Fatty acid antimicrobial
View Patent ↗The novel antimicrobial composition is disclosed including from about 60 to 95% of a lipophilic polar solvent such as propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, or isopropanol and from about 0.5 to 5% of a mixture of C 8 to C 14 fatty acids. Other constituents of the present invention may include water, an alcohol (such as ethanol or propanol) or a mixture thereof. Also disclosed is a novel method of killing harmful microbes on the udder of a milk-producing animal using the above-mentioned composition.
1. A method for reducing the incidence of mastitis in a dairy animal, the method comprising the step of:
topically applying an antimicrobial composition to the teats or udder of the animal, the composition consisting essentially of:
from about 60% to about 95% of a lipophilic polar solvent selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, and isopropanol, by weight of composition;
at least two C 8 to C 14 fatty acids in the total amount from about 0.5% to 5% by weight of the composition; and
a secondary solvent selected from the group consisting of:
water, alcohol, and mixtures thereof.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the fatty acids form a fatty acid mixture which comprises about 55% by weight of the fatty acid mixture of a C 8 fatty acid and about 40% by weight of the fatty acid mixture of a C 10 fatty acid.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the lipophilic polar solvent is propylene glycol.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the lipophilic polar solvent is present in the amount from about 50% to about 75% by weight of composition.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the fatty acids is caprylic acid.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the fatty acids is capric acid.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial composition has a pH below about 4.