Footrot is among the most painful and economically damaging conditions in sheep farming. Evidence-based prevention and treatment dramatically reduce suffering across flocks worldwide.
Footrot causes suffering on an enormous scale in sheep farming — millions of sheep experience chronic lameness pain at any given time globally, much of it from footrot that is preventable or treatable but goes unaddressed due to labour constraints, detection difficulty, or cultural acceptance of lameness as normal. The pain is not trivial: footrot involves destruction of the soft tissue between the digits and, untreated, can cause permanent structural damage. The welfare imperative is clear: effective prevention through vaccination and footbathing, early detection through regular welfare checks, and prompt treatment with appropriate antibiotics are all achievable with available tools. The barrier is implementation, not knowledge.