22 July 2022

Evans Vanodine produces an extensive range of cleaning and disinfection products for multiple applications within the dairy and wider animal health sectors, including chlorine free options, as well as DEFRA and VMD regulated products. We are proud to announce a new innovative product has been added to our extensive teat disinfectant range - Sapphire 1:4, a chlorhexidine-based concentrate teat disinfectant.
 
 
There are many teat disinfectants available in the UK dairy market, therefore choosing one can be confusing. What is it that makes Sapphire 1:4 unique? Chlorhexidine gluconate, an EU and UK regulated biocide has been used for many years in the human care sector as an active material in hand disinfection; by surgeons prior to entering an operating theatre to prevent contamination. Chlorhexidine gluconate’s effectiveness and skin safety is globally acknowledged and proven.
 
In the livestock sector, chlorhexidine gluconate has a history of use in “ready-to-use” dairy teat disinfectants, but this application is limited by its chemical properties when exposed to high levels of mineral salts – in particular, but not limited to, water containing sulphates and carbonates.

The presence of these minerals in water has prevented the practical development of a chlorhexidine gluconate concentrate teat disinfectant for dilution at point of use by the farmer, as when diluted in water which contains such minerals, chlorhexidine salts can precipitate out of the solution and become unstable, therefore reducing the effectiveness and performance. This effect removes the protection against mastitis causing organisms and can cause a subsequent rise in somatic cells, which teat disinfectants normally help to prevent.
 
Evans Vanodine’s chemists, realising the importance of the high performance and relative cost stability of chlorhexidine gluconate when compared to traditional Iodine based teat disinfectants, undertook a multi-year project to find a technical solution to the precipitation problem of diluting chlorhexidine gluconate in hard water. Sapphire 1:4 is the result of this work, and we now launch the first, true, hard water stable chlorhexidine gluconate disinfectant in the UK.
 
The new formulation allows the concentrated product to be diluted at 1:4 anywhere in the UK, without the loss of performance that occurs when chlorhexidine gluconate is mixed in hard water, or water which contains high levels of sulphates. The intense blue colour of Sapphire 1:4 makes the product easily identifiable. It also contains an emollient system to guarantee the high levels of teat skin condition that dairy farmers in the UK have come to expect from an Evans product.
 
Extensive microbiological testing under the relevant EU and UK biocide regulation test EN 1656, proves that Sapphire 1:4, when diluted, passes the required efficacy tests, and can be sprayed, dipped, or foamed.
 
Sapphire 1:4 gives dairy farmers the option of switching to a new, safe, effective, and highly cost-efficient chlorhexidine gluconate-based teat disinfectant for pre and post milking. It can offer dairy farmers the confidence that environmental mastitis and high cell counts are a thing of the past. Evans’ three on-site laboratories ensure the products you receive are of the highest quality and comply with industry regulations. Our extensive range is complimented by our hands-on approach, technical support and farm visits, comprehensive literature, support materials and micro profiles. If you are struggling with elevated bactoscans and high somatic cell counts and require help to reduce them, Evans Vanodine is here to offer advice and has the expertise to assist you to achieve the results you desire.

To find out your local Evans Vanodine distributor, contact sales@evansvanodine.co.uk.