Hoof Infection -Trials Evidence

The trial was run in a feedlot near the town of CINEY, Belgium where 950-1000 white-blue Belgian bull-calves are kept permanently for fattening and where at least 2 cases of hoof infections, due to Staphylococcus aureus, are detected each day. The white-blue Belgian breed is more susceptible to hoof infections (foot-rot) than other breeds, especially when their weight is over 500 kg. Staphylococcus aureus is resistant to many antibiotics and the bedding serves as a source of infection.

TRIAL SET-UP
A free stalling cattle farm was chosen for this trial. Ten bull-calves were placed in 45 m2 boxes with concrete floor. Wheat straw was used as bedding and the manure was kept in the bedding during the whole fattening period of 5 to 6 months.

The number of bull-calves in the control boxes were equal to those in the experimental boxes, 300 animals in each group, 10 animals per box, for a total of 60 boxes in two buildings located parallel to each other. The control and experimental boxes were alternated, a control box…., then an experimental box…, then a control box and so on. The bull-calves for this trial were received over a period of 6 weeks.

PREPARING THE FARM BUILDING
Prior to the start of this trial and after animals were sent to slaughter, the floor of all empty boxes were cleaned the day after and thoroughly washed with water containing sodium hypo chlorite and kept empty for 8 days.

The floors of control boxes were treated with lime, 500 grams/m2, and sprayed with water 48 hrs later to reduce overheating and then covered with straw, 5 kg/m2.

The floors of the experimental boxes were treated with COBIOTEX 210 at 50 gr./m2, then straw at 5 kg/m2 was added on the floors. COBIOTEX 210 at 50 gr./m2 was spread on top of the newly placed straw. Straw was added twice a week at 1kg/m2, thereafter. After the arrival of bull-calves, the experimental boxes received COBIOTEX 210 at 20gr./m2, once a week.

None of the bull-calves both in the control and in the experimental boxes had any hoof infections at the start of this trial.

Three months after the start of the trial, the calves in 5 untreated boxes with most frequent hoof infections, due to Staphylococcus aureus, were switched over to 5 adjacent boxes treated with COBIOTEX 210 and the calves from these 5 COBIOTEX 210 treated boxes were transferred to the same 5 boxes where the bedding did not receive COBIOTEX 210 treatment. The infections in all these 10 boxes were recorded over a period of 8 to12 weeks, depending on the removal of animals for slaughter.

RESULTS
Table I shows the incidence of hoof infections over the trial period with a peak of infections at 60-75 days in the non treated boxes. Among the 300 animals in these non-treated boxes, 87 infections were observed and required antibiotic treatments (local and injection). Even after treatment, there were recurrent infections on the same hoof in 8 of these animals and on other hoofs in 3 other animals. In the COBIOTEX 210 treated boxes, there were only 7 cases of infection, 3 during the first 45 days and 4, between 75-105 days. These 4 infections occured in boxes that received animals from non-treated boxes.

Table II shows only 4 hoof infections and those only during the first 15 days after transfer of animals from non-treated boxes to COBIOTEX 210 treated boxes, indicating that the infection was carried over from the bedding of non-treated boxes. There were repeated incidences of hoof infections (10 cases), in the animals coming from COBIOTEX 210 treated boxes but placed in non-treated boxes.

Table III shows that bacteriological examinations of samples from non-treated beddings revealed the presence of Staphylococcus aureus in 28 out of the 30 non-treated boxes in this trial. The increase in the number of useful Bacillus and Lactobacillus in the bedding of treated boxes is due to COBIOTEX 210 treatment. No Staphylococcus aureus was detected in COBIOTEX 210 treated beddings, including the 5 boxes that received animals from non-treated boxes.

CONCLUSION
This trial confirms the efficacy of COBIOTEX 210 in controlling bacterial infections, especially Staphylococcus aureus in the bedding that is the primary cause of hoof infections in cattle. These field results are in conformity with in-vitro test results with Lactobacillus and Bacillus proprietary strain combinations of COBIOTEX against Staphylococcus aureus.

* 300 animals in 30 boxes, 10 animals per box, in each group.
Cobiotex December 11, 2001

* 50 animals in 5 boxes, 10 animals per box, in each group.

Cobiotex December 11, 2001

Cobiotex December 11, 2001

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