Farm Animals

Lameness in Sheep: Scale and Solutions

Lameness is the most common health and welfare problem in sheep, affecting up to 10% of UK sheep at any time and causing chronic pain.

Key Facts

Footrot and CODD (contagious ovine digital dermatitis) are the leading causes of sheep lameness
The UK sheep industry loses over 80 million pounds annually to lameness
A single lame sheep receives inadequate pain relief in the majority of cases in UK surveys
Five-point lameness prevention plans reduce incidence by up to 75%
Sheep stoically mask pain and continue grazing until lameness is severe

Welfare Considerations

Lame sheep experience chronic pain that affects movement, feeding, and social behaviour. Pain suppression through stoicism means many affected animals are not identified until severely affected. Treatment is often delayed because examining individual sheep in large flocks is labour intensive. Untreated lameness causes muscle wasting, reduced nutrition, and compromised immunity. The cumulative welfare burden across the UK sheep population is substantial.

What You Can Do

Support welfare schemes that require regular lameness monitoring in sheep flocks
Advocate for mandatory pain relief provision for all sheep lameness treatment
Back veterinary training programmes in sheep lameness prevention
Choose lamb and wool products from welfare-certified farms
Support the five-point lameness prevention plan advocacy work