Studies on the use of Blu-Gard Spray ® in dairy sheep

Abstract

The influence of Blu-Gard Spray ® on udder health was examined in a field study comprising of five lactating Austrian sheep flocks between December 2001 and May 2002. At the first visit the ewes were assigned; based on a random number list into a test group (TG) that was treated with the teat dip after the samples were taken and into a control group (CG) that did not take part in any udder hygiene programme. On monthly visits a total of 1245 milk samples were taken from 127 sheep in the control group and a total of 1215 samples of 128 sheep in the test group. The animals were clinically examined in the milking parlour (inspection and palpation) and milk samples were taken for the indirect (California Mastitis Test; CMT) and direct (Fossomatic) determination of somatic cell count (SCC), as well as for the bacteriological examination. There was an increase of pathological findings in inspection in both groups (TG: +3.6%; CG: +1.7%). The results of the palpation showed an increase of pathological findings by 0.8% in the test group, whereas the control group remained constant. Both the CMT and the direct SCC increased towards the end of the study. 93.6% of the bacteriological positive cases in the test group were coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CNS), 5.1% belonged to the group of streptococci and 1.3% of the infections were caused by Staphylococcus aureus. In the control group, 88.6% of the infections were caused by coagulase-negative Staphylococci. 5.4% belonged to the group of streptococci and in 2.4% of the cases S. aureus could be identified. In the test group, new infections with CNS appeared in one sheep in both udder halves, while in the control group one new infection of an udder half with CNS was observed. Since teat dips are used to reduce the rate of new infections and hardly any new infections occurred in this study, the use of Blu-Gard Spray ® did not show the same effect as it does in cattle. The product was easy to use and was gentle on the teat skin.