Lameness in sheep has multiple causes beyond footrot including CODD, shelly hoof, and white line disease; accurate diagnosis is essential for effective and welfare-appropriate treatment.
Sheep lameness management requires accurate diagnosis that distinguishes between conditions with different causes, presentations, and treatments. Treating CODD with the footrot protocol or vice versa not only fails to resolve the welfare problem but may worsen it and contributes to antibiotic resistance. Welfare-conscious lameness management includes individual examination and diagnosis, appropriate targeted treatment, isolation of affected animals, and monitoring of treatment response — a more demanding approach than whole-flock intervention but one that achieves better welfare outcomes.