Field evaluation of ‘Defeat’ a commercial preparation based on copper 8-hydroxyquinolate, for the control of ovine footrot

Abstract

Extract

Sir: — In early 1984, a new footbathing chemical named ‘Defeat’ (F.I.L. Industries Ltd, P.O. Box 4114, Mt Maunganui) became commercially available in New Zealand for controlling footrot in sheep. Described as both a footrot treatment and preventative, and having a rapid effect against footrot bacteria in sheep, the product is sold for use either as a footbathing preparation, or in conjuction with a portable foam pad that can be saturated with the solution and placed in yards or raceways for sheep to walk over. It is distributed in various pack sizes as a liquid water-soluble concentrate to be diluted 1:100 for footbath and foam pad applications, or 1:50 for direct application to the pared feet of sheep affected with footrot. No recommendations appear on the labels of the packs on the frequency or duration of footbathing treatments required to achieve statisfactory results. A claim that ‘Defeat’ kills the bacteria which cause footrot within 10 seconds of contact features in a promotional brochure issued with the product, this evidently being a reference to results of unspecified in vitro tests