Lameness is the most significant welfare problem in sheep globally, with footrot being the most prevalent infectious cause requiring systematic herd management.
Sheep lameness causes chronic pain that is visible in multiple ways: affected animals kneel to graze, reluctantly bear weight, lose body condition, and show reduced social activity. Research consistently shows that lame sheep have measurably elevated cortisol, reduced feed intake, and impaired reproductive performance. Despite clear evidence of suffering, sheep lameness is frequently undertreated due to the difficulty of handling individual animals in large flocks. The AHDB Five-Point Plan provides a practical evidence-based framework: identify and treat early, use footbathing programs, vaccinate, select for resistance, and cull persistently affected animals. Implementing this plan reduces lameness prevalence and the associated welfare burden substantially.