With the wet weather, Autumn is undeniably here! The soggy conditions under foot are often blamed for an upsurge in sheep lameness, but let’s look at what we can control! Soggy feet are vulnerable to all sorts of lameness, but if there is not a sky high level of infectious bugs in the flock for starters, or they are well controlled, sheep can cope quite well in soggy conditions.
If you have not worked through the 5 – point plan with your flock yet, it is not too late too. It’s a great way to try and figure out where to focus our attention first on improving the flocks overall foot health.
Flock club members benefit from a discounted visit to do this and other sheep clients are encouraged to ring and discuss what we can offer you.
It is absolutely VITAL to have diagnosed what types of lameness you have in your flock for the plan and treatments to be effective. CODD and shelly hoof for example are two very different foot diseases. One is infectious and extremely serious and the other is not. Are you confident in telling the foot conditions apart?
The key aims of the 5 point plan are to reduce the disease challenge by:
QUARANTINE
All bought in sheep must go through the quarantine procedure – 28 days of isolation and feet inspections ideally.
TREAT
Any lame sheep at pasture will be quickly identified and caught up as soon as possible for treatment – the industry aim and % point plan aim is within 3 days a sheep must be caught and treated.
AVOID
The bacteria and or its favoured conditions – move handling systems, use lime/ chalk in gate ways, do not trim.
Build Resilience and Immunity:
CULL
‘3 strikes and you are out’ rule – to remove the chronic cases, and reduce challenge to the rest of the flock.
VACCINATE
Using footvax to reduce the incidence and severity of lameness caused by footrot.
Get in touch to find out more about how we can help you
