Footrot is the most common infectious cause of lameness in sheep and causes significant pain in millions of animals annually.
Sheep with footrot experience acute pain from the bacterial destruction of hoof tissue and surrounding soft tissue. The condition is highly contagious and can spread through an entire flock within weeks. Affected sheep spend more time lying down, eat less, lose body condition, and have reduced productivity. Lameness from footrot is one of the most commonly cited animal welfare problems in the UK sheep industry and is largely preventable through vaccination and management.