Abstract: A gel composition for cleaning and sanitizing the teats and udder of an agricultural animal for machine milking. Residual surface water, a source of milk contamination and mastitis, is eliminated from the teats and udder by use of the gel composition. The composition is constituted of water, a germicide added to the water in concentration sufficient to kill environmental bacteria which cause mastitis, and an aqueous gelling agent added to the water in concentration sufficient to form a palpable jelly-like mass, or gel. The composition preferably also includes a soap, detergent or other agent for the reduction of surface tension, and a skin softener and moisturizer. It preferably also contains a coloring agent. In application, the composition is applied to the teats and udder to soften and emulsify the particulate foreign matter, and kill the bacteria which cause environmental mastitis, without the separation therefrom of a separate liquid phase.