COATINGS FOR DAG PREVENTION
Techniques are disclosed for preventing formation of dags on cattle and other commercially produced animals. The surface of the animal, such as the skin, hide, hair, wool or other covering of the animal, is treated with a low-energy, non-sticking hydrophobic coating. The coating may be made from long-chain hydrocarbons, such as stearates, typically with a terminal metal carboxylate group comprising a variety of low-valence metals, e.g., mono or divalent metals, such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium and zinc. The coating makes it difficult for polar substances, such as water, mud, dirt, waste, soil, manure and feed, collectively termed dag, to adhere to the surface of the animal.
1 . A method for preventing dag formation on livestock, the method comprising:
providing a metallic stearate salt in a form suitable for application to livestock; and
applying the metallic stearate salt to the livestock to form a self-assembled monolayer, the self-assembled monolayer providing a protective coating against at least one of mud, manure and feed.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the metallic stearate salt comprises a stearate and an alkali metal.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the metallic stearate salt comprises a stearate and an alkaline earth metal.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the metallic stearate salt comprises a stearate and a transition metal.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the metallic stearate salt is selected from the group consisting of calcium stearate, zinc stearate and magnesium stearate.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the metallic stearate salt is selected from the group consisting of sodium stearate, potassium stearate, and lithium stearate.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying the metallic stearate salt as a bar of soap.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the bar of soap comprises a mixture of the metallic stearate and a wax.
9 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising applying the metallic stearate by a stearate soap brush applicator.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of applying comprises rotating a brush against the soap bar to collect metallic stearate salt onto the brush and further rotating the brush against the livestock to deposit the collected metallic stearate salt onto the livestock.
11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying the metallic stearate salt to the livestock by giving a bath with water comprising the metallic stearate salt.
12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying the metallic stearate in an automated manner.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the automated manner is selected from the group consisting of automated spray application, automated brush application, and automated bath application.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the metallic stearate salt comprises a metal ion, a carboxylate group, and a hydrocarbon chain; and
applying the metallic stearate salt enables the metal carboxylate group to interact with the livestock and the hydrocarbon chain to self-assemble to form the self-assembling monolayer on the livestock.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the self-assembled hydrocarbon chain imparts hydrophobicity.
16 . A coating for preventing dag formation on livestock, comprising:
a self-assembled monolayer formed on livestock, the self-assembled monolayer comprising a metallic stearate salt applied to the livestock.
17 . The coating of claim 16 , wherein the metallic stearate salt comprises a stearate and an alkali metal.
18 . The coating of claim 16 , wherein the metallic stearate salt comprises a stearate and an alkaline earth metal.
19 . The coating of claim 16 , wherein the metallic stearate salt comprises a stearate and a transition metal.
20 . The coating of claim 16 , wherein the metallic stearate salt is selected from the group consisting of calcium stearate, zinc stearate and magnesium stearate.
21 . The coating of claim 16 , wherein the metallic stearate salt is selected from the group consisting of sodium stearate, potassium stearate, and lithium stearate.