Lameness in sheep is one of the most significant and common welfare problems in UK flocks. Accurate assessment, prompt treatment, and preventive management are the foundations of welfare-positive lameness control.
Sheep lameness welfare requires attention to both treatment protocols and prevention. A lame sheep experiencing footrot is in significant pain - the suppurative, necrotic infection between the toes causes severe discomfort that affects behavior, body condition, and reproductive performance. The welfare cost is compounded when treatment is delayed: chronic footrot causes permanent hoof damage and requires much longer recovery. The Five Point Plan provides a framework for systematic lameness reduction that benefits both welfare and production. Farmer training in lameness recognition and treatment technique, combined with appropriate antibiotic protocols, is the most effective welfare intervention at flock level.