The answer to this question is obvious - yes, you CAN mix your own teat disinfectant, but SHOULD you?

The single most important mastitis control measure undertaken in the dairy is teat disinfection, and whilst the most important factor in the success of teat disinfection is the teat coverage achieved, probably the next most important factor is the ability of the teat disinfectant to kill the bacteria on the teat surface.

Can you really afford the risk of poor quality water affecting your most important mastitis control action?

Can you guarantee the accuracy and the consistency of mixing on your farm?

Have you properly checked the price differential between mixing and using a Ready-to-Use (RTU) product on your farm? Don't forget to include the cost of the emollient that you will generally need to add, and you may be surprised when you do!

Our opinion is simple - unless there is an overwhelming price differential, the risk of getting it not quite right, is just too great. Teat disinfection is just too important not to use a registered RTU product.

Assessment of every aspect of teat disinfection is part of a Dairy Focus Mastitis Risk Assessment.

In practical terms on the farm, the differences between iodine and chlorhexidine as a teat disinfectant are minimal - what is far more important, is the teat coverage actually achieved.

No product is effective if it doesn't reach the teat!

Some of the factors that could be important for individual farms in choosing between active ingredients are -

• Availability of a RTU (Ready To Use) formulation - avoid the risks of incorrect mixing or inadequate water quality
• Water quality - If you absolutely must mix your teat disinfectant, have your water source tested and choose an active ingredient to match
• OH&S - if milking staff are allergic to a particular product
• Price - the price per dose

Assessment of every aspect of teat disinfection is part of a Dairy Focus Mastitis Risk Assessment.

Unfortunately, heat and sunlight can be an enemy of many products which are used on farms.

In fact, many of our teat disinfectant products have some quite interesting storage warnings on their labels.

Most iodine and chlorhexidine based products (the most commonly used products in Australia) have one or both of two storage warnings, and the warnings apply to both “Ready-to-Use” products and mixing concentrate products.

The first warning is a temperature warning - most commonly to store the product “below 30^oC (room temperature)”, although some even have a storage requirement of “below 25^oC (air conditioning)”!

The second common warning is to store the product out of direct sunlight.

Additionally, there is often a recommendation to store the product in a well ventilated area.

Whilst we would need to be chemical engineers to fully understand and explain the implications of these warnings on our products, a little knowledge may help to understand the basics.

For example, the antibacterial activity of iodine based teat disinfectant products relies on the release of “free” iodine as the product evaporates and/or dries.

So it is easy to see that temperature and sunlight are not ideal companions for these products.

It also helps us to understand why some of them also include a warning to keep the product sealed as well as possible and for as long as possible.

Whilst there is no suggestion that an hour or so in hot sunlight will render a product useless, there is an implication that deterioration of the product will be accelerated by continued storage in adverse conditions.

Furthermore, this effect is likely to be cumulative, meaning that it is likely to be the sum of all the storage conditions prior to you actually using the product which will determine if there has been any significant deleterious effect.

For example, where, and for how long has the product been stored prior to arrival at your farm?

Have they been out in the hot sun at a supplier/retailer? And if so, for how long?

Once they arrive at your farm, how long do you store them before you start using a new drum, and until you have actually finished using them?

It goes without saying that these products should be stored on the farm out of direct sunlight and in as cool a place as possible that is still convenient.

Temperatures in most of Australia's dairy regions commonly exceed 30^oC in the summer, and many of our dairy areas will have numerous days over 35^oC and some above 40^oC.

Leaving a bulk drum of teat disinfectant out in the sun on a farm in these conditions for a month or so is hardly ideal!

Can you avoid a North-facing location? Is there a room or sheltered part of the dairy shed accessible to the front end loader? Could a skillion be erected over the storage site to provide shade and shelter?

Some farms that are concerned about storage prior to arrival at the farm insist on receiving a freshly delivered drum of teat disinfectant to minimise that risk, especially where the supplier is known to store the product outdoors.

The risk of deterioration will clearly vary significantly from farm to farm, season to season, and region to region.

The risk will be lower for larger farms that get through a drum in a short period of time, however smaller farms using a 1000 litre bulk drum over a period of a few months will logically be at a greater risk.

Teat disinfection is probably the single most important mastitis control procedure during milking - it deserves the best quality product you can give it.