Mastitis research has shown 40-50% of intramammary infections (IMI) are contracted during the dry or non-lactating period with the greatest percentages of these occurring during the first and last two weeks of the dry period. The ability to develop and apply external persistent barrier teat dip products (that can persist for these 1 week periods could decrease IMI, thus improving animal health and performance, and product quality and safety.

Specific aim of this study was to evaluate the persistency of teat protection of a novel experimental dry cow teat dip system (2 products dipped sequentially to form a persistent barrier; Zurex Pharma, Inc.). The compounds were easy to apply and formed a nice polymerized film. However, only 1/24 teats had dip films on @ 12 hrs post dipping with most films cracking, peeling, or completely removed by that time.