Is teat sealant worth it ?

[jerseycowsman]

I don’t use sealant to prevent milk leaking, I use it to prevent infections getting in. I’ve never seen milk leaking as a failure on the part of the sealant more of a management failure.

I know why we use it and how to use it, still get leakage, don’t be so condescending, it isn’t helpful

 

[jerseycowsman]

Will beat me to it.
The idea is to stop infection getting in.
Sealant has worked very well here. Need to follow the rules carefully. Gloves on, wipe with 2 antibac wipes. Tube in, finish with teat dip.
Vet reports variable results on other farms, suspects lack of care

I know why we use it and how to use it, still get leakage. Don’t be so condescending, it isn’t helpful

 

[SolwayFarmer]

How are you allowed to use blanket antibiotics? Our vets will not let us, nor farm assurance

Vet has never questioned it but then I buy it from them! Farm Assurance hasn’t ever been a problem. In fact I was complimented on my milk quality results by the auditor

 

[frederick]

I know why we use it and how to use it, still get leakage. Don’t be so condescending, it isn’t helpful

But leakage is not a sign of it not working.

 

[jerseycowsman]

But leakage is not a sign of it not working.

What is it a sign of?

 

[frederick]

What is it a sign of?

It's a sign of milk leaking out the udder. It's a sign of positive pressure in the udder and therefore the teat sealed against things coming in.

However your completely free to not use it. And if the last 3 weeks of your dry cow management is perfect and clean you will notice no difference.

There will also be cows who don't need it. But in breeding for milking speed we have reduced the effect of the natural plug.

 

[jerseycowsman]

It's a sign of milk leaking out the udder. It's a sign of positive pressure in the udder and therefore the teat sealed against things coming in.

However your completely free to not use it. And if the last 3 weeks of your dry cow management is perfect and clean you will notice no difference.

There will also be cows who don't need it. But in breeding for milking speed we have reduced the effect of the natural plug.

So, how can milk get out, but nothing can go the other way?? That doesn’t sound like science to me, sounds like witchcraft!

 

[frederick]

So, how can milk get out, but nothing can go the other way?? That doesn’t sound like science to me, sounds like witchcraft!

Sounds like a non return valve to me

 

[Will Blackburn]

I know why we use it and how to use it, still get leakage, don’t be so condescending, it isn’t helpful

I get leakage I don’t worry about it, don’t be so touchy.

 

[MrA.G.]

Sounds like a non return valve to me

I get leakage I don’t worry about it, don’t be so touchy.

To be fair to @jerseycowsman , he has asked reasonable questions.

With out knowing the full science it would be fair to assume that milk leakage would suggest that that the sealant hasn’t actually sealed a plug even if the intended purpose is to prevent inward infections 3 weeks prior to calving rather than milk leak immediately after drying off.

Is there any research which shows leakage is irrelevant to effective sealing? Surely the positive pressure you mention @frederick with the sealant acting as a one way valve rather than being forced out the teat end is optimistic

 

[jerseycowsman]

To be fair to @jerseycowsman , he has asked reasonable questions.

With out knowing the full science it would be fair to assume that milk leakage would suggest that that the sealant hasn’t actually sealed a plug even if the intended purpose is to prevent inward infections 3 weeks prior to calving rather than milk leak immediately after drying off.

Is there any research which shows leakage is irrelevant to effective sealing? Surely the positive pressure you mention @frederick with the sealant acting as a one way valve rather than being forced out the teat end is optimistic

Yes, a non return valve is a mechanical object, teat sealant is not a mechanical object.

 

[jerseycowsman]

Has anyone every just squirted a sealant tube out and just left it to see what it does?
I will do it in the morning if I remember!

 

[Jdunn55]

Has anyone every just squirted a sealant tube out and just left it to see what it does?
I will do it in the morning if I remember!

I find it bad enough to get rid of once it falls on the rubber matting in the parlour whilst I'm tubing them, bloody stuff is like silicone!

 

[kp_n_plghng]

I am surprised by what i've read on here. But I accept that we all have different experiences and after all, different cows.

I have always been satisfied that sealing works for me, just never see leakage. I also notice plenty of sealant when I strip cows after calving, sometimes quite difficult to get it out. I have to think this is doing some good in preventing mastitis. Of course I do get the odd 1/4 which doesn't seem to have any sealant and this does leave me wondering where the chuff its gone but we do are best don't we and I accept nothing of this nature is 100%.
I can well imagine if I was seeing leaking that would annoy me and I would definitely wonder how effective sealing was so can understand concerns from some on here.