Would bleach do this?

[Teleah]

We share a milk cow w/ a few other families. Out of the blue, her teats and whole udder became red, then cracked and bleeding. But the milk was fine. Treated her w/ a herbal wash and bag balm and milked her as best we could and dumped the milk, just in case. Well, we discovered that a couple of the families were washing her w/ a 10% bleach solution and she's only had a store bought teat dip stuff - premade. The other families have always used this on their goats w/ no problem. So, I am wondering if this sounds like a reaction or sensitivity to the bleach. Are cows more sensitive than goats? Did she maybe roll in a weird weed or plant - though it seems odd that it would only be on her udder. She's better now, just trying to trouble shoot. Or do you think the bleach is a red herring and this sounds like something else? Thank you so much.

[agmantoo]

I think you may have found the culprit. Normally 1/4th cup of bleach to a gallon of water is ample for a disinfectant.

[sycamore]

Way too much bleach. But then we only use warm soapy water with vinegar.

1 tablespoon per gallon works just fine. Actually it is 1 tsp per quart. No more.

Too much gives you what she has, bleach burns.
Aloe is excellent soothing for this.

If she was fine with premade stuff get her back on it.

[JHinCA]

I used to use a very diluted bleach solution for teat dip that i got off a goat site on my cows, but have since switcheed to a premade dip with iodine. It seems to be a lot better for their teats.

[Judith]

No more bleach!!!! Ouch!! The iodine solution is much kinder to the skin.

[Teleah]

JHinCA: I was curious about the difference if any in milking care of goats and cows

sycamore: I forgot to say that they put prickly pear poultice on it, which seemed to help. I didn't even think of aloe.

agmantoo: I did the math quickly in my head and that does sound pretty high.

Thanks again.

[milkinpigs]

Have those "experts" wash their private parts with their bleach water for a week.Hope that cow kicks their teeth out...

[Teleah]

Originally Posted by milkinpigs

Have those "experts" wash their private parts with their bleach water for a week.Hope that cow kicks their teeth out...

you almost made my squash casserole come out of my nose! they are wonderful people and I guess we are all learning, but when you look at it that way...

[Madsaw]

Originally Posted by Judith

No more bleach!!!! Ouch!! The iodine solution is much kinder to the skin.

Yes no to Bleach!!
We use a product to wash and when we do dip That is a CHG udder wash and also CHG teat dip. This is very mild on the cow and even better then iodine.
Bob

[Ronney]

Thankyou Bob, you beat me to the draw.

Why do people persist in using bleach on their cows, no matter how diluted the solution is. I know what a diluted solution will do to my hands - exactly what is has done to this cow's udder. My hands will be red, raw, cracked and bleeding for days all because I couldn't be bothered putting gloves on - but that's my fault and I wouldn't wish it on a cow that has no say in the matter.

There are plenty of udder washes and teat dips available on todays market that are mild and designed for the job. I only use warm water to wash the udder and after milking (machine) use an emoliant salve designed for cows that costs all of $9.85.

Perhaps you and the families you share milk with, could throw a few dollars in the kitty and purchase products that are considerate of the cow. I don't know how you operate this system but if she moves from farm to farm, the wash and teat spray/salve could move with her.

Cheers,
Ronnie