Foot rot is one of the most painful and common conditions affecting sheep globally. Effective prevention and prompt treatment are essential welfare priorities for sheep farmers.
Foot rot causes intense, continuous pain and dramatically reduces a sheep's ability to graze and move. An affected ewe with young lambs will lose condition rapidly due to the inability to compete at pasture, affecting both her welfare and her lambs' nutrition. The condition is preventable through vaccination, careful biosecurity to prevent introduction of virulent strains, appropriate stocking density, and regular foot bathing. Treatment (antibiotic injection and topical treatment) is effective when applied promptly. The welfare imperative is to prevent the weeks of unnecessary pain that occur in flocks without active foot rot management programs.