Udder/teat sanitation

[MurraysMutts]

Anyone use baby wipes for cleaning the udder before milking? If not what do you use?

Any other helpful tips and tricks?

 

[Redgully]

Anyone use baby wipes for cleaning the udder before milking? If not what do you use?

Any other helpful tips and tricks?

We only ever used a clean rag and warm water from memory.

 

[Peace]

mild soap and water...give it a minute or so after washing, it will stimulate them "letting their milk down"...if you're really worried about it buy some teat dip, which is/was a mild iodine and dip it after you milk...but I'm not sure that's necessary...

 

[Dsth]

when we were in the dairy business, we used an iodine based udder wash mixed in a bucket of hot/warm water. use a clean cloth towel to wash teats. do not dip a dirty cloth back into the mix if you need more than one cloth to clean teats. you can also use a pre milking teat dip that is probably more sanitary if teats are generally clean at milking time.

 

[Redgully]

We used iodine solution in spray bottle after milking to stop any bugs getting up the teats while they are still open to prevent mastitis. They stay open for about 30 minutes from memory.

 

[Till-Hill]

This is what we use. https://ibadairy.com/ I don't know if they ship or not. I don't know if baby wipes would be good or not? Need an after dip to moisturize the tits too. Nasco or Farmtek or any of them online farm places would probably ship.

 

[bigbluegrass]

I use baby wipes, basically instead of a rag. If the cows is dirty, I will first use several baby wipes to get her cleaned up. Then I will do a pre-dip (iodine based) and let it sit for a few minutes while I get other things ready, then I clean that off with a baby wipe. After milking I use the same iodine based dip as a post dip. If the cow is clean, I may only use one baby wipe per milking. If the cow is dirty, it might take 4 or 5.

 

[farmerjan]

I will use a wash cloth with a little dawn detergent in water for pre milking clean up and massage. Then I use AVEENO hand cream for a after milking softening for the udder. Yeah, people hand cream. I always squirt a half dozen or more squirts out of each teat before collecting for the house. I don't get carried away with the "sanitizing" thing because the cow is usually pretty clean, and a few germs is a good thing for the body's immune stimulation. As long as the cow doesn't lay down for 10-15 minutes after milking, the teat ends will naturally close. I don't use a post dip but not against it. I don't use iodine as I get a rash from it.
A couple of my dairies use peroxide for a pre and post dip. Cheap and easier on the teats than bleach. There are 2 that use a diluted bleach water for pre and then something with emollients for a post dip so as to not cause chapping.
You can strain the milk through a dbl layer of LINEN type kitchen towels... or use a coffee filter... I bought cotton/linen type cheap white table napkins at Walmart for strainers and they work great and you wash and reuse.

 

[MurraysMutts]

Ahhhh. So straining the milk is a thing. Does everyone do that?

That thought hadn't crossed my mind..

Very good info folks!

 

[suzorse]

I use a strainer with milk filters , as even machine milking sometimes hay or a stray hair gets into my pail , also checking for flakes or clumps in the milk , clumps that are rubbery may mean an issue , and if it melts between your fingers it is butterfat , I use an Iodine udder wash , small bucket of hot water with some of the wash added , 1 rag per cow or wipe if dirty never redip , clean rag per cow to dry , strip 5 squirts per teat and attach milker or go to hand milking , if machine milking a post dip is a must but not with hand milking
Suzanne

 

[SoilBuilder]

Niacin is cheap and has many health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and improved colostrum...
"Niacin Alleviates Dairy Cow Mastitis by Regulating the GPR109A/AMPK/NRF2 Signaling Pathway" Source:

Niacin Alleviates Dairy Cow Mastitis by Regulating the GPR109A/AMPK/NRF2 Signaling Pathway - PubMed

Mastitis is one of three bovine diseases recognized as a cause of substantial economic losses every year throughout the world. Niacin is an important feed additive that is used extensively for dairy cow nutrition. However, the mechanism by which niacin acts on mastitis is not clear. The aim of...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

"How Feeding Nicotinic Acid (niacin) Can Improve Colostrum Quality and Calf Performance"
Source:

Feeding Nicotinic Acid (Niacin) to Dairy Cows

How Feeding Nicotinic Acid (niacin) Can Improve Colostrum Quality and Calf Performance Written and published by Pete Erickson, Ph.D., Extension Dairy Specialist Background Nicotinic acid is a B-vitamin that is normally not needed in the diet of c

extension.unh.edu

 

[collegeboundgal]

I take a little tupperware container with a washrag and filled with water and a drop of dish soap to clean. I need to find a fly spray to spritz on right before milking to decrease the tail flicking in my face (I hand milk). On the calf sharing cow I use a lotion to soften the teats and makes milking a little "smoother" since her teats are more calloused and rougher. Teat dip post milking since no calf on the cow I am currently milking. If I am milking the cow that has a calf I forgo the post dip since the calf will start sucking on her immediately anyways. I strain the milk (with milk filters) as soon as I bring it back into the house. Everything I use is seamless stainless steel and glass jars. I do have some food safe containers that will hold (I think) about 1.5 or 2 gallons if I don't have time to use the milk as I am bringing it in.