Sheep lameness can cause severe problems in many flocks and understandably remains an area of concern for many shepherds and smallholders. The change in the weather towards milder winters and wetter summers means the prevalence of lameness has increased.
The constant change in the climate in the UK, especially when it becomes mild in the winter and wet in the summer, means there is an increased chance that your sheep can become infected with lameness. This can lead to severe problems in your sheep flocks, and regardless of the size of your flock it will be a major concern. It’s impossible to change, and sometimes even predict the weather in the UK, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of ways to prevent lameness in sheep.
What Are The Causes Of Lameness In Sheep?
Footrot and Scald are the most common reasons your sheep can become lame. These infectious diseases are not eradicated by foot-trimming sheep alone, as the leftover bacteria can still spread between your flock. Of the two diseases, Scald is the least dangerous, but not something to be ignored.
Scald In Sheep
Common side effects of Scald are redness and swelling of the foot with some white exudate. Providing the right underfoot conditions are put in place, sometimes Scald can resolve itself. If it doesn’t improve you will need to use the correct treatment to aid in the healing and further prevention.
Footrot In Sheep
Footrot can occur when Scald is left unchecked, and the area around the horn of the foot becomes under-run. In most common cases this will begin at the interdigital cleft base and can spread around the hoof and up the wall. There is a noticeable foul-smelling odour associated with Footrot and considerable swelling.
You should avoid trimming the hoof once it has become infected with Footrot, as it is highly contagious. It’s also imperative to contain the spread of the disease any further by separating the infected sheep from the non-infected flock.
Contagious Ovine Digital Dermatitis In Sheep
A common mistake of diagnosing Footrot is mistaking it for Contagious Ovine Digital Dermatitis (CODD). This disease is prone to affecting the coronary bad and the skin that lays just above the area, unlike Footrot, which affects the interdigital space. If you are not sure, you should always contact your local Vet.
Shelly Hoof In Sheep
Another infection to watch for is Shelly Hoof, as this disease can occur when there is an imbalance of nutrition. Shelly Hoof will affect certain breeds of sheep and their breeding lines. When a sheep contracts Shelly Hoof, the sole horn and wall horn become separated, which forms an air pocket.
The after effect of this can vary from having a small hole in the hoof or losing the entire wall of the hoof. Your sheep may show signs of lameness if this hole becomes filled with soil or debris. Trimming the hoof conservatively and regular trimming can help to prevent this in the short term, but if your flock appears to be prone to Shelly Hoof then an assessment of the family line or nutritional status may need to be assessed.
Controlling And Preventing Lameness In Sheep
Follow these tips to help keep lameness in your flock under control and your sheep happy and healthy:
Examination: Examine your sheep the moment you suspect that they have become lame
Identification: Identify the correct cause of lameness. If in doubt, ask a Vet.
Separation: Separate any sheep that has become infected with lameness from the flock
Marking: Clearly mark the infected leg
Don’t trim: Stop the spread of infection by avoiding unnecessary trimming
The most important thing to remember when combating and preventing lameness in sheep is to use CZF Plus as it will aid in the prevention of lameness in sheep. CZF Plus is a tried and tested range of products for use in footbaths an for topical application.
We have developed this footbath formula in collaboration with eminent podiatrists. It’s an easy to use and incredibly effective treatment of the various causes of lameness in sheep. For more information about CZF Plus then click HERE.
