The chlorhexidine teat spray by dairy hygiene company Deosan will also help lower cows’ bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC), says New Zealand managing director Kip Bodle.
TeatX is a more powerful version of Deosan’s original chlorhexidine teat spray, Teat-Ex. Its release coincides with DairyNZ’s SmartSAMM website launch this week, aimed at reducing the incidence of mastitis on dairy farms and improving milk quality.
“This is a great initiative and resource for the dairy industry and there is room for improvement. TeatX is a big part of the solution,” says Bodle.
A study on a large corporate South Island farm during the 2011-12 season is said to have shown the original Teat-Ex formula reduced clinical cases of mastitis by one third, saving the farm almost $200,000 (or $21 for each of the 9459 cows in the trial).
“While mastitis is multi-factorial, in this case there was a substantial improvement in teat condition which resulted in decreased BMSCC from 201,000 to 167,000 and 248 fewer clinical cases,” Bodle says. “This improvement was largely attributable to the swap from iodine to Teat-Ex. Our new formulation will deliver even better results.
“While farmers have traditionally used iodine-based teat spray products, we are noticing a sea change, with a large number now switching to chlorhexidine sprays,” Bodle says.
“Iodine is acidic and harsh on the cow’s skin whereas TeatX has a neutral pH which helps prevent teat damage in the first place. Less teat damage means fewer new infections and more profit,” he says.
Deosan says the price of iodine teat sprays has risen during the past year by $500/200L “within pockets” of the New Zealand market. Japan produces one third of the world’s iodine and the price has skyrocketed following last year’s earthquake and tsunami.
“There is a growing shift in the dairy market and our research indicates 30% of farmers now prefer to use chlorhexidine teat spray due to its ability to improve teat condition,” says Bodle.
Teat condition plays a huge part towards cutting BMSCC, Bodle says. “We know teat condition is a key issue in the prevention of mastitis. Chlorhexidine is just as effective at killing bugs as iodine.
“Teat sprays are vulnerable to shed chemical contamination and poor water quality which is a big issue in New Zealand milking sheds. Independent testing shows TeatX is the most stable compared to all other chlorhexidine teat sprays, remaining clear and in solution when exposed to residual chemical and water contamination. Other chlorhexidine products are extremely vulnerable to precipitation, which can result in the active ingredient ‘bombing out’.”
The TeatX formula also enables chlorhexidine to penetrate soil and the oily layer on cows’ teats much faster than its competitors, Deosan says.
The new formula contains 33% more active ingredient than its predecessor and has 10% more emollient to ensure better teat condition. It is approved for use at higher dilution rates for later in the season to help farmers save money.
This July (North Island) and August (South Island) Deosan will offer farmers a free week’s trial of TeatX worth up to $250.
www.teatx.co.nz
