Foot rot is one of the most painful and economically costly diseases in sheep, yet it is largely preventable through good flock management and biosecurity.
Foot rot causes intense pain that profoundly impairs sheep welfare. Affected animals are severely lame - often kneeling to graze because they cannot bear weight on affected feet - and the characteristic foul smell indicates active tissue destruction. The chronic pain reduces grazing time, causes significant weight loss, and in ewes reduces milk production for lambs. The welfare impact extends beyond individual animals: lame sheep are more vulnerable to predation, have difficulty competing for feed in group housing, and have reduced reproductive performance. The disease is largely preventable through biosecurity measures preventing introduction into clean flocks and regular management practices including foot bathing. Once established in a flock, eradication requires committed, coordinated management over an extended period.