Footrot (foul-of-the-foot) is a common bacterial infection causing severe lameness in cattle. Prompt detection and treatment are essential for welfare and recovery.
Footrot causes acute, severe pain in affected cattle. The rapidly developing infection and tissue necrosis creates intense lameness that prevents normal walking, feeding, and social behavior. Cattle stoically continue to bear weight on painful feet, which can worsen the condition if untreated. Delayed treatment is a welfare failure — footrot that should resolve with 3-5 days of antibiotic treatment becomes a chronic, potentially career-ending condition when neglected. On farms where daily checks are infrequent, cattle with footrot may suffer for days before detection. Implementing twice-daily or more frequent lameness checks in high-risk periods, combined with immediate treatment and adequate pain relief (NSAIDs), is the welfare-responsible approach.