Looking for a Pre-Dip that really cleans and kills AND doesn’t cost as much as iodine?  Your solution is BEE-LINE.   BEE-LINE is extremely versatile being it can be dipped, sprayed or foamed.   It has an unmatched surfactant package that really lifts the dirt and cleans the teat.   Another feature is that it has a 4% skin conditioning package that  softens the teat making it very easy to wipe the dirt a way.   Combine that with an extremely fast, effective germicide and the fact it is more cost effective to use than iodine and you have the ultimate pre dip.  It also stays on the teat much better — no on the floor like the traditional pre-dips that are on the market.  

Please open the attached Testimonial on BEE-LINE (Click Here) from Brad Brandau of the Brandau Village Farms LLC, in Monroe County, Wisconsin.  Brad was dipping and always had been dipping with a .5% Iodine as pre dip.  Upon changing he said,  ”The teats wiped off much cleaner and easier, the dirt just fell off. Our SCC went down 50,000 and our treats for mastitis have also went down considerably.  We don’t have as many flare ups!  I have to say our teat ends are the best they’ve ever been too!  It’s been a great product for us!”

Iodine Prices are on the rise again!  Does your dairy use an iodine as a Pre and Post Dip?  If so, you’ve probably noticed and absorbed some pretty significant iodine price increases over the past 2-3 years.  There is no doubt that iodine kills but I want to inform you there are many other germicides that kill as good or better than iodine.   This presents a terrific opportunity for your dairy to investigate the many opportunities.  When going through that decision process be sure to contact your Chem-Star Dealer.  All Chem-Star teat dips are manufactured by ECOLAB, a world leader in udder health and sanitation proudcts.  All Chem-Star Teat Dips are protocol tested and have to pass an aggressive 5 log 15 second kill standard.  Besides a terrific iodine line-up they have an equally impressive iodine alternative roster that includes Classic Dip/Sprayable (Chlorhexidine), Sentinal Plus (Hydrogen Peroxide & LAS), ABS Valiant Products (ASC – Acidified Sodium Chlorite – LAS) and Code Green, Bee-Line, Recover  and Barrier 71o (Heptanoic Acid – Fatty Acid).  All are designed to be extremely important part of your milk quality goals.  Attached is a pdf artice that was in the Progressive Dairyman outlining the state of the teat dip industry as it relates to the different germicides.  Please visit our product tab on the this website to learn more about the Chem-Star – ECOLAB Teat Dips.  Attached also is a brochure on Bee-Line Prep, an iodine alternative that not only cleans extemely well as a pre but also kills. A great combination that provides signifact cost savings against iodine.  Progressive Dairyman article  and Bee-Line Prep brochure.

With Spring coming all dairies with slurry’s and lagoons will be working around the clock pumping and spreading manure.  Does your dairy have a Waste Managemetn Plan that deals with solid build-ups, surface crust, the difficulty of pumping and Noxious Odors?  Are you retaining the fertilizer value (Nitrogen) or is it just gassing off?  Gas prices and fertilizers costs continue to go up expotentially.  It’s time to make Accelerator Dairy a part of your Waste Management Plan!

Accelerator Dairy supplies bacteria and enzymes that rapidly break down solids in dairy manure.  The results are easier pumping, decreased odors and greater nitrogen retention, resulting in less ammonia emissions.   All this puts money back in your pocket. 

Producers face many challenges in handling dairy manure.  With increasing environmental regulations, producers need to be proactive in their waste managment.  Accelerator Dairy is a valuable asset to a Waste Management Plan.

Accelerator Dairy contains scientifically selected strains of bacteria that enhance the digestion of manure solids, while preserving fertilizer value and decreasing noxious odors.  Contact a MEDA Dealer for information on Accelerator Dairy.  Click Here for a brochure.

With Iodine pricing going up will all manufacturers, our MEDA Dealers are fortunate to have the Best Iodine Alternatives in the dairy industry.   For prepping on the PRE side we have BEE-LINE.  This dip has a huge surfactant make-up which provides an excellent ability to clean dirty teats.  It really lifts the soil.  It’s thicker than any Iodine Pre-Dip so it does not end up on the floor.  It also provides a terrific kill.  It’s extremely versatile for application as it can be dipped, sprayed or foamed.  There is no irritating odors.  To top it off it is a very cost effective alternative to Iodine.  Talk your MEDA Dealer about BEE-LINE being an opportunity at your dairy.

On the Post side we have another very strong alternative to iodine and that is CODE GREEN.  This can be used as both a pre and a post dip.  Code Greens germicidal make-up is .7% Heptanoic Acid which provides a fast 5 log 15 second kill.   It has a 10% Emollient / Skin Conditioning Packge with combines Lanolin, Glycerin and other proprietary skin conditioners.  It’s green color gives you great visibility when applying.  There is no mixing what so ever.   For more information please see the Dealer Map for a Dealer near you!

You can visit the Chem-Star team at the following Farm Shows in 2012.  We can’t wait to talk to you about the many opportunities our dealers have to offer.  See you there!

La Crosse Farm Show, Lacrosse WI — January 11th & 12th

Rice Lake Farm Show, Rice Lake WI — January 24th & 25th

St. Cloud Farm Show, St. Cloud MN — February 28th -March 1st

Eau Claire Farm Show, Eau Claire WI — March 6th & March 7th

PDPW, Madison, WI — March 13th & March 14th

Rochester Farm Show, Rochester MN — March 21st & 22nd

Oshkosh Farm Show, Oshkosh WI — March 27th – March 29th

Loren Greenfield, owner of Hilltop Daiy in Markesan, WI milks 900 cows, 3X in a Double 12 herringbone parlor.  Loren was using a relatively new silicon liner and was struggling with his high producing cows not milking out and an abnormal amount of ringing at the base of the teats.  Right now with the IMPULSE vented mouthpiece he as noticed much faster milkouts…in fact after 2 days he picked up 1 hour per milking.  He’s never seen his overall teat end health so good.  In fact 83% of his herds teat ends are 1’s & 2’s.  He also noticed his somatic cell count dropped 125,000.  Loren said, “The liner has the best interest of the cow in mind!”  Click Here to read more!

Speltz Dairy LLC, located in Oak Ridge, MN milks 702 cows, 3x in a Double 12 parlor.  They have a 150,000 SCC.  John Speltz, Owner was experiencing poor teat ends and uneven milk-outs.

John said, “I tried (3) other liners….a silicon liner, left me with rings around the top of the teats and horrible teat ends…lots of 3’s & 4’s.  A different US branded one resulted in extremely uneven milk-outs, between 100 & 120 reattaches.  Another one was suppose to clean up the teat end issues, but all we got was quarters not milked out, loss of milk time and no improvement in our teat conditioning.  As as I put a new liner on, I was looking for another.”

Upon changing to the IMPULSE IP-MV, John said, “I noticed a difference right away.  I did not know teat ends could look that good.  Within a second change (one month), they were cleaned up!  I did not think they would get to where they are now that quick.

They now have more 1’s & 2’s, no chapping and cracks!  To hear more about what John has to say about the liners please CLICK HERE.

MEDA / Chem-Star hosted a round-table meeting in Stevens Point featuring Dr. Paul Rapnicki of the University of Minnesota.  Dr. Rapnicki is held in high regards across the dairy industry, especially for his work in culturing milk (bulk tank & individual cows), bedding and towels.   Culturing can be an effective way to better understand the potential milk quality issues at your dairy as well as give you a direction to help resolve those issues.   If you are interested in culturing and would like some help from Dr. Rapnicki’s Team at the University of Minnesota, please feel free to contact your MEDA / Chem-Star Dealer to help get the process started.   Click Here to see Dr. Rapnicki’s presentation.  

Also if you are interested in visiting the University of Minnesota’s lab on Udder Health please feel free to click on the following link:   http://www.vdl.umn.edu/ourservices/udderhealth/home.html

It’s Hot, It’s Humid and YOUR cows are under extreme pressure to produce quality milk.  What is your dairy doing to help keep mastitis causing bacteria away from your cows?  What are you using for a teat dip – pre and post?   Your Chem-Star dealer has access to (7) protocol tested Dual Germicide Teat Dips…..Chem-Star Barrier 112, Valiant Pre, Valiant Pre-Post, Sentinel Plus, Valiant Shield, Valiant Barrier and EXPRESS.   Click Here to see a complete outline of these 7 Teat Dips. 

Barrier’s are a good place to start and Chem-Star’s Barrier 112 is the only true Barrier Iodine Teat Dip.  It has an immediate kill - Iodine and a residual kill - Hepatanoic Acid.  It also has 12% Teat Conditioning Emollients.  It’s the best on the market!  Combine that with the only true Pre-Dip, Valiant Pre, with a Dual Germicide also, Chlorine Dioxide and LAS, you are stacking the cards in your favor.   A GREAT Combination!   

We also have Valiant Pre-Post which also has Chlorine Dioxide contributing to a fast kill and LAS for a long lasting kill.  Has a great skin softening package of 12.4% emollients and is a terrific dip to clean up poor teat ends.   It exfoliates all the dead skin.   Sentinel Plus is a Hydrogen Peroxides teat dip that can be uses as a Pre and a Post.  It’s primary germicide is Hydrogen Peroxide and the secondary being a combination of Lactic Acid and LAS.  This dip has been the most extensively tested dip on the market today.  It has been Protocol A, B & C Tested.   All Chem-Star Dips have a 5 log – 15 second kill of mastitis causing bacteria.   See a chem-star dealer near you to get set up with the best teat dips on the market!

Do your cows seem uncomfortable during milking?   Could your teat ends be better – Purple?  Ringing? Hyperkeratosis?  Are your teats wet once the unit comes off the cow?  Do you notice an abnormal amount of Squawking & Slipping while milking?  Should your milking times be faster?  Are you wanting to add cows but are unsure how you are going to get more through the parlor?  If you answer YES to any of these questions then your dairy is canidate for the new IMPULSE IP-MV Triangular Liner – Shell System.   The Vented Mouthpiece is a revolutionary innovation that the  dairy industry has not seen.  Please see the attached Testimonial from De-Su Holsteins of New Albin, IA…The are milking 1,150 cows 3x, maintaining a 150,000 SCC and a Herd Average of 31,500 lbs. of milk.    Darin Meyer, Owner and Herdsman says, ‘The Impulse IP-MV Triangular Liner / Shell System is the single best thing we’ve done at our dairy since we built the parlor.”  Click-Here for De-Su Holsteins Testimonial.  

Please see another testimonial from Bob Hartz, Herd Manager for Schumacher Farms in Elgin MN.  They milk 750 cows 3x in a Dbl. 12 Parlor.  When asked if Bob Hartz would recommend the IMPULSE System to other dairies Bob responded, Absolutely …. I wish we would have had them sooner!” Click-Here for Schumacher Farms Testimonial.