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CloversMum

3486 Posts


Posted - Apr 22 2014 :  12:09:29 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
What sort of teat dips do you use on your cows before and after milking? For our goats, I have used the FightBac for after milking. It says its actually for cows...have you ever used that? I have not had mastitis problems at all with my goats. Also, can you explain how to use the teat dip bottles? Is the same solution used on each teat? That doesn't sound sanitary to me but not sure how those bottles work exactly. Probably a very dumb question...but, hey, this is my first experience with cows!

Loving life and family on our Idaho farm, Meadowlark Heritage Farm; A few Jersey cows; a few alpacas; a few more goats, and even more ducks and chickens

maryjane

7072 Posts


Posted - Apr 24 2014 :  09:43:05 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I'm using up the last of some teat dip I had shipped in from S. Idaho made by DeLaval but I have a gallon from HambyDairySupply.com waiting for me. A gallon lasts a VERY long time.

I spent a month, on and off, trying to invent a homemade teat dip recipe for my book but in the end realized I couldn't and remain confident in its antiseptic effectiveness. Commercial teat dips contain things like glycerin (I tried adding it to my recipe along with something to stabilize the pH) to help keep teats from cracking and also additives to stabilize the iodine so it stays effective as an antiseptic. The type that Hamby sells is allowed for use on organic dairies by the USDA National Organic Program.

For the teat dip cup sold by Hamby, you put a little round rubber top on it to disperse the iodine. After I've dipped my girls (while bumping the iodine up around the base of the udder), I dump out what's in the little top cup and rinse it and the ring out each time I use it to dip four teats at a time (teats that I've already washed with water to remove debris). Then, when I use the cup for post-dip (very important for warding off mastitis and doesn't bother nursing calves), I squeeze fresh iodine into the top cup again. When I don't have access to water to rinse it in between uses, I keep two cups on hand (they're cheap) and then carry both to the house to rinse. This will all make sense once you have the thing in your hand!

If you don't have access to water while you're milking, you can also put teat dip in a spray bottle and use it to clean the udder. You need to use single-serve paper towels for each teat. Shop towels hold up very well for each teat and surrounding udder. After that, you still dip the teat in iodine and let each teat dry or dry them (again, single serve paper towels for each teat) before milking. Make sure you let the iodine do its thing for a couple of minutes.

MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~
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CloversMum

3486 Posts


Posted - Apr 24 2014 :  8:40:51 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
This helps a ton! Sounds like I will be ordering more items from Hamby. Thank you.

Loving life and family on our Idaho farm, Meadowlark Heritage Farm; A few Jersey cows; a few alpacas; a few more goats, and even more ducks and chickens
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Ron

4666 Posts
Ronnie
Peever SD
USA

Posted - Sep 03 2014 :  7:11:14 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
We have been using warm water and doctor woods tea tree oil liquid soap followed by some zum hand cream when done. Seems to work well and no bacteria problem or dry teats.

With a moo moo here and a moo moo there, here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo.
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NellieBelle

11214 Posts


Posted - Sep 04 2014 :  06:26:50 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I use some Zum products too. I use the dog bar soap to shampoo my dogs, it smells so good, and I used to use there oatmeal/lavender soap but I make all of our soap now. Mostly oatmeal/lavender and also coffee soap. Those are our favorites. I use about a tsp. of betadine surgical scrub in warm water to wash teats, then dip, then, I use the Dynamint on bag and teats.
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Ron

4666 Posts
Ronnie
Peever SD
USA

Posted - Sep 04 2014 :  06:48:10 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Yes, been making my soap here for a LNG while too. Cold process only though. Always wanted to make milk soaps but just have no invested the time yet.
Dog soap? Wow, never knew Zum made it. The LGD that lives here refuses to bath. Lol. But he seems to keep himself clean. Sort of.

With a moo moo here and a moo moo there, here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo.
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NellieBelle

11214 Posts


Posted - Sep 04 2014 :  07:08:35 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I put goat milk in my soap and sometimes coconut milk. They both are wonderful. I usually only make soap once or twice year. Make enough to last us a while. It's kinda relaxing to go to the cabin and shut myself away from everything and just make soap. Selfish, but well deserved. (In my opinion) Ha!

To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown
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CloversMum

3486 Posts


Posted - Sep 04 2014 :  09:12:00 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Yay to goat milk! :-) I make goat milk soaps, too, and we all use it here. Love how my skin feels and I also really enjoy making soaps and all the different varieties using essential oils, herbs, and spices. Actually probably get too carried away with all the creating, but it is indeed fun! I agree with Janet, it can be so relaxing to just concentrate on soap making!

But I still want to be sure about the antiseptic properties when I'm milking...still want everything as clean as possible to avoid any contamination of my milk. Commercial teat dip is still what I think I'll do with Clover.

Loving life and family on our Idaho farm, Meadowlark Heritage Farm; A few Jersey cows; a few alpacas; a few more goats, and even more ducks and chickens
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NellieBelle

11214 Posts


Posted - Sep 04 2014 :  09:35:41 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I use the commercial teat dip too. But first I wash with the Betadine surgical scrub (about a tsp-Tbls.) in warm water. Then I dip. Wipe off with clean white cotton cloths. Apply organic olive oil to teats, apply milking tube, milk, apply dip, then apply the Dynamint to udder and teats. It has to feel good. Sure does on my hands. I'm worried about winter weather and how that will change things. I'm hoping we don't have problems but it gets so cold. Don't want chapped teats.
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Ron

4666 Posts
Ronnie
Peever SD
USA

Posted - Sep 07 2014 :  06:12:00 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I was real surprised how warm the cows udder was even on the coldest day. With the makeshift barn I have and clean bedding it seems they were always warm come milking time. I think I was the one that was chapping and cracking.

With a moo moo here and a moo moo there, here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo.
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NellieBelle

11214 Posts


Posted - Sep 07 2014 :  06:53:09 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Yes, I know what you mean. My hands get really bad in the winter. Cracked fingers, chapped red hands. They are in water/bleach, so much that it dries them out and then the bitter cold on top of that. Going to have to figure out the cold hand problem before milking time. I can take care of me, but it's their udders and teats I'm concerned about. Don't want to have problems that would lead to infection or mastitis. I guess I will think on that one.
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Ron

4666 Posts
Ronnie
Peever SD
USA

Posted - Sep 07 2014 :  07:22:30 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I do use the blue milking gloves and it helps some. I guess a guy/gal can try to enclose a milking are even for the temporary wit plywood or tarps and get a small heater just for milking?

With a moo moo here and a moo moo there, here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo.
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CloversMum

3486 Posts


Posted - Sep 11 2015 :  2:42:07 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I keep having issues with my teat dip cups leaking all over my hands! What is everyone's secret to not making a mess? I clean the cups out every day but every time I squeeze it leaks everywhere and onto my hands. I did just order a couple more teat dip cups from Hamby Dairy so I am hoping that perhaps I just have a couple with defects.

Loving life and family on our Idaho farm, Meadowlark Heritage Farm; A few Jersey cows; a few alpacas; a few more goats, and even more ducks and chickens
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maryjane

7072 Posts


Posted - Sep 11 2015 :  2:58:19 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Make sure when you put the outer rim on that the little air hole isn't aligned with where the iodine squirts out. Does that make sense?

MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~
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CloversMum

3486 Posts


Posted - Sep 14 2015 :  9:52:23 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
That does make sense, MaryJane, but I had already checked that. I think there must be a learning curve with those silly teat dip cups as I am getting better! :-)

Loving life and family on our Idaho farm, Meadowlark Heritage Farm; A few Jersey cows; a few alpacas; a few more goats, and even more ducks and chickens
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Sydney2015

1156 Posts


Posted - Feb 05 2016 :  4:34:36 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I was wondering, I've been looking at HambyDairySupply.com and I was wondering, which dip cup works best? I found three different ones. Two are made by Hamby Dairy Supply, and one by Ambic. Which one?

A good laugh overcomes more difficulties and dissipates more dark clouds than any other one thing - Laura Ingalls Wilder

I live on a small farm of seventy acres called Green Forest Farm, with 10 horses, a donkey, 5 beef cows, 2 beef heifers, 3 Hereford heifers, around 60 chickens, 8 dogs, my amazing cow, AppleButter, and her little Jersey calf HoneyButter!
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CloversMum

3486 Posts


Posted - Feb 05 2016 :  5:30:16 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I got some that look identical to the ones MaryJane has in her book, page 214. When you use them, make sure the little hole in the white plastic is near the top ... it kept leaking constantly on me and I had no idea what I was doing wrong. It turned out it had to do with the little hole! :)

Loving life and family on our Idaho farm, Meadowlark Heritage Farm; A few Jersey cows; a few alpacas; a few more goats, and even more ducks and chickens
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txbikergirl

3197 Posts


Posted - Feb 05 2016 :  5:58:16 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
sydney i use the same teat dip cups charlene references from hamby. the horizontal ones rock - i think they are so much easier to use than the ones with the cup placed for vertical alignment, but that could because we have smaller cows?? i have two, as i use different dips for pre and post milking. i love these things. http://hambydairysupply.com/xcart/product.php?productid=768&cat=287&page=1

you can choose from four colors ;>


Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy")

Edited by - txbikergirl on Feb 05 2016 5:59:10 PM
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Sydney2015

1156 Posts


Posted - Feb 05 2016 :  7:18:09 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Thanks! That is the kind my cousin uses on her dairy goats. I have used them on her goats before, I agree, they work well. I was just wondering if it was the same with cows. I was almost sure it was the correct one, I just wasn't 100%.

A good laugh overcomes more difficulties and dissipates more dark clouds than any other one thing - Laura Ingalls Wilder

I live on a small farm of seventy acres called Green Forest Farm, with 10 horses, a donkey, 5 beef cows, 2 beef heifers, 3 Hereford heifers, around 60 chickens, 8 dogs, my amazing cow, AppleButter, and her little Jersey calf HoneyButter!
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CloversMum

3486 Posts


Posted - Feb 06 2016 :  09:25:13 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Since I have both goats and cows, we do end up using many similar things on both! Some of my goats have bigger teats than Clover!

Loving life and family on our Idaho farm, Meadowlark Heritage Farm; A few Jersey cows; a few alpacas; a few more goats, and even more ducks and chickens
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