Clinical Forum Understanding lameness in sheep: Managements for today

Farmers can recognise even mildly lame sheep and are reasonably accurate at estimating the prevalence of lameness in their flocks but make a separate decision on whether to treat lame sheep. Those who are treating individual lame sheep promptly and appropriately have a median prevalence of lameness of <5% compared with 15% in farmers who are not treating individual sheep: the former management increases income by approximately £6 per ewe put to the ram. Footrot, presenting as interdigital dermatitis (ID) and footrot with under running are both caused by Dichelobacter nodosus and are the commonest cause of lameness in sheep in the UK, causing approximately 90% of lameness and affecting approximately 3 million sheep (ewes and lambs) per year. Sheep left lame with footrot lose weight and are less productive. If treated with injectable and topical antibacterials they recover from lameness and lesions in a few days. If left untreated, or foot trimmed rather than treated with antibacterials, lame sheep are more likely to develop poor foot conformation and are more susceptible to further episodes of lameness.