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

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.