Jan Storgaard
Technical Development
24. March 2022
Stalosan F and HooFoss go hand in hand
High alkalinity increases the risk of infection
Stalosan F and HooFoss share the same chemical approach with low pH when fighting problems in the highly alkaline barn environment. So not only high levels of pathogens and moist conditions in the barn environment challenge the animal’s immune system, but also high alkalinity that potentiates the infectious rate significantly. So, when we develop products to prevent infections in livestock animals, we must contemplate both biocidal, desiccating and acidifying effects in order to achieve maximum power. This is what we get in Stalosan F, as the only powder product in the world, which also is the major reason, why the product is so effective and non-comparable with others. Several studies have proven this, among others through a significant reduction of SCC and mastitis.
Stalosan F and HooFoss’ low pH-value helps to protect the skin
It makes sense for a product like Stalosan F to possess biocidal effects when used in a fairly clean area like cow cubicles, since here it is actually possible to kill and control typical environmental bacteria like S. Uberis and E. Coli. This is not the case, however, in the hoof environment, since here the overload of manure and pathogens makes it impossible to control. So going directly after one of the main responsible bacteria in Digital dermatitis (DD), Treponema, is not possible. But again, here it is important to understand the impact from the hoof environment when DD develops, being much more than just the bacteria itself. In fact, protecting the skin in the digital area from the alkaline and moist hoof environment is more than enough help to the cow’s immune system to heal and prevent new cases of DD. This is for sure one of the major effects of HooFoss to constantly protect from the moist environment and prevent any alkaline component, like ammonia, to meet the skin. This is possible because of the acidity and subsequent low pH-value of HooFoss. This is where HooFoss and Stalosan F are similar in profile, being the low pH-value with the ability to neutralize ammonia and remove moisture. This is also why the two products support and even potentiate each other’s effect.
Combination of HooFoss with lime-containing products will decrease the efficacy of the product
Looking away from the chemical profile of Stalosan F and HooFoss and instead focus on the effects that the two products possess, then we find additional synergistic effects. Studies show that clinically lame cows have significantly higher SCC and Mastitis (Singh et al., 2018). And Peeler et Al. (1994) reported a 1,4-fold increase in clinical mastitis and SCC in lame cows compared to non-lame cows. So, in this situation, HooFoss can support Stalosan F in the fight against SCC and Mastitis. On the other side, Stalosan F can also support the effects of HooFoss by keeping a constant low pH in the cubicles that will support the pH sensitive effect of HooFoss. If a farmer is using lime-containing product in the cubicles with high alkalinity, we see that the low pH-value of HooFoss may be compromised with a following decrease of the efficacy of the product. Therefore, we do not recommend combining HooFoss with alkaline powder products like lime.
