Mastitis research has shown that 40-50% of intramammary infections (IMI) are contracted during the dry or non-lactating period with the greatest percentages of these occurring during the first and last two weeks of the dry period. The ability to develop and apply external persistent barrier teat dip products (like a liquid bandage) that can persist for these 1 week periods could decrease IMI, thus improving animal health and performance, and product quality and safety. The objective of this study was to evaluate 2 new prototype persistent barrier dry cow teat dips compared to a commercially available dry cow barrier teat dip, with particular interest and comparisons of dip persistency in providing teat end protection, and overall teat end and skin health.

Cows dipped with commercial T-Hexx dip had significantly greater persistency and protection compared to experimental dips A (2323-007-02) and B (2323-014-02). Experimental dips had darker coloring and dripped less, but resulted in thicker, more rigid films that cracked easier. Also, experimental dips took longer to dry and resulted in a major “stickiness” problem where the dip stuck to bedding, legs, hair, and also resulted in teats folding over and sticking to the udder. This stickiness and slow drying resulted in major persistency and dip retention issues as well as may possibly escalate rather than reduce mastitis risks.