Sheep Footrot Prevention and Treatment Welfare

Footrot caused by Dichelobacter nodosus is a highly contagious, painful lameness condition affecting sheep globally. Eradication is achievable through rigorous footbathing, vaccination, and culling of persistently infected individuals.

Key Facts

Footrot is the leading cause of lameness in sheep in the UK, New Zealand, and Australia, affecting up to 10 per cent of flocks annually
Dichelobacter nodosus spreads through moist soil and survives in the environment for up to two weeks
Clinical signs range from mild interdigital dermatitis to severe underrunning of the hoof horn causing extreme lameness
Zinc sulphate footbathing at 10 per cent concentration for at least one minute per animal significantly reduces bacterial load and spread
Vaccination with multivalent Footvax provides 90 per cent reduction in incidence in vaccinated flocks when combined with good foot management

Welfare Considerations

Sheep with severe footrot experience continuous pain during standing and movement, leading to weight loss, poor body condition, and compromised reproductive performance. Animals with untreated footrot adopt a characteristic kneeling posture to shift weight from painful feet, causing carpal abrasions over time. Welfare-centred flocks implement a written footrot management plan, perform fortnightly footbathing during risk periods, score lameness on every animal at routine handling, and treat or cull persistently infected carriers. Early treatment with intramuscular oxytetracycline combined with topical antibiotic gives the best clinical resolution.

What You Can Do

Score all sheep for lameness during every routine handling event and treat all grade 2 or higher immediately
Implement a regular footbathing programme using zinc sulphate during wet months with correct concentration and contact time
Vaccinate flocks in areas with persistent footrot problems using the full multi-valent vaccine schedule
Quarantine and foot-check all incoming sheep before mixing with the resident flock to prevent introduction of new strains
Work with your vet to develop a written eradication plan if footrot incidence exceeds five per cent of the flock