Unhealthy teats have an increased risk of mastitis

The risk of mastitis increases dramatically if teats have chaps, cracks or sores. This happens for a number of reasons. Firstly these areas of damaged skin are good hiding places for bacteria to escape the action of teat disinfectant. Secondly, sore teats make cows uncomfortable and fidgety during milking, increasing the likelihood of cup squawks. Air sucked into cups under vacuum can throw bugs up into the teat canal.

Finally, thickening or roughness of the skin around the teat opening (teat end “hyperkeratosis”) reduces the capacity of the teat canal to protect against bugs that penetrate the teat opening.

Teat skin may become irritated or cracked in wet, cold, windy conditions. Water reduces the layer of natural protective fatty acids in the skin. Mud also causes teats to harden or thicken because it draws moisture from the skin as it dries.

You can’t change the weather, but you can modify how the teats experience it by keeping teats clean and out of mud as much as possible and using emollient in teat disinfectant to reduce drying of the skin.

Problems in machine adjustment and faults in milking routine can both cause teat damage. Overmilking and long “dribble” times (when low volumes of milk are flowing) have a big impact on teat skin condition and teat end hyperkeratosis. High vacuum, faulty pulsation and some liner characteristics can also contribute to poor teat condition.

If you suspect that machines or milking routines are contributing to poor teat condition consult your technician or veterinarian.

"Consult your machine technician if you suspect machine problems"

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