An Ontario company has launched a new teat dip for dairy farms, reducing farmers’ and the environment’s exposure to copper sulphate and formaldehyde.
BlueStride, produced by Agrisan, is an agricultural chemical company based in Arthur, Ont., owned by CG Wellington, the parent company of other players in the livestock market, such as dairy equipment supplier Norwell, Promat and Grober.
“I’ve done work with cows and selling product for probably 40 years, and it’s always been, ‘I wish we could get rid of formaldehyde,’” said Kerry Reibeling, vice-president of sales at Agrisan.
The company saw a market for a reduced copper sulphate teat dip and purchased a formulation from a U.S. company to create the acidified copper sulphate. The acid allows for lower use of copper sulphate, which is an environmental concern at high enough concentrations. Footbaths generally drain into manure pits, so the chemicals are spread, much diluted, onto farm fields.
“When you reduce it by 40 per cent, that’s another positive,” said Reibeling.
The formulation is also easier on cows, and when they’re less stressed, they are less likely to defecate or urinate in the footbath, extending the mix’s useful life.
“If you keep the organic matter out, it stays effective longer,” said Reibeling.
BlueStride is a 10 per cent liquid solution, mixed 10 to one with water in the footbath. It’s a low-acidity solution, and that level of pH helps the copper to stay suspended longer, he said at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show. The product is good for 400 to 500 cow passes through the footbath.
Copper sulphate solutions can have an impact on digital dermatitis, the most common foot infection problem in dairy cows, when it coats and stays on the foot.
Reibeling said the company is looking at how it can improve the foot bath, as farmers are constantly looking for better footbath solutions. Despite many companies trying, few alternatives to formaldehyde and copper sulphate foot baths have caught on with farmers.
The product works in most footbath systems, including concrete and can be used with a doser. The company says the ideal setup is a long, narrow footbath nine to 12 feet long and four to five inches deep, with sloped sides to help minimize splashing.
BlueStride is available from milking equipment dealers in Ontario, Manitoba, the eastern provinces and British Columbia.
Check out all of our coverage of Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show.
