Farm Animal Welfare

Sheep Footrot Vaccine and Prevention

Vaccination against footrot combined with management practices provides the most effective approach to reducing lameness in sheep flocks.

Key Facts

The Footvax vaccine protects against Dichelobacter nodosus serotypes present in the flock
Serotype matching is important for vaccine efficacy - wrong serotype provides limited protection
Annual vaccination combined with footbathing reduces flock footrot prevalence significantly
Eradicating footrot from a flock requires intensive management and may not be achievable
Prevention prevents the welfare harm of painful lameness rather than treating established disease

Welfare Considerations

Footrot causes chronic lameness that affects grazing, social position, and overall welfare. Vaccination is a highly effective welfare intervention that prevents suffering rather than treating it after it develops. Prevention-focused approaches consistently deliver better welfare outcomes.

What You Can Do

Work with your vet to identify footrot serotypes present before vaccination
Implement annual vaccination programs for flocks with endemic footrot
Combine vaccination with footbathing and prompt treatment for comprehensive control