Field studies on linear dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid teat dip

A teat dip containing 1.94% linear dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid and 12% glycerine, an anionic detergent formulation, was evaluated in two field trials on a commercial dairy. In Trial 1, the teat dip was compared to an undipped control in a split-herd design. Incidence of infection 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. Streptococcus 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 Staphylococcus aureus infection was 40.5% lower in the detergent than in the iodophor group. Taxonomic studies on Staphylococcus species indicated that presumptive microbial identification resulted in erroneous conclusions concerning efficacy of the teat dip products. Importance of speciation of staphylococcal isolates is discussed.