Footrot causes severe lameness in sheep, significantly compromising welfare through chronic pain and reduced mobility, yet it is largely preventable through appropriate management.
Footrot causes some of the most intense chronic pain experienced by farmed animals. Sheep are prey species that mask pain behaviorally, but the welfare impact of severe footrot is detectable through kneeling to graze, reduced movement, weight loss, and reduced social interaction. Lame sheep have difficulty competing for food and water, creating secondary welfare problems through malnutrition. The condition is highly preventable through vaccination programs and appropriate management, making its persistence on farms a welfare failure that could be avoided. Treatment with antibiotics and supportive care resolves most cases when applied promptly, but delays in recognition and treatment are common due to inadequate monitoring.