Composition and method for the preservation of mastitis

A composition and method are provided for preventing mastitis in milk producing animals. The composition comprises natural rubber latex, propylene glycol and is applied to the teat of the milk producing animal to form a protective, pliable film.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In the milk producing industry maintaining the animals in disease free 
condition is a primary concern. Mastitis, an inflammation of the mammary 
gland, usually caused by a bacterial infection, is of particular concern 
as it can lead to decreased milk productivity, complete loss of milk, and 
even eventual destruction of the animal. 
Despite the enforced sanitation requirements of the milking process, such 
as providing for cleaning the animals' teats prior to milking, diseases 
like mastitis can easily spread through an entire herd from a single 
infected animal. As the infected animal mingles with healthy animals, as 
while grazing in the field, bacteria may be spread from animal to animal 
by insects, by contact with grass which has been contaminated by contact 
with the infected animal, and the like. 
While mastitis can be treated with antibiotics and by prophylactic 
disinfectants and other drugs, before the infected animal can be isolated 
for treatment thus protecting the remaining animals from contamination, 
the bacteria usually has spread to healthy animals. Thus, there is a need 
for a method of preventing healthy livestock from contacting the bacteria 
from the infected specimens. 
The need for prevention of the spread of bacteria is recognized in U.S. 
Pat. No. 2,604,092 to Brown et al, where bulbous sheaths of flexible 
elastic material are adhesively secured at the neck to the teats of the 
cows. The sheaths, however, must be laboriously removed before cleaning 
the teats and milking and then must be replaced, requiring a substantial 
investment of time. 
Several attempts to provide protective film barriers on the teats have been 
made. U.S. Pat. No. 3,066,071 to Akers et al teaches a method of coating 
the teats of cattle with a peelable film of a mixture of polyvinyl acetate 
and polyvinyl chloride, typically applied from a volatile solvent such as 
ethyl acetate or as a hot melt. The resulting disadvantages can be 
significant; the skin of the teat can be irritated by the effects of the 
solvent or by the heat of the melt composition. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,222,252 to Kraus describes a bovine teat dip consisting of 
certain fatty acid esters and drying or semi-drying vegetable oils. 
However, the vegetable oil dips are difficult to remove from the animal's 
teats with a water wash, and are ineffective in preventing mastitis. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,022,199 to Fetty is directed to a method for mastitis 
prevention comprising covering the teat with a mucilage gum to form a 
protective film on the teat. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,113,854 to Andrews teaches a method for preventing mastitis 
comprising dipping the animals' teats into a composition comprising a 
film-forming polymer, specifically a synthetic (acrylic) latex, and a 
water soluble thickening agent, and the composition thereof. However, the 
dip composition is permanently damaged upon freezing, and cannot be 
effectively used again after thawing. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of prior art 
methods for control of mastitis, and to provide an effective means for its 
control. 
It is another object of the invention to develop a method and composition 
which is simple and economical to use by dairy herd management. 
It is a further object to provide a method and composition for the control 
of mastitis which causes no discomfort to the animal and which does not 
interfere with the normal milking process. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide a method for control of 
mastitis where the composition employed is not deleteriously affected by 
temperatures below freezing. 
The present invention provides a solution to the need for an effective 
deterrent to the spread of mastitis and overcomes the disadvantages of 
prior methods. The further objects, advantages and novel features of the 
invention will become apparent from the description below.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The present invention provides both a composition and a method for 
preventing the contamination of healthy dairy animals with 
mastitis-causing bacteria. 
The mastitis prevention composition of the present invention comprises a 
natural rubber latex propylene glycol mixture. 
Essential to the composition is the inclusion of propylene glycol along 
with the natural rubber latex, which permits the liquid to withstand 
exposure to temperatures below 32.degree. F., without deleterious effects. 
After the solution is frozen, exposure to temperatures above 32.degree. F. 
will cause the solution to liquify to normal consistency, whereupon it may 
simply be stirred and applied to the animals in the normal fashion, 
requiring no special equipment for the preserving or maintenance of the 
composition in cold climates. 
The composition includes fillers and pigments so that the film is visible 
against the skin of the animal, providing a simple visual means for 
checking that every animal has been protected by the diary personnel and 
conversely, that the film has been removed prior to milking. Such fillers 
include titanium dioxide and clay. 
The composition further includes vulcanizing agents stabilizers, 
anti-bacterial agents, suspension agents, and perfume. 
Suitable vulcanizing agents include sulphur, while sodium isopropyl 
xanthate and mercaptobenzothiazole serve as precure accelerators. 
Suggested stabilizers include potassium hydroxide, caustic soda, 
sulfonated fatty acid, ammonia, casein, oleic acid, shellac, 
triethanolamine, and diethylamine and wax for ozone protection. 
Suitable dispersing agents may include sodium salts of alkyl sulfonic acid, 
sodium alkyl arylether sulfate with shellacol alcohol as the dispersing 
agent. 
Suggested antibacterial agents are para-chloro meta xylenol and 
sodium-ortho phenylphenate tetrahydrate. 
The composition is nonirritating to the skin of the animal's teat, and is 
easy to apply and remove. The composition may be applied to the teat by 
dipping, spraying or brushing onto the animal forming a continuous 
protective film over the teat and across the orifice of the teat, and 
after drying of the composition protecting the teat from the entrance of 
bacteria and from the deleterious effects of exposure to environmental 
factors. The latex film lasts from milking to milking without easily being 
rubbed off by the animal, yet is removed by the dairy personnel with warm 
water just prior to milking. 
As will be evident from the relative weights shown in the best mode of the 
invention set forth with particularity hereinafter, it will be seen that 
the subject composition contemplates rubber latex as a chief ingredient 
and forming a major proportion thereof on the order of about 50% by 
weight, along with about 6% propylene glycol as a second major constituent 
(apart from water to about 38% by weight), and which with the water form a 
minor proportion of the composition as compared to the latex. 
Vulcanizing agents and precure accelerators therefor form only a quite 
small fraction, together about 0.33% by weight and wherein the vulcanizing 
agent proper is a minor portion thereof, or about 0.13% of the total. 
Similarly, fillers and pigments for ready visibility are present to about 
3.1% by weight. 
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
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Wt in Lbs 
______________________________________ 
Natural Rubber Latex (dry weight) 
4162.5 
Propylene Glycol 500. 
Sulfur 10.4 
Perfume 13.0 
Aero-Xanthate (American Cyanamid 
4.2 
Sodium Isopropyl Xanthate) 
Zetax (RT Vanderbilt mercaptobenzothiazole) 
12.4 
Titanium Dioxide 165.62801 
Polyplate P (Clay-Huber Clay Co.) 
83.2 
Green Pigment 9.0 
Versene 100 (Dow Chemical Tetrasodium Salt 
30.0 
of Ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid) 
KOH (potassium hydroxide) 29.274302 
Modicol S (Diamond Shamrock Co. - 
16.5 
Sulfonated fatty acids) 
Casein 6.0016 
Wax 8.042235 
Gum Arabic 6.79152 
Ammonia 6.53200444 
Emersol Elaine 210 (Emery Industries - 
0.8064662 
Oleic Acid) 
Ottasept Tech 101 (Ferro Ottowa - Para- 
11.6428034 
chloro meta-xylenol) 
Darvan #1 (RT Vanderbilt Co.-Sodium 
1.68 
Salt of Alkyl Sulfonic Acid) 
Shellac 0.6057692 
Shellacol Alcohol 0.6057692 
Triethanolamine 0.3216894 
Triton No. 770 (Sodium Aklyl Arylether Sulfate) 
0.3216894 
Diethylamine 0.234233 
Caustic Soda 0.2085552 
Downside Flake (Dow Chemical - Sodium 
0.2085552 
o-phenylphenate tetrahydrate) 
Water 3,119.8948017 
8,200.000 lbs 
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The composition is prepared by dispersing the ingredients, then mixing them 
together. The mixture is heated to 160.degree. F. then cooled to 
75.degree. F. In the heating process, the necessary cross-linking is 
achieved to make the material suitable for its use as a protective film.