) at a rate of 50 ml of B per litre of A, applied with an applicator cup and air-dried.

Milking installation: Vacid, controlled-foam acid detergent for limescale deposits in circuits, pipework and milking parlours (5-10 g/l, 5-10 minutes, 50-60 ºC).

Applicable legislation: Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 (hygiene of food of animal origin, including raw milk production), Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 (food hygiene and HACCP), Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 (biocides, the framework for teat disinfectants), Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP classification and labelling) and Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH).

Frequently asked questions

Do teat dips and teat sanitisers need to be diluted?

No. All the technical data sheets in Instaquim's teat-care range state that the product is applied neat: Nipplac Foam and Nippclean with a foam applicator, Iod Pv by spraying or dipping, and Iod Pro and Nipplac Pro by dipping. The only preparation is the mixture of Condnipple A with Condnipple B (50 ml of B per litre of A), which is made in a well-ventilated area.

How long should the sanitiser act before milking?

Nipplac Foam must be left to act for at least 25 seconds and Nippclean for about 30 seconds. In both cases the residues are removed completely before attaching the teat cups.

What is the difference between Iod Pro and Iod Pv?

Both are products based on povidone-iodine and emollients with pH 4.7 ± 0.3. Iod Pro is viscous and is indicated for after milking only: it forms a protective film that helps to seal the teat. Iod Pv is a liquid that can be used before and after milking, by spraying or dipping; if used before, the teats must be dried completely before milking.

When is a lactic acid dip preferable to iodine?

Nipplac Pro (lactic acid and skin conditioners, pH 4 ± 0.8) prevents irritation and helps small handling wounds to heal, so it is the usual choice when the teats show cracks or chafing. Iod Pro also contains softening agents that prevent irritation.

How is the Condnipple A + Condnipple B mixture prepared and applied?

Add and mix 50 ml of Condnipple B per litre of Condnipple A in a well-ventilated area. Immediately after milking it is applied to the teats with an applicator cup and left to air-dry, without wiping with a cloth. Condnipple B contains sodium chlorite and must only be used to prepare this mixture; its data sheet warns that it liberates very toxic gas in contact with acids, so it is never mixed with other products.

Does the dip have to be removed before the next milking?

Yes. The Iod Pro and Nipplac Pro data sheets state that product residues must be removed before the next milking, and those of Condnipple A and B call for the teats to be cleaned to remove product residues and dirt before milking. That removal is the function of the pre-milking sanitisers.

Which product is used for limescale in the milking parlour?

For limescale deposits in circuits, pipework and milking parlours, the Vacid data sheet indicates circulating it at 5-10 g/l for 5-10 minutes at 50-60 ºC, or at 50-100 g/l to remove old scale, with a pre-rinse and a rinse with cold potable water.