Table 2 Factors associated with teat preparation on 398 Irish dairy farms, and associations with bulk tank SCS (back transformed SCC*10³/ml in parentheses) after controlling for region

Teat preparation spring

Wash only

22

12.54 (279)

0.034

ns

Wash and dry-paper towel

5

12.52 (273)

0.070

Wash and dry-common cloth

3

12.48 (263)

0.087

Dry wipe

24

12.50 (267)

0.032

None

46

12.54 (279)

0.023

Summer

Wash only

16

12.55 (283)

0.039

ns

Wash and dry-paper towel

2

12.34 (228)

0.111

Wash and dry-common cloth

2

12.50 (268)

0.104

Dry wipe

26

12.50 (270)

0.031

None

54

12.53 (278)

0.021

Winter

Wash only

22

12.55 (282)

0.033

ns

Wash and dry-paper towel

7

12.53 (275)

0.061

Wash and dry-common cloth

4

12.46 (257)

0.076

Dry wipe

22

12.50 (269)

0.034

None

45

12.53 (277)

0.023

Disinfecting after milking

Never

22

12.61 (298)

0.033

*

Intermittently

9

12.55 (281)

0.052

Every milking

69

12.50 (267)

0.019

Foremilking practiced

At each milking

34

12.51 (270)

0.027

ns

Once a day

3

12.57 (288)

0.089

If filter/sock has cruds

12

12.51 (272)

0.046

If SCC increases suddenly

8

12.52 (272)

0.055

Other

10

12.64 (308)

0.051

Never

33

12.52 (273)

0.027