Sheep Welfare and Lameness Management

Lameness is the most common and costly health and welfare problem in sheep farming, with footrot and scald causing significant pain and production losses globally.

Key Facts

An estimated 10% of UK sheep are lame at any given time, with prevalence higher in some regions and seasons
Footrot (Dichelobacter nodosus infection) causes severe lameness with a characteristic foul odour
Foot scald (Fusobacterium necrophorum) is the most common cause of lameness in UK sheep
Lame sheep show reduced feeding behaviour, weight loss, and changes in movement indicating pain
The AHDB Five Point Plan provides a framework for reducing sheep flock lameness below 2%
Early treatment within 3 days of first lameness sign significantly improves recovery compared to delayed treatment

Welfare Considerations

Sheep lameness represents one of the largest single sources of preventable suffering in UK livestock production. The chronic nature of untreated lameness causes prolonged pain and secondary welfare consequences including poor body condition and social disadvantage within the flock. Evidence-based lameness management including early identification, prompt treatment, and breeding for resistance is both a welfare and commercial imperative.

What You Can Do

Support farm assurance schemes that require lameness monitoring and treatment protocols
Advocate for lameness to be a mandatory welfare outcome measure on all sheep farms
Choose lamb and mutton from farms with documented low lameness prevalence
Support research into sheep footrot vaccines and resistance breeding
Encourage farmers to adopt the AHDB Five Point Plan for lameness management