DAIRY farmers are being encouraged to review their milking routines amid claims that pre-milking teat disinfection could significantly reduce cases of clinical mastitis and improve milk quality.
Alison Clark, of dairy hygiene company Progiene, says pre-milking teat disinfection – known as PreMTD – remains underused on UK farms despite evidence suggesting it can help prevent bacteria spreading during milking.
Mastitis, an inflammation of the udder most commonly caused by bacterial infection, remains one of the most significant health and economic challenges facing dairy herds.
Ms Clark said attention to hygiene immediately before and after milking could offer farmers an opportunity to improve udder health and reduce associated costs.
“Only a proportion of herds carry out PreMTD, and not all will be doing so correctly, and yet it is a proven way to reduce the spread of bacteria in the parlour,” she said.
According to Progiene, a UK split-herd study found that correctly applied pre-milking teat disinfection reduced clinical mastitis by 57 per cent and improved milk bacterial counts by 70 per cent.
Ms Clark said the effectiveness of the practice depended not only on the product used, but on correct application, sufficient contact time and general cow cleanliness.
“Milking is one of the main times when bacteria can enter the udder through the teat canal, so disinfection before the cluster is applied is a logical precaution,” she said.
For pre-milking treatment, the company recommends allowing disinfectant at least 30 seconds of contact time before thoroughly drying the teats and applying the milking cluster.
Post-milking disinfection also plays an important role because teat canals remain open for a period after milking, potentially leaving cows vulnerable to environmental bacteria when they return to housing or pasture.
Ms Clark said: “Teat disinfection after milking is not just about killing any bacteria that may be passed on in the parlour, but also providing protection against environmental bacteria outside of the milking parlour.”
Progiene recommends products suitable for use both before and after milking and markets its own Dual Defence formulation for this purpose.
The company says maintaining good teat condition is another important part of mastitis prevention, as bacteria can survive in cracked or damaged skin.
According to figures cited by Progiene, the UK industry currently experiences more than 30 cases of clinical mastitis for every 100 cows during each lactation.
Around 60 per cent of clinical cases are said to occur during the first eight weeks of lactation, when cows can be particularly susceptible to infection.
Environmental bacteria including E.coli and Streptococcus uberis are among the organisms associated with early-lactation mastitis.
Ms Clark said: “Effective use of pre-milking and post-milking teat disinfection will help prevent the spread of these organisms, which will reduce clinical mastitis and improve milk quality.”
She added that evidence also suggested pre-milking disinfection could contribute to faster and more complete milk let-down, while regular teat care could improve skin condition.
The advice comes as dairy farmers continue to look for ways of improving herd health while reducing antibiotic use and the financial losses associated with mastitis.
