Farm Animals

Sheep Welfare and Footrot Control 2026

Footrot remains the leading cause of sheep lameness globally, with 2026 bringing improved vaccination and biosecurity protocols.

Key Facts

Footrot caused by Dichelobacter nodosus affects up to 10% of UK sheep flocks annually
Clinical footrot causes severe lameness with welfare scores of 3-4 on a 5-point scale
Five-day antibiotic treatment achieves 90% cure rates when combined with foot trimming
Footvax vaccination provides 6-month protection against virulent footrot strains
Biosecurity including quarantine of incoming sheep prevents new strain introduction

Welfare Considerations

Footrot causes severe, prolonged pain that is entirely preventable with vaccination and biosecurity. Eliminating footrot from flocks is one of the highest-impact sheep welfare interventions.

What You Can Do

Advocate for footrot elimination programs in sheep welfare certification
Support vaccination and biosecurity training for sheep farmers
Choose lamb from flocks with documented footrot control programs