Efficacy of a latex teat sealer.

In the first of two experiments, efficacy of a latex teat sealer product was tested under field conditions on 32 cows that had one side of the udder dipped with the test product and the other left as the control. Number of new coliform, staphylococcal, or streptococcal infections in treated quarters was not reduced from controls. In a second experiment, effectiveness of this product as a protective sealer was investigated on six cows dip challenged with a broth containing 1 million Escherichia coli/ml. On sealed teats the challenge was applied on top of the dried film. The challenge organism was recovered from 33% of treated quarters and 42% of control quarters 6 h after exposure. Organisms were recovered from none of the quarters by 31 h postchallenge.