Effects of Premilking Teat Preparation on Spores of Anaerobes, Bacteria, and Iodine Residues in Milk

Premilking teat preparations using individual paper or cotton towels for either 6 or 20 s to reduce bacteria and iodine residues from teat surfaces were determined through Latin square designs applied to 50 cows.A cotton towel used for 20 s was most effective in cleaning teats, probably because of the physical structure of the towel, physical action on teat surface, and scrubbing of the teat ends.Premilking teat preparation of 6 s was inadequate to clean teats and to avoid iodine residues in milk.Teat end erosions increased iodine residue in milk.Two days after a treatment period, i~e content in milk from iodophordipped groups was similar to that of the undipped control group.Against our expectation, teat dipping ~ith a .25%iodophor teat dip caused higher iodine residue in milk than a .50%iodophor teat dip.Differences in formulations and inert ingredients of iodophor teat dips indicate a need for fur- ther studies.