According to Peter: “Many environmental bacteria which cause clinical mastitis, including the acute e. coli cases, enter the udder during the dry period. Everyone thinks that the teat canal seals itself completely when cows go dry. However, studies in New Zealand have shown that 50% of teats remain open 10 days after dry off.” “An internal teat sealant acts as a physical barrier in the teat canal and the base of the teat to complement the natural action of the cow. The teat canal is sealed immediately after infusion and the internal teat sealant remains present throughout the dry period. This stops bacteria
entering the udder during the dry period and so reduces the levels of clinical mastitis,” he adds. Peter was speaking on behalf of Bimeda, who produce Boviseal, a non-antibiotic dry cow treatment which seals out new infection.