Nonantibiotic Alternatives for Mastitis in Small Ruminants: A Scoping Review of Evidence, Gaps, and Translational Challenges.

Small-ruminant mastitis is a marginalized yet significant challenge with multifaceted impacts on dairy production, animal welfare, economic sustainability, and public health. Reliance on conventional antibiotics to tackle the disease raises concerns about antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and food safety, especially amid the globally rising demand for small-ruminant dairy products. Nevertheless, existing research on nonantibiotic alternatives for mastitis in sheep and goats remains poorly synthesized. To consolidate the emerging alternatives and evidence gaps, this review systematically identified relevant peer-reviewed publications from January 2015 to October 2025. Fifteen out of the 963 records yielded were eligible. Eligible studies originated from nine countries across three continents, with notable absences in regions where small-ruminant production coexists with high mastitis burden. Mastitis was studied under either naturally occurring or experimentally induced conditions. Staphylococcus aureus dominated experimental challenge models, whereas non-aureus staphylococci were more epidemiologically relevant but less represented. A total of 20 nonantibiotic alternatives were identified across the studies, comprising phytochemicals (70%), probiotics (15%), and immunostimulants (5%). Despite their demonstrated potential to reduce antibiotic use in mastitis management, their translational relevance is constrained by factors including predominance of in vitro studies, limited pathogen identification in vivo, infrequent safety assessments, and limited benchmarking against standard-of-care antibiotics. Overall, the current evidence base is fragmentary but nevertheless promising. We believe that integrating strategies including standardizing research design, extending research and funding into underrepresented regions, prioritizing high-powered pathogen-aligned in vivo studies, and incorporating antibiotic comparators and safety evaluations will advance research toward developing sustainable, context-specific nonantibiotic alternatives to promote antimicrobial stewardship in the management of mastitis in small ruminants.