Teat Disinfection and Water Quality
In the last newsletter Peter Younis wrote on the factors that influence teat disinfectant efficacy, especially the importance of good quality water for mixing the teat disinfectants.
As part of the recent mastitis seminars, and as part of recent mastitis investigations, we have tested numerous teat spray and water samples. To date, only two samples of iodine teat disinfectant have had adequate levels of available iodine in them. Some samples have had iodine levels less than one-third the recommended level despite having been properly mixed according to the label directions. Most of these samples had been mixed with what appeared to be good quality water. The people using rainwater tended to have higher levels of iodine in their mix than those using bore water, town water or water from dams. However, the levels of available iodine were still below the recommended 0.5%.
This is a clear indication that the water being used to mix teat disinfectants must be tested and that it would be wise to have the mixed product tested at the same time.
For more information contact the clinic.
Click here to view the rest of the 1999 July newsletter.