Lameness is one of the most significant welfare challenges in sheep farming, causing chronic pain and reducing productivity. Understanding footrot and other causes of lameness is critical to prevention.
Lameness in sheep causes significant and often chronic pain that profoundly impacts quality of life. Sheep are prey animals that hide pain, making early detection difficult. Stockperson training in locomotion scoring is essential - farmers who can identify subtle gait changes catch cases early. The Five Domains model highlights that lameness impacts not just physical health but also behavior, mental state, and social interactions as lame sheep struggle to compete for food and companionship.