Abstract: A method is provided for treating the foot or hooves of animals used for breeding that are kept in sheds, especially cattle and particularly dairy cattle. The method is characterized in that in a first phase, the feet or hooves of the animals are cleaned with water or a detergent containing soap or tensides, using an automatic spray system in order to remove all traces of excrement, especially manure or other dirt, for example straw, and then in a second phase, the previously cleaned feet or hooves are treated with a disinfectant by wetting or spraying.

Abstract: A composition and process for protection against infection wherein the composition containsa) 10 to 100 g/l of polyvinyl alcohol polymers or copolymers having molecular weights from 18,000 to 200,000 as the film forming component,b) 0.2 to 3 g/l of iodine in the form of polyvinyl pyrrolidone iodine and/or 5 to 50 g/l of chlorhexidine as the disinfecting agent, andc) 2 to 50 g/l of ether carboxylic acids corresponding to formula R--(OC.sub.2 H.sub.4).sub.n --OCH.sub.2 --COOH, where R is an alkyl group containing 4 to 10 carbon atoms and n is a number of 2 to 8.