Final answer:
Pre-dipping with an effective germicide is especially useful for controlling contagious mastitis pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus by preventing their transmission during milking processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pre-dipping with an effective germicide should help most with the contagious pathogens group of mastitis pathogens. Contagious pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, which can be spread from cow to cow during milking, are typically targeted by pre-dipping procedures. Pre-dipping is a critical step in preventing the transmission of these pathogens and thus reducing the incidence of mastitis within a herd. This procedure is less effective against environmental pathogens, Gram-negative pathogens, and Mycoplasma species, which require different control strategies.