Foot rot is a painful bacterial infection of sheep hooves causing severe lameness and significant welfare harm that is largely preventable through management and vaccination.
Foot rot causes intense, acute pain that leaves sheep unable to walk normally for weeks without treatment. The sight of sheep kneeling to graze — because standing on infected hooves is too painful — is a clear signal of significant welfare compromise. The infection destroys hoof tissue progressively, and untreated cases can result in permanent deformity. The welfare tragedy is compounded by how preventable the condition is: effective vaccines, prompt treatment of early cases, and biosecurity measures can dramatically reduce foot rot prevalence. Farms with high foot rot rates are failing a basic welfare obligation to their animals.