Download Break free from the pain of footrot

Break free from the pain of footrot
Sheep farmers can break free from the physical and financial effects of the footrot
cycle by implementing a whole-flock vaccination programme.
Footrot is the most common cause of lameness amongst sheep and is one of the most
important health and welfare issues facing British sheep farmers. The disease, which can
result in reduced mobility, impaired fertility and reduced growth rates in lambs, is caused by
two different bacterial infections: Fusobacterium necrophorum, which infects the hoof space,
and Dichelobacter nodosus, which causes subsequent infection in the foot itself.
Once footrot enters the flock, both animals and financial margins are likely to suffer. This is
because sheep will lose body condition and rams can fail to perform properly. These factors
subsequently result in lower lambing percentages and higher mortality rates in lambs, which
will generally be much smaller at birth due to their mother’s suffering.
Ultimately, farm profits will be hit, not only by the loss of lambs and lower finishing weights,
but also because of the additional costs associated with treating diseased animals. These
costs include the administration of antibiotics and the time consuming process of walking
sheep through expensive footbath products.
However, Footvax – the only footrot vaccine that is currently licensed in the UK – can help to
prevent the onset of footrot within the flock. The vaccine can be used at any time of the year
and provides effective treatment and protection against the 10 strains of bacteria that cause
the disease.
Footrot is mainly spread from sheep to sheep and it is therefore good practice to vaccinate
the whole flock before footrot levels increase. This allows sheep to build up an immunity to
the bacteria that cause infection.
There is a popular misconception that vaccination against footrot should only take place
during periods of dry weather. In reality, however, the vaccine can be used to provide
effective treatment and protection at any time of the year to tie in with disease problem
periods. It therefore makes sense to take action as soon as possible in order to reduce
lameness and improve animal welfare. Prompt action will also reduce the financial
implications of the disease, as well as the time and labour inputs associated with treating
lame animals.