Use of a teat sealer for prevention of intramammary infections in lactating cows.

An acrylic latex film that is applied like a teat dip and remains intact as a physical barrier until the next milking was developed and studied with respect to its effect on intramammary infection rates in 4 dairy herds. Rates of new infections in treated quarters were compared with the rates in control quarters on the same cows. A statistically significant reduction in the rates was observed for the following organisms: Staphylococcus aureus, 28%; S epidermidis, 33%; and coliforms, 76%. The percentage reduction for infections caused by Streptococcus agalactiae (18%) and for those caused by streptococcus other than Str agalactiae (7%) were not statistically significant. The film also was shown to be nonirritating.