Effects of a 1.94% Sulfonic Acid Teat Dip and a 1% Iodophor Teat Dip on Teat Canal Infections in Lactating Dairy Cows

¹ Mastitis Research Laboratory, Hill Farm Research Station, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Route 1, Box 10, Homer 71040

Sixty-three cows were used in a natural exposure trial for 1 yr to determine the effects of a 1.94% linear dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid and a 1% iodophor teat dip on teat canal and intramammary infections. Overall, total teat canal infections increased 28.9% and total intramammary infections increased 30% in quarters dipped with the linear dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid compared with a 14.3% increase in teat canal infections and a 17.4% decrease in intramammary infections for the iodophor group. Higher frequencies were observed for teat canal and intramammary infections caused by Staphylococcus epidennidis in the linear dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid group. hylococcus hyicus the predominant organism isolated from teat canal and intramammary infections in the iodophor group. No difference was observed between the two teat dips in the persistence of Staphylococcus aureus canal infections. A greater number of S. hyicus canal infections persisted in the iodophor group, whereas teat canal infections produced by S. epidermidis Staphylococcus xylosus persisted longer in the sulfonic acid group. Results of this study indicated that use of a linear dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid teat dip for 1 yr was not associated with increased S. aureus teat canal infections and intramammary infections. However, linear dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid appeared to affect the distribution of coagulasenegative staphylococci isolated from teat canal infections and intramammary infections.

Key Words: mastitis • teat dips • teat canal

Submitted on June 1, 1990
Accepted on September 17, 1990