Antibiotic-free treatment of foot lesions in dairy goats

Objectives

Lameness in dairy goats is not as highly researched as in dairy cows or sheep, so information is often extrapolated from other species. Certain parallels can be drawn but there are differences in housing system, nutrition and foot anatomy (Groenevelt, 2017). Data that is published shows a big impact on welfare and production, including a decreased milk production (Christodoulopoulos et al., 2009). High within farm prevalence’s, up to 67%, have been reported (Groenevelt et al., 2015; Sullivan et al., 2015).

As effective treatment alternatives are lacking, antibiotics are still commonly used for individual treatment. Chelated copper and zinc are proven alternatives for antibiotic spray in the treatment of Digital Dermatitis in dairy cows (Holzhauer et al., 2011; Dotinga et al., 2017). The goal of this study is to investigate whether a non-antibiotic spray results in comparable cure than antibiotic spray for foot lesions in dairy goats.

Materials and methods

This non-inferiority trial was performed at the Dutch goat innovation centre (GIJS Mekkerhof BV). The non-antibiotic spray containing copper and zinc chelates (Intra Epidine) is referred to as IE. The positive control was antibiotic spray (Engemycine Spray) and is referred to as OTC. Lame goats were selected, trimmed and scored according to the scoring system as developed by Stewart and Claxton (1993) for footrot in sheep, which divides lesions into scores 0 (healthy foot) to 5 (most severe stage). Lame goats who were scored as 0 were not included in the trial. [...]