Dipping Procedures

Before Dipping

• Check water level (full tank)
• Open inlet pipe and close outlet.
• To ensure complete coverage all cattle must be dry before dipping

During Dipping

• Ensure dip is mixed according to manufacturer’s instructions, paying attention to correct strengths, premixing and mixing instructions
• Under strength dipping is never cost effective – it only leads to incomplete tick control and resistance.
• Agitate the dip wash.
• This can be done effectively by running 20-30 head through the dip and then returning them to the main herd to be dipped again.
• Make sure the dip wash is not too dirty. This can render the dip less effective.
• As dips ‘strip out’ a maximum of 500 head should be dipped before replenishing the dip.
• An accurate cattle count must be made and recorded.
• All animals must be submerged completely. If the dip tank is silted up so that animals do not submerge it must be emptied and cleaned.

After dipping

• Close inlet and open outlet pipes.
• Clean collecting pen and drainage pen to prevent build up of mud and dung.
• Clean footbaths.
• Repair broken pens etc.
• Collect remaining dip and empty dip containers and dispose of them suitably.