Efficacy of quaternary ammonium salt-based disinfectant or chelated copper-zinc footbath solution in the treatment of digital dermatitis on one research dairy farm in Taiwan.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Footbaths can be used to manage digital dermatitis (DD), a common cause of lameness in dairy cattle. Copper sulfate and chelated copper-zinc (CZS) solutions in footbaths are potentially harmful to the environment. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To determine if a quaternary ammonium salt-based disinfectant (QASD) footbath is as effective as a chelated CZS solution in controlling DD in dairy cows. ANIMALS: Fifty-one lactating Holstein cows were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups, with DD status based on the M-stage scoring system and locomotion score balanced between treatment groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The groups were treated with a 1% QASD or a 2.5% chelated CZS. Footbaths were performed once per week for 15&#x2009;weeks. Logistic regression was used to analyse clinical improvement. All cows received appropriate medical treatment for DD and other hoof diseases. RESULTS: Clinical improvement rates were 67% in the QASD group and 38% in the CZS group (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.03). Logistic regression analysis showed that the odds (95% confidence interval) for clinical improvement rate in the CZS group were 0.30 (0.095-0.948) times that of the QASD group (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.04). The M0 score in the QASD and CZS groups increased significantly (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05) at the end of the 15&#x2009;week study period. In the QASD group, the proportion of M2, M3 and M4 scores were significantly decreased (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Over a 15&#x2009;week period, QASD for footbathing was associated with a lower prevalence of active DD lesions than when using CZS.