It has been a mixed September but mostly dry in Wicklow with lower incidences of sheep lameness in our practice. However this still is, and will be, a huge issue in the forthcoming months. I have noticed a big increase in the incidences of footrot over the last two years. At pasture, scald seems to be more of a concern. However, we often see cases of scald turning into footrot. In my opinion, scald at pasture can be managed well by regular footbathing. I am a big fan of regular Zinc Sulphate footbathing in the summer.

Foot rot

For foot rot, it seems footbathing alone is insufficient to control it. There also seems to be a resistance developing to some of the injectable antibiotics we are using to control affected animals. We can’t continue to use antibiotics alone as the mainstay in controlling foot rot; it is simply unsustainable and will lead to antibiotic resistance into the future. I believe foot rot is the biggest disease affecting and threatening most of our flocks.

It must be mentioned that controlling Contagious Ovine Digital Dermatitis (CODD) is slightly more difficult than foot rot, with antibiotic injections playing a role. Talk to your own vet about which antibiotic may be used if CODD is suspected on your farm.

When dealing with an established foot rot problem, we must look away from treating individual cases and look at flock control instead. Now as housing approaches, the risk is hugely increased and the spread even more so. It must be remembered that the bugs causing the problem can last for up to 12 days in the bedding. There can be no doubt it is very costly and one of the most labour-intensive jobs of any sheep farmer.

Any programme must be done annually and incorporate the whole flock. Culling chronically affected animals and treating infected cases promptly and aggressively is essential. Segregation of affected sheep and careful sourcing of replacements is vital.

Vaccination

I always wonder why vaccination is much more routinely carried out in the UK in control programmes. Affected flocks here must now embrace footvax as a means of control, along with other measures I have mentioned. The cost is perceived to be somewhat prohibitive. However, I have seen where it is used that it is highly effective and, in the long term, a much more cost-effective way of treating lameness. Now is the time to consider whole flock vaccination for flocks that have an annual issue with foot rot.

I am advocating one shot to flocks before housing in combination with footbaths, paring and antibiotic treatment of infected sheep. If after four to six weeks, there is still significant levels of infection a booster shot of the vaccine can be given.

The cause of lameness

Of course, it is important to investigate the cause of your lameness in your flock. And where foot rot is found to be the problem, my advice is to use footvax in your control. We must embrace the preventive approach for long-term success in controlling sheep lameness.