a protective aqueous antimicrobial film forming composition that can be applied to dairy animals to form a protective film . the film can be used to reduce the incidence of both contagious and environmental mastitis in dairy herds and can be formed from an aqueous composition that can contain a nonionic iodine complex , a polyvinyl alcohol composition , having a degree of hydrolysis greater than 92 %, preferably greater than 98 %, and a thickener . the aqueous mixture can be applied to udder and teats of dairy herds to form a protective coating that can prevent infection from staphlococcus , streptococcus , klebsiella and other pathogens . the film can be removed using water in a convenient short period of time permitting efficient milking operations . after milking , the composition can be reapplied to the herd and can protect the herd from mastitis until the herd is again milked . the material of the invention has the property that after application and drying both films and plugs of the protective coating is softened and removed even in cold water in a convenient time frame .