Effective post milking teat disinfection, (spraying or dipping) can reduce new mastitis infection rates by up to 50%.  It is an extremely important component of any mastitis control program.

 

In Australia, teat disinfectants come as a concentrate which must be diluted with water.  There are a number of components of water quality that can have a significant effect on the final effectiveness of the disinfectant.

Hardness and Alkalinity:

Caused by calcium, magnesium, iron etc.  Levels greater than 600ppm will effect teat disinfectant.

  This means most bore water and some rainwater that has been stored in concrete tanks may be unsuitable.

Colloidal Content:

Clay particles reduce effectiveness.

Organic Matter:

Plant material such as algae and decaying vegetation are very common in dam and creek water.

A surprising number of rainwater tanks have high levels of organic matter.  This is especially true when collection roofs are located where dry dung can blow onto them.

Bacteria:

Tanks, dams and even bores have been found to be contaminated with large numbers of bacteria.

Some of these, such as pseudomonas can survive in some teat disinfectants and can be responsible

for severe mastitis.

Ideally the water should be tested.  There are kits available that can test hardness, alkalinity and available iodine.  Bacterial content can be tested using standard culture techniques.

 

As a rule of thumb,  soft water  of drinking  quality  that  has  passed through  a  dairy hot water service is probably OK.