Mastitis research has shown 40-50% of intramammary infections (IMI) are contracted during the dry or non-lactating period with greatest percentages occurring during first and last two weeks of dry period. The ability to develop and apply external persistent barrier teat dip products (like a liquid bandage) that can persist for these 1 week periods could decrease IMI, thus improving animal health and performance, and product quality and safety. Objective of this study was to evaluate an experimental vs. commercial persistent barrier dry cow teat sealant dip with particular interest and comparisons of dip persistency in providing teat end protection, and overall teat end and skin health.

Two external teat sealants were applied to 24 animals for assessment of adherence to teat skin/teat end over a period of five days. Good coverage was obtained for both control and experimental products on the first day after application. By the third day, the control product T-Hexx DryTM was 2.4 times more likely to have teats covered than the experimental product 588-88-2. This same trend was maintained after five days, where the control product was 3.1 times more likely to have teats covered with the external teat sealant. The study showed that the control product was superior to the experimental product 588-88-2 over a five day period