Dairy Prime Studies

Post- Milking Solutions to Secure Udder Health and Maximise Milking Performance.

Protect teats when they are most vulnerable

After milking, the teat canal remains open and exposed, making the period between milkings one of the highest risk moments for udder contamination. An effective post milking strategy is essential to protect teats, preserve skin integrity, and reduce the risk of new intramammary infections.

Our scientifically supported Post-Milking Program helps dairy producers control both environmental and contagious contamination pathways, while supporting long term teat skin health and milk quality within Dairy Prime.

Cow in milking parlor being milked with milking device.

The Hidden Costs of Poor Post-Milking Protection

Are these challenges affecting your dairy farm’s performance?

  • Increased exposure to environmental and contagious mastitis pathogens after milking
  • Dry or damaged teat skin favouring bacterial persistence
  • Higher bacterial contamination on teats
  • Declining milk quality, increased treatment pressure and decreased productivity

Scientific evidence confirms that post-milking protection and teat skin condition directly influence bacterial load and mastitis risk.

Preserving Teat Skin Health to Reduce Mastitis Risk
Emulsiocare® Skin Conditioning Technology

Close-up view of a cow’s udder and teats on a dairy farm.

Teat skin condition plays a central role in mastitis prevention.
An in-vivo study conducted by Ghent University and M-Excellence demonstrated a strong relationship between teat skin health and residual bacterial load under commercial dairy farm conditions.

What the study showed:

  • Dry and very dry teat skin is associated with significantly higher bacterial counts, including Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus like organisms 
  • Cows treated with an Emulsiocare based post-milking teat dip showed a lower risk of dry or very dry teat skin over time compared with controls 

Why it matters:

Healthy, supple teat skin limits bacterial persistence and supports effective post-milking disinfection addressing two critical mastitis risk factors simultaneously.

Highest Level of Post-Milking Protection
Proven Protection Against Environmental Contamination
Shield® Barrier Technology

Close-up of a cow’s udder and teats viewed through a metal rail.

Between milkings, bacteria from bedding, manure, and the surrounding environment can contaminate teats and enter the teat canal.
An independent invitro study conducted by Ghent University demonstrated the effectiveness of Shield® barrier technology in limiting postmilking environmental contamination.

Key study insights:

  • Shield® forms a strong protective barrier film on the teat surface
  • Significantly reduces bacterial penetration compared with no dip and a conventional iodine dip
  • Achieved a 72.4% reduction in bacterial contamination, compared with 44.4% for a conventional iodine teat dip 

Why it matters:

When environmental contamination is the dominant challenge, a barrier postmilking teat dip provides critical protection during the highrisk period between milkings. 


Combined Shield® & Cynergy™ Technology

Cow teat product

When both environmental and contagious contamination pressures are present, combining physical protection with strong disinfection becomes essential.
A third independent in vitro study conducted by Ghent University evaluated the effectiveness of a post milking teat dip combining Shield® barrier technology with Cynergy™ chlorine dioxide disinfection, compared with other post milking solutions.

Key results:

  • The combination of Shield® & Cynergy™ achieved an 89.8% reduction in bacterial contamination, the highest level of protection observed in the study.
  • Outperformed: 
    • No post-milking dip (no protection)
    • A conventional iodine teat dip (44.4% reduction)
    • A Shield® barrier teat dip alone (72.4% reduction
  • Combines:
    • A protective barrier film to block bacterial entry
    • Powerful disinfection through Cynergy™ chlorine dioxide technology.

Why it matters:

When both environmental exposure and existing teat contamination are key challenges, combining barrier protection and disinfection delivers the highest level of post-milking security.

Post-Milking Choice Matters Within Dairy Prime

Post-milking hygiene is not a one size fits all decision. Within Dairy Prime, the choice of post-milking solution should be guided by:

  • The dominant contamination route (environmental, contagious, or both)
  • The condition of teat skin
  • The level of bacterial pressure on farm

Scientific evidence shows that the choice of post-milking teat disinfectant directly impacts teat skin condition and bacterial contamination levels.


Strengthen Your Dairy Prime Program with Expert Support

La prevenzione delle malattie è una specialità di Ecolab.

Our experts help you integrate pre and post-milking hygiene into a coherent Dairy Prime strategy, supporting:

Animal Health  Teat Skin Integrity  Milk Quality   Farm Performance & ROI 

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