Lameness management in Irish sheep flocks: Stepping away from toxic footbath chemicals
As scald cases increase in late spring and early summer, effective sheep lameness control starts in the field, combining good grazing management with proactive foot health practices
Safety and environmental concerns around chemicals used on farms have been highlighted recently, following changes to biocide regulations and the exclusion of traditional footbath chemicals from sheep welfare schemes. Here we take a look at some of the principles of lameness management in sheep.
The three main causes of lameness in Irish flocks are scald (interdigital dermatitis), footrot and contagious ovine digital dermatitis (CODD). This unholy trinity are all bacterial in nature and spread readily throughout the flock. Studies have shown that although these conditions are caused by different pathogens, sheep with scald often develop footrot which then predisposes them to develop highly-contagious CODD.
It is recommended that sheep are checked frequently and lame sheep are assessed and treated by the vet promptly to minimise the spread. This will usually involve antibiotic therapy and lame sheep should be kept away from the rest of the flock during treatment. Foot-trimming should not be undertaken routinely, due to the risk of spreading infection between animals.
Teagasc recommends that bought-in stock should be quarantined for 28 days to prevent the introduction of infection. Your vet will be able to give you advice to suit your individual farm set up, including management recommendations and vaccination where appropriate.
Lameness is a production issue as well a welfare issue. Lame ewes lose body condition, leading to lower colostrum quality and reduced milk yield. In lambs, lameness results in lower daily liveweight gains (DLWG) and a longer, more expensive path to market. Repeat offenders and those with serious hoof problems should be culled.
Footrot and CODD may occur later in the season, often as a result of untreated scald.
Footbathing helps maintain healthy hooves and forms an essential part of lameness management at flock level. It can be particularly useful in mild or early cases of scald or hoof trauma.
Footbathing should be undertaken as often as possible, usually when the flock is gathered for another reason. Sheep with a higher challenge can be allowed to stand for longer to increase contact time with the solution and then kept on dry ground after.
Footbaths containing formalin and copper sulphate have been a mainstay of treatment in the past, but there are now concerns around the safety of these toxic chemicals. Formalin is a Class 1 carcinogen and irritant that can cause breathing problems during use. Copper sulphate is toxic to sheep if ingested, accumulates in the environment and is no longer an approved biocide. Both products pose a potential risk to users, livestock, sheepdogs and the environment and extreme care must be taken in their disposal.
Hoofsure Endurance from Provita is a proven, effective, antibiotic-free footbath solution that is non-toxic and biodegradable in the environment. It contains a blend of organic acids, essential oils and wetting agents that work together to lift off organic matter, break down biofilms and penetrate the hoof area. Because Hoofsure Endurance is less harsh than legacy chemicals, it promotes cleaner, healthier hooves. It is a registered biocide (PCS 102777) and is compliant with the National Sheep Welfare Scheme.
For more information see provita.co.uk/hoofcare and norbrook.com.
