Sheep Lameness: Pain Management and Flock Welfare

Lameness is the most common welfare problem in sheep, causing chronic pain - systematic foot scoring, treatment protocols, and breeding reduce its prevalence significantly.

Key Facts

Footrot, caused by Dichelobacter nodosus, is the most common cause of lameness in UK sheep
Contagious ovine digital dermatitis (CODD) is an emerging and particularly painful lameness cause
Sheep with lameness score 3 or above show clear signs of chronic pain including posture changes
Vaccination against footrot, combined with foot bathing, can reduce lameness by over 90% in some flocks
Breeding for foot health - selecting rams with good feet - shows genetic progress within 3-5 years

Welfare Considerations

Sheep lameness is a welfare crisis in many flocks, with prevalences of 10-15% common in poorly managed herds. Each lame sheep experiences chronic pain that affects feeding, social interaction, and reproductive performance. The welfare-positive response combines rapid identification using flock foot scoring, prompt treatment with antibiotic spray or foot bathing, and strategic culling of chronic cases. Long-term, breeding for foot health is the most sustainable welfare improvement.

What You Can Do

Support sheep producers who implement regular foot scoring and prompt treatment
Advocate for lameness prevalence to be included in sheep welfare audits
Choose lamb from producers with low lameness rates in their welfare data
Learn about footrot vaccination programmes and their welfare benefits