Tough on Bacteria - Gentle on the Skin

With animal health so high on the agenda, there is a growing focus across UK and Irish farms on the environment being created for your livestock. That can come down to the conditions, the food, the nutrition and the treatment of your animals, but also the additional materials used to create a clean, bright and disease-free home.

With mastitis and other profit-threatening infections soaring to record levels in recent years, the need for disease-preventative measures in cubicles remain high, but how do we control such threats while also prioritising comfort and health for the cattle?

Traditional solutions are known to be devastatingly effective, often utilising a “builder’s lime” to aggressively target bacteria in cubicles. The challenge is that these products have not been designed for the agriculture sector, nor have they been developed with the health of the animal in mind.

As a result, livestock frequently experience choking as the dusty powder is applied liberally to the stalls. Furthermore, due to the reaction which takes place when the product is mixed with moisture from manure and urine, they will invariably receive chemical burns on the teats, hocks and feet. The potential risk of naturally induced mastitis is also increased, as the strong unfiltered product can strip a cow’s natural defence systems, such as the waxy coating on their teats, leaving them even more susceptible to mastitis-causing bacteria.

For the farmer who applies the lime, the picture is not much better, with regular reports of respiratory irritation and skin burns to the user when applying the product. In worse cases, the dust itself has been known to get into the eyes and cause potential serious damage.

To ensure protection of both the animal and the user, Kilwaughter Lime have developed MasterCAL, a disease-preventing product specifically designed for the agricultural sector, with animal health at the centre. It uniquely blends hydrated lime with naturally occurring North Antrim calcium carbonate, producing a potent biocide that won’t burn the skin, irritate the eyes, inflame the teats or cause choking and discomfort in the shed.

As with other hydrated limes, it successfully targets the primary bacterial and fungal causes of mastitis in livestock as well as reducing the risk of other diseases. But where other similar offerings fail, MasterCAL manages to completely protect the animal while still being equally as tough on disease. This is demonstrated in Figure 1, where the MasterCAL product has been independently tested by the IRM Laboratory in France to ensure that, with the correct application, all major bacterial and fungal concerns are addressed beyond a level of cleanliness exceeding veterinary standards.

MasterCAL Hydrated Lime bedding is tough on bacteria, but gentle on the skin. It is easy to use, comfortable to apply, non-abrasive and provides a bright, clean feel within your cubicles. Why not switch to MasterCAL today, and show that you care not only about maximising your profits, but also protecting your animals.