Controlling and treating mastitis is one of the largest costs the UK’s dairy industry faces, according to the AHDB.
Cows’ teat ends are at their most exposed in the short window after milking. Teat dip is the last thing your herd gets before it leaves the milking parlour, which makes it one of the most routine and most important jobs in your day. So, choosing the right teat dip matters, because it goes on every teat at every milking, all year round, across your whole herd.
There are plenty of teat dips to choose from, and lactic acid is an ingredient more farms are asking about. This blog looks at how a lactic acid teat dip works, what to look for when you’re choosing one and where it fits alongside the rest of your milking routine.
You’ll also find out what MegaChem UK can offer as a new supply partner in the agriculture sector.
What is mastitis?
Mastitis is inflammation of the udder. In dairy cattle, it’s usually caused by bacteria entering through the teat canal. Some of these bacteria spread from cow to cow during milking, while others come from the cow’s surroundings, such as bedding and wet, muddy yards.
It can cause hot, swollen or painful udders, clots or visible changes in the milk, or falling yield. In some cases, it’s harder to catch because the udder and milk look normal.
Either way, your cows may not produce as much milk as they should, which is why taking steps to prevent mastitis in your herd is essential.
Why teat hygiene matters
After milking, a cow’s teat canal stays open for a short while. During that time, bacteria from bedding, the milking parlour and other cows can reach the teat end and cause infection.
A post-milking teat dip coats the teat and reduces the bacteria on the skin before they get the chance to move in.
A teat dip has more than one job to do. It must work in the short time it’s on the teat, because you’re dipping cow after cow and can’t leave each one waiting. It must also be kind to the skin, because teats are dipped after every milking and skin that becomes dry or cracked is harder to keep clean. A formula that’s too harsh can damage skin. One that’s too mild may not do enough to kill the bacteria.
Your team who handle the product every day should also be able to do so without a second thought about their own health. That combination of issues is why many farms are looking at bio-based teat dip options. Lactic acid is one of the best-known, so it’s worth understanding how it works before you decide whether it suits your herd.
How lactic acid works in a teat dip
The lactic acid used in teat dip is made by fermenting plant sugars, which makes it a fully bio-based ingredient. It’s also widely used in food and drink, where it has helped control acidity and preserve freshness for many years.
It works against bacteria in several ways at once. Its acidity creates conditions that bacteria find hard to survive in. Its small molecule size and the way it behaves in a solution also play a part, alongside temperature and the amount of free water available to bacteria.
Because these effects add up, the ingredient doesn’t depend on a single mechanism to do its job. It also works well with the surfactants commonly found in many teat dip formulas, so it can be built into an established product without a complete redesign.
The skin benefits come from what lactic acid becomes as the pH rises. In a dip formulated above pH 3.5, you get a mix of lactic acid and lactate. The lactic acid does the antimicrobial work, while the lactate acts as a moisturiser and helps the skin hold on to water. Formulations can also be enriched with other humectants, such as glycerin, for extra skin conditioning, or made milder with lower surfactant levels if teat skin condition is a concern in your herd.
Choosing a teat dip: what to look for
Teat dips can look very similar, so it helps to know what to ask before you switch. The right choice depends on your herd, your set-up and your milking routine. A good supplier will be able to talk you through the following questions and help you weigh up the answers:
- Skin condition – Ask which ingredients look after the teat skin as well as the bacteria, and whether the formula contains moisturisers such as lactate or glycerin. A dip that protects but leaves the skin dry can create different problems.
- Storage – Milking parlours run hot and cold across the year, and you might make up a batch and use it over several weeks. Ask how long the product keeps and whether the temperatures in your parlour or store will affect it.
- Application method – Dip cups, sprays, foams and robotic brushes all put product on the teat in different ways. Check that the product is designed for your preferred application method before you buy in volume.
- Handling – Your team will use the product every day, so ask about the hazards, the protective equipment you need and what’s involved in disposing of it.
- Documentation and supply – You should be able to get batch documentation and a consistent supply, so the product you trial is the product you keep receiving.
Safety and environmental profile
Lactic acid has an established safety profile. It’s non-toxic, has a long history of use in food and drink, and is readily biodegradable. The ingredient breaks down naturally after use, so less lingers in the environment.
It’s also supported by several eco-label organisations in Europe and the US, which gives you an independent reference point when you’re comparing products on their environmental credentials. Those listings vary between products and formulations, so always check which apply.
Hazard classification depends on the concentration and the rest of the formula, so always check the safety data sheet for the specific product you’re using. We can provide the documentation you need, and our team is happy to answer any handling or storage questions you have.
Fitting into your milking routine
Teat dips aren’t intended to work on their own. They’re most effective when used alongside clean, dry bedding, a consistent milking routine, clean teats at attachment, correct application after every milking and a schedule that everyone on the farm follows. If one of those slips, the teat dip has more to deal with.
At MegaChem UK, we’ve built our agriculture range with that routine in mind. As well as post-milking teat dip, we can supply a pre-milking teat preparation spray formulated with peppermint oil and lactic acid, which suits spray, foam, dip and robotic brush application. We can also supply parlour and housing disinfection products and our ‘Healthy Hooves’ range for foot hygiene, so the products you use throughout the day can come from one supplier. Our team can also talk through how each product fits into your milking protocol.
As a new supply partner in the agriculture sector, we’re backed by the same international sourcing network that already supplies chemical products into the food and industrial markets. We also provide full batch documentation and compositional information, so you know what’s in the product you’re using and can build it into your processes.
So, if you’re weighing up your options, our team can talk through where lactic acid teat dip fits against what you’re using now and arrange a sample for your herd to try. Get in touch with our team to discuss your requirements, pack sizes and sample options.
