Bovine digital dermatitis: Trick or treat

Objectives

Investigate the efficacy of an enzymatic alginogel (alginogel) on M1, M2, and M4.1 (active) lesions of digital dermatitis (DD), compared with a gel containing copper and zinc chelates (coppergel), using (1) the M-score and (2) wound healing progress as outcome.

Material and methods

The hind feet of 543 cows from 7 different Dutch dairy farms were foot trimmed and M-scored. Feet with active lesions were included in the study. Feet were alternately allocated to the alginogel or coppergel treatment group and photographed, treated and bandaged on day 0 and 3. On day 7, lesions were photographed and received a third treatment and bandage if the lesion was still an open wound. All treated lesions were photographed for evaluation on day 10, which was considered the end of the treatment period.

M-score improvement of DD lesions was defined as lesions that transitioned between day 0 and day 10 from M1 lesions to M0, M3, or M4; or M2 lesions that transitioned to M0, M1, M3, M4, or M4.1; or M4.1 lesions that transitioned to M0, M1, M3, or M4. [...]