Exploring producer motivations and management practices associated with internal teat sealant use and teat sealant residues on farms with automated milking systems

Lead Applicant: Rita Couto Serrenho

Research Priority: Animal Health & Welfare

Program Type: Tier 1

Funding Cycle: 2024/2025

Research Centre: NA

Research Summary: In Canada, there is a growing trend among dairy farms to adopt automated milking systems (AMS). Reluctance to apply internal teat sealants (ITS) in AMS herds and adopt selective dry-cow therapy (SCDT) programs at dry-off challenges the dairy industry's commitment to enhancing antimicrobial stewardship practices. Dry-off preventive antimicrobial treatments represent a significant proportion of on-farm antimicrobial use. However, mechanical challenges perceived by AMS manufacturers due to poor ITS removal at calving and prolonged sealant shedding in early lactation, which potentially can reduce the value of dairy products, contribute to farmers’ preference toward blanket antimicrobial dry-cow treatment without ITS. This project will contribute to a better understanding of producers’ motivations and management practices associated with ITS in AMS herds and develop ITS removal best practices to support frameworks for the judicious use of antimicrobials, while avoiding milk equipment issues and final product devaluation on AMS dairy farms.