The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: Polyanya on July 19, 2017, 02:37:22 pm
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Hi folks - would anyone care to give their preferences and say why please, I'd be very interested? Also wanted to add that I make my own moisturising cream from olive oil, grape seed oil beeswax and water and have used it for years - so my udder balm would be just that with lavender and tea tree oil. I've also been looking at making teat spray from water and essential oils rather than any commercial product.
The reason I'm asking is that I've read some comments (not here) that udder balm (presumably a commercial variety) could still attract bacteria as its being rubbed in, whereas teat spray applies antimicrobial properties without using hands or fingers.
I know some folk use teat dip but I'm not interested in that. Thanks for any replies :D
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The reason why teat dipping is important is that the teat canal stays open for a wee while after milking and it is a quick way for bacteria into the udder - and mastitis is more likely. Since I have started rigorously teat dipping (using a weak solution of Capriclense) I have had no mastitis.
I also use use udder cream - if the udder (in particular in 1st kidders) is a bit lumpy I use uddermint, or if the skin is just dry (and the goat in question got a bit sunburnt on her udder) I use a herbal cream, from Botanica (no peppermint). I don't use it all the time, and not usually on the teats.
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I've only been milking for three months but I haven't used udder cream.
I dip with Capriclense.
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I know thsi is about goats but I have similar issues with our cows and we're just learning.
I teat dip with a solution of Capriclense before milking, then dry before putting on the machine. From what Anke is saying, and it makes perfect sense, I should teat dip with Capriclense AFTER milking to protect against mastitis.
Do I then dry and rub with balm or just rub on teh balm?
Two of my cows are fine, but poor Annie's calf is awful hard on her and her teats LOOK awful sore (she doesn't object to them being handled or the milking machine though). There are a number of cuts and that attracts flies. I use Uddermint on them all - any suggestions for anything better for Annie? I have Sudacrem in the feed store.
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Thanks folks for all the input, its really interesting to hear what people's preferences are. My kids are only a month old so no obvious damage noted to the teats and I understand their saliva has antimicrobial properties? So if the kids are staying with their mothers all day would the teats still be subject to nasties going up the teat canal?
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After milking I spray the bottom of the teat with a mix of water and citricidal grapefruit extract
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I know thsi is about goats but I have similar issues with our cows and we're just learning.
I teat dip with a solution of Capriclense before milking, then dry before putting on the machine. From what Anke is saying, and it makes perfect sense, I should teat dip with Capriclense AFTER milking to protect against mastitis.
Do I then dry and rub with balm or just rub on teh balm?
Two of my cows are fine, but poor Annie's calf is awful hard on her and her teats LOOK awful sore (she doesn't object to them being handled or the milking machine though). There are a number of cuts and that attracts flies. I use Uddermint on them all - any suggestions for anything better for Annie? I have Sudacrem in the feed store.
I leave the Capriclense solution to dry by itself after applying post-milking. I use udder wipes (Teisen) before milking, sometimes more than one if one of my madams has been lying in some muck... so udder (and in particular teats) is clean before milking. I know the udder wipes are not that environmentally friendly, but I think they provide a cleaner outcome if you milk several goats (and I had 8 earlier this year...).
As to chapped teats etc, I would clean with something like Capriclense afterwards dry with a sterile cloth and then apply something soothing and anti-bacterial that also doesn't put the calf off - I don't know what exactly that would be as I take my kids off their dams on day 4 or even earlier if they cause damage to the teats. When I needed to get a cut healed on a 1st kidder a few years ago, I think I used nappy rash cream.
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Can I ask what quantity of Capriclense to water for the diluted solution people use.
Thanks
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1 part Capriclense to 200 parts water for teat dipping.