Sheep Contagious Ovine Digital Dermatitis: Welfare and Control

Contagious ovine digital dermatitis (CODD) is a severe bacterial foot disease of sheep causing significant pain, lameness, and hoof loss, requiring prompt diagnosis and flock-level control programmes.

Key Facts

CODD is caused by treponeme bacteria similar to those causing bovine digital dermatitis in cattle.
It is highly contagious and can spread rapidly through naive flocks, with prevalence exceeding 50% in some outbreaks.
CODD typically begins at the coronary band and progresses to separate the entire hoof horn from the foot.
Affected sheep are severely lame and show reluctance to bear weight, significant welfare impairment.
Antibiotic foot sprays containing oxytetracycline are the primary treatment, with early cases responding well.
Prevention requires strict biosecurity when introducing new animals, as the disease is introduced through carrier sheep.
Footbathing, regular inspection, and prompt isolation of lame sheep are cornerstones of control.

Welfare Considerations

CODD causes some of the most severe lameness seen in sheep, with pain scores comparable to acute fractures in pain behaviour studies. The condition progresses rapidly if untreated, and affected sheep often stop feeding, lose body condition, and suffer systemic effects from chronic pain. Flock-level control requires commitment to regular lameness scoring, prompt treatment of early cases, and strict quarantine of purchased animals. Farmers should not wait for obvious severe lameness before investigating foot disease — early intervention dramatically improves welfare and treatment success.

What You Can Do

Support sheep farmers who conduct regular lameness scoring and treat lame animals within 48 hours.
Advocate for biosecurity requirements when purchasing sheep to prevent introduction of CODD.
Choose lamb and wool products from farms with documented lameness management protocols.
Support research into CODD vaccines and improved diagnostic tools for rapid on-farm detection.