Economic impact

The prevalence (percentage of affected sheep on any day) is estimated to be 8-15 per cent in UK flocks. There is increasing evidence that a high prevalence of lameness (>2%) is indicative of failure to treat lame sheep appropriately (not quickly enough and using the wrong treatment).  One flock study reported an annual loss of around £6 per lame sheep affected by footrot mainly the result of lost production not treatment costs.

Clinical Signs

Inflammation and superficial infection of the interdigital skin extends to under-run the sole and hoof horn of the inner hoof wall. Further separation and under-running of the hoof horn of the sole continues and may extend to the outer hoof wall.  There is a characteristic smell of necrotic horn/exudate.  The whole hoof capsule may be shed in severe cases.  Chronic infection leads to grossly mis-shapen and overgrown hooves.

In chronic cases, the hoof walls and toes become overgrown and mis-shapen, trapping dirt and inflammatory exudate between the inflamed, granulating soft tissues of the sole and overgrown horn.

to be continued.......