Lameness affects a substantial proportion of farmed sheep and causes significant chronic pain. Improved prevention, detection, and treatment is one of the most impactful sheep welfare interventions.
Sheep lameness represents one of the most significant welfare problems in sheep farming globally. Affected animals endure chronic pain that compromises every aspect of their lives including feeding, reproduction, and social interaction. The scale is enormous, with millions of sheep affected at any time. Detection is challenging because sheep are prey animals that mask pain signs. Training farmers in lameness scoring and providing clear treatment protocols improves outcomes. Preventive measures including vaccination, foot bathing, and genetic selection for foot health address the problem at the population level. Zero-lameness targets are achievable in well-managed flocks.