Footrot is one of the most painful and welfare-significant diseases in sheep farming. Effective prevention and treatment reduces suffering and economic loss simultaneously.
Footrot causes severe, chronic pain that profoundly affects sheep welfare. Lame sheep graze less, fall in body condition and are displaced from resources by healthy flock members. The economic costs of footrot — reduced growth, treatment and culling — create strong farmer incentives aligned with welfare improvement. Early detection through regular mob inspection, prompt treatment, segregation of affected animals and vaccination are core components of effective control. Lameness scoring tools allow systematic welfare monitoring across flocks. Farmers who manage footrot proactively demonstrate that animal welfare and economic productivity are aligned rather than competing objectives.