Sheep Lameness Prevention: Footrot, Scald, and CODD Management

Lameness is one of the most prevalent welfare problems in sheep flocks worldwide. Effective footrot and CODD management programs can dramatically reduce the burden of pain across sheep populations.

Key Facts

Lameness affects an estimated 10% of UK sheep at any one time, making it the most common welfare problem in the species
Footrot (Dichelobacter nodosus) causes severe lameness and significant pain - lame sheep spend less time grazing and lose condition rapidly
Contagious Ovine Digital Dermatitis (CODD) has emerged as a highly contagious and severe lameness condition in the UK since the 1990s
Vaccination against footrot is available and effective at reducing prevalence in endemically affected flocks
The Five Point Plan for sheep lameness (AHDB) provides a framework: inspect, avoid introduction, treat promptly, cull chronic cases, vaccinate
Prompt treatment within 3 days of lameness onset produces significantly better outcomes than delayed treatment
Lame sheep have elevated cortisol and pain indicators that normalize with effective treatment

Welfare Considerations

Sheep lameness is a welfare emergency at the population level: millions of sheep in the UK alone experience significant chronic pain from preventable lameness conditions. The Five Point Plan framework has been transformative in providing farmers with a clear, evidence-based approach that is both welfare- and economically-effective. The most important welfare behavior change is prompt treatment: farmers who wait to see if a lame sheep 'walks it off' allow needless pain to continue and reduce treatment effectiveness. Equally important is the shift from viewing lameness as an inevitable part of sheep farming to viewing it as a manageable welfare problem. Flocks with strong lameness management programs routinely achieve prevalence below 2% - demonstrating that high prevalence reflects practice gaps, not biological inevitability.

What You Can Do

Implement the Five Point Plan for sheep lameness management in your flock with veterinary guidance
Treat lame sheep within 3 days of first identification - prompt treatment prevents deterioration and reduces pain duration
Vaccinate against footrot in endemically affected flocks as part of a prevention program
Cull chronic lame sheep that do not respond to treatment rather than allowing ongoing suffering
Record lameness incidence to track progress and identify patterns that inform management changes