Footrot is a major cause of lameness and suffering in sheep globally. The disease is controllable and in some regions eradicable, making it a priority welfare target for sheep farmers.
Footrot causes significant acute pain that affects sheep ability to graze, compete for resources, and maintain body condition. Severely lame sheep deteriorate rapidly, particularly in poor weather. The cumulative welfare cost of footrot across a flock is substantial. Eradication programmes that eliminate the pathogen from the flock offer permanent welfare improvement rather than the ongoing management required by endemic disease.