Short communication: Teat skin pH

Changes in teat skin surface pH were studied over 12 wk in 99 lactating Holstein cows. Half the udder of each cow routinely received postmilking disinfection, and the other half served as control. Measures of pH were made on all teats at weekly intervals. Teat skin pH was affected by treatment but not week. Mean teat skin pH measures were: 7.18 (+/- 0.64) and 7.53 (+/- 0.46) for treatment and control teats. In study II, pH teat skin measures were made hourly on 16 cows, starting 2 h before milking, immediately before a milking, immediately after a milking, and for 2 h postmilking. Teat skin pH was significantly lower for treatment teats and was lower for all teats postmilking.