Field Studies on Linear Dodecyl Benzene Sulfonic Acid Teat Dip

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Abstract
A teat dip containing 1.94% linear dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid and 12% glycerine, an anionic detergent formulation, was evaluated in 2 field trials on a commercial dairy. In trial 1, the teat was compared to an undipped control in a split-herd design. Incidence of infection [in Holstein cows] dip with Streptococcus agalactiae was reduced 57.8%; infections with presumptively identified Staphylococcus aureus were not reduced. Milking machine function and milking procedures may have affected teat dip effectiveness and incidence of udder infection. S. agalactiae was eradicated prior to trial 2 in which the detergent teat dip was compared to a 1% iodophor product of proven efficacy. Incidence of S. aureus infection was 40.5% lower in the detergent than in the iodophor group. Taxonomic studies on Staphylococcus spp. indicated that presumptive microbial identification resulted in erroneous conclusions concerning efficacy of the teat dip products. Importance of speciation of staphylococcal isolates was discussed.