Sheep Footrot and Foot Care Welfare

Footrot is one of the most painful and prevalent lameness conditions in sheep; effective prevention and treatment programmes dramatically reduce the suffering of millions of sheep annually.

Key Facts

Footrot affects 10-15% of UK sheep at any one time and is the primary lameness cause
The condition is caused by bacterial infection causing progressive tissue destruction
Vaccination against footrot is 80-95% effective in reducing flock prevalence
Lame sheep have reduced grazing efficiency and show postural pain indicators

Welfare Considerations

Footrot causes intense pain from tissue destruction and inflammation in the hoof; affected sheep show obvious lameness and reluctance to weight-bear. The chronic nature of untreated footrot — persisting for weeks or months — and its high prevalence mean that lameness from footrot imposes a substantial aggregate welfare burden in UK sheep flocks. Effective vaccination programmes, prompt isolation and treatment of affected animals, and good foot management provide a comprehensive preventive approach.

What You Can Do

Support producers with documented footrot vaccination and treatment programmes
Advocate for lameness monitoring and recording as mandatory welfare indicators in sheep assurance schemes
Choose wool and lamb products from farms with evidence-based lameness management