Footrot is one of the most painful and prevalent welfare conditions in sheep globally, and effective management requires prompt diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and preventive biosecurity.
Footrot causes prolonged, often severe pain that significantly impairs the quality of life of affected sheep. The condition is preventable and treatable, yet high prevalence persists across sheep farming globally because of delayed detection, inadequate treatment, and poor biosecurity. Prompt treatment within three days of first lameness detection is associated with much better recovery rates than delayed treatment. Vaccination combined with biosecurity measures — including footbathing, cull of chronically affected animals, and quarantine of purchased sheep — can effectively control footrot at flock level. Regular flock lameness scoring is essential for early detection.