Patent Publication Number: US-2007101945-A1

Title: Preventing mastitis and providing pathogen control of dairy cattle

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to preventing mastitis and providing pathogen control for dairy cattle. In particular, the present invention relates to systems and methods for applying an ozone treatment to animal teats.  
      2. Background and Related Art  
      A variety of pre-milking techniques are available to reduce the presence of bacteria. For example, one such technique includes removing hair from dairy cow udders to reduce the amount of dirt and/or manure that adheres to the udder and contaminates milk. Udders that have long hairs attached thereto can prove to be difficult to clean and dry. Dairy cows having wet and/or dirty teats can increase the risk of high bacterial counts in the milk and the probability of intramammary infection.  
      Another pre-milking technique includes the application of an iodine based solution on dairy cow teats. A similar application of the iodine based solution may also be applied to the teats after the dairy cow has undergone the milking process. However, while the iodine based solution can reduce the presence of bacteria, problems still exist with the use of the solution. For example, over a period of time the iodine based solution can cause a break down in the cow&#39;s skin tissue, making the dairy cow teat susceptible to infection and other skin problems.  
      Thus, while techniques currently exist that are used to reduce the presence of bacteria, challenges still exist. Accordingly, it would be an improvement in the art to augment or even replace current techniques with other techniques.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to preventing mastitis and providing pathogen control for dairy cattle. In particular, the present invention relates to systems and methods for applying an ozone treatment to animal teats.  
      Implementation of the present invention takes place in association with an ozone based application for dairy cattle. In at least some implementations, an ozonized water solution is prepared and applied to the teats of a dairy cow as part of a pre-milking and/or post-milking process. The ozonized water solution is applied to the dairy cow teats through any of a variety of techniques, including a dip process (e.g., using a dip cup), a spray process (e.g., using a system having a sprayer) or another application process. The process of applying ozonized water to dairy cow teats is highly effective for sterilization, and provides a noticeable improvement in the condition of the teat itself. For example, the increased condition of the dairy cow teats is visually noticeable after approximately 7-10 days of applying an ozonized water solution.  
      Thus, at least some embodiments of the present invention include using an ozone treatment to clean the surface of a teat. Use of the ozone treatment breaks down manure on the teat and provides other cleaning properties. Embodiments of the present invention embrace applying the ozone treatment before and/or after milking a dairy cow. Thus, some embodiments of the present invention embrace a pre-teat dip ozone treatment application and a post teat dip ozone application.  
      While the methods and processes of the present invention have proven to be particularly useful in the area of sanitizing and conditioning diary cow teats, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the methods and processes can be used in a variety of different applications and on a variety of milk-producing animals to effectively provide such benefits as preventing mastitis and providing pathogen control for the milk-producing animals. Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments of the present invention embrace the application of a variety of ozonized solutions, other than ozonized water, to effectively provide such benefits.  
      These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth or will become more fully apparent in the description that follows and in the appended claims. The features and advantages may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Furthermore, the features and advantages of the invention may be learned by the practice of the invention or will be obvious from the description, as set forth hereinafter.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      In order that the manner in which the above recited and other features and advantages of the present invention are obtained, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that the drawings depict only typical embodiments of the present invention and are not, therefore, to be considered as limiting the scope of the invention, the present invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a representative system for producing and providing an ozonized solution for application on a milk producing animal in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a representative dip method for applying an ozonized solution to a teat of a milk producing animal in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 3  illustrates a representative spray method for applying an ozonized solution to teats of a milk producing animal in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to preventing mastitis of dairy cattle and providing pathogen control for the dairy industry. In particular, the present invention relates to systems and methods for applying an ozone treatment to animal teats.  
      Embodiments of the present invention embrace an ozone based application for diary cattle. An ozonized solution is prepared and applied to the teats of a dairy cow as part of a pre-milking and/or post-milking process. One example of an ozonized solution is ozonized water. The ozonized water is applied to the dairy cow teats through any of a variety of techniques, including a dip process (e.g., using a dip cup), a spray process (e.g., using a system having a sprayer) or another application process. The process of applying the ozonized water to dairy cow teats is highly effective in not only sterilization but also in providing a noticeable improvement in the condition of the teat itself.  
      While one example of an ozonized solution is ozonized water, embodiments of the present invention also embrace the application of other solutions comprising ozone. Further, embodiments of the present invention embrace non-liquid solutions comprising ozone.  
      With reference now to  FIG. 1 , a representative system for producing and providing an ozonized solution for application on a milk producing animal teat is illustrated. In  FIG. 1 , system  10  includes container  12 , pump  14 , dispenser  16  and ozone generator  18 . Container  12  is a holding tank that contains a solution. In the present embodiment, container  12  contains water that is being re-circulated within system  10  and injected with ozone. The ozone is generated by ozone generator  18  and supplied through hose  20  to re-circulation pump  14 . In at least one embodiment, hose  20  is a Teflon® (polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE) tube. Those skilled in the will appreciate that other materials may be used, including other polymers and/or metals.  
      The water or other solution is circulated through pump  14 . As the water is being circulated, the ozone generated by ozone generator  18  and supplied by hose  20  is injected into the water at pump  14  as the water is being circulated.  
      In one embodiment, ozone generator  18  provides an amount of ozone to water of system  10  to provide ozonized water at a level of 2.05 ozonization. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments of the present invention embrace providing a level of ozonization that is less than or greater than 2.05 ozonization. In addition, in  FIG. 1 , container  12  is a 50 gallon tank that continues to re-circulate during the entire milking process, keeping the water charged at the 2.05 ozonization level.  
      In one embodiment, the circulation process of the solution is a continuous process that maintains a charged solution within system  10 . In a further embodiment, a measurement device determines the ozonization level and/or maintains the ozonization at a particular level.  
      Dispenser  16  allows for a user to selectively draw the charged solution comprising ozone from system  10  for selective application. For example, the charged solution may be applied to the dairy cow teats through any of a variety of techniques, including a dip process (e.g., using a dip cup), a spray process (e.g., using a system having a sprayer) or another application process, as will be further discussed below.  
      While the discussion above includes a solution of water that is injected with ozone, embodiments of the present invention also embrace other solutions, including non-liquid solutions, which are ozonized or otherwise injected with ozone for the application on teats of milk producing animals.  
      Once the ozonized solution is prepared, the ozonized solution is applied to the teats of a milk producing animal. Thus, for example, in the dairy industry the ozonized solution is applied to the teats of a dairy cow.  
      With reference now to  FIG. 2 , a representative method is illustrated for applying the ozonized solution to a teat of a milk producing animal, such as a dairy cow. In  FIG. 2 , dairy cow udder  30  comprises a plurality of teats  32 . An applicator  34  is used to apply an ozonized solution to teats  32 . In  FIG. 2 , applicator  34  is a dip cup that is configured to contain the ozonized solution. A teat  32  is dipped into applicator  34  to apply an amount of the ozonized solution onto the dipped teat. Applicator  34  is filled with the ozonized solution by dispensing the ozonized solution from a system, such as dispenser  16  of system  10  (see  FIG. 1 ).  
      In one embodiment, a pre-milking process comprises application of the ozonized solution to only the teats as exposure to the entire udder can be more difficult to dry prior to milking.  
      Once all of the teats  32  have had the ozonized solution applied thereon as part of the pre-milking process, the teats may be dried, such as by using a clean towel. The dairy cow then undergoes the milking process, such as being attached to a milking machine after milk letdown occurs. Upon completion of the milking process, the teats undergo a post milking application of the ozonized solution.  
      Thus, at least some embodiments of the present invention embrace applying an ozone treatment before and/or after milking a dairy cow. For example in one embodiment, a pre-teat dip ozone treatment application and a post teat dip ozone application are performed.  
      With reference now to  FIG. 3 , a representative spray method for applying the ozonized solution to dairy cow teats is illustrated. In  FIG. 3 , udder  40  comprises a plurality of teats  42 . An applicator  44  sprays the ozonized solution  46  onto the teats  42 . Applicator  44  is configured to selectively attach to a dispenser, such as dispenser  16  of  FIG. 1 .  
      While  FIG. 2  illustrates a representative dip method for applying an ozonized solution and  FIG. 3  illustrates a representative spray method for applying an ozonized solution, those skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments of the present invention further embrace other manners or techniques for applying an ozonized solution to a milk producing animal.  
      In one embodiment, a dip method is used as a pre-milking process for applying an ozonized solution to a dairy cow teat and a spray method is used to apply the ozonized solution to the dairy cow teat as a post milking process. This embodiment includes such benefits of facilitating drying of the teats prior to the milking process, and cleaning and/or sealing the entire udder and teat area after the milking process.  
      Use of the ozonized solution has a variety of benefits. For example, the ozonized solution provides healing faculties and is soothing rather than harsh to the teat, and provides quicker and enhanced healing to the cow teat. Additionally, use of the ozonized solution prevents mastitis and/or eliminates pathogens on the teats. Further, embodiments of the present invention reduce and/or eliminate pathogens in the milk.  
      Thus, as discussed herein, the embodiments of the present invention embrace preventing mastitis and providing pathogen control of dairy animals. In particular, the present invention relates to systems and methods for applying an ozone treatment to animal teats.  
      The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.