Sheep mobility and claw health

• What was the mean prevalence of lameness in 2004?

  10.6%
• What was the mean prevalence of lameness in 2013?

  4.9%
• What was the target prevalence for lameness?

  2-5%
• What are the indirect and direct costs of lameness per year?

  £24m
• What is the cost per ewe per year for <5% lameness?

  £3.90
• What is the cost per ewe per year for >10% lameness?

  £6.35
• What are the main causes of lameness in sheep?

  • Foot rot (~70% of lameness)
  • Interdigital dermatitis (Scald)
  • Severe foot rot
  • Contagious ovine digital dermatitis (CODD)
  • White line disease
  • Shelly hoof
  • Toe abscesses
  • Toe granulomas
  • Other causes (injury, arthritis, tick pyaemia)

  
• What is the primary cause of lameness in sheep?

  Foot rot

  
• What percentage of all lameness is caused by foot rot?

  ~70%

  
• What is the causative agent of foot rot?

  Fusobacterium necrophorum
• What conditions favor the occurrence of ovine digital dermatitis (Scald)?

  Wet, warm lush grazing conditions
• What is the treatment for lambs with ovine digital dermatitis?

  Topical oxytet spray for 3 days
• What is the treatment for ewes with ovine digital dermatitis?

  Systemic antibiotics
• What is the role of Dichelobacter nodosus in foot rot?

  It invades after Fusobacterium necrophorum
• How long can foot rot survive on pasture?

  Up to 14 days
• What is the treatment for scald?

  Topical oxytetracycline spray for 3 days
• What is the treatment for foot rot?

  Systemic LA oxytetracycline or amoxicillin
• What is the 5-point plan for controlling foot rot?

  1. Regular foot bathing
  2. Culling affected animals
  3. Improving hygiene
  4. Vaccination
  5. Monitoring and record-keeping
• What are the clinical signs of CODD?

  Red ulcerated areas at the coronary band
• What is the treatment for CODD?

  Amoxicillin LA or macrolides
• What is white line disease associated with?

  Misshapen feet and bacterial entry
• What is the treatment for white line disease?

  Careful foot paring to remove pus
• What causes toe granulomas?

  Foot damage and chronic irritation
• What are the clinical signs of toe granulomas?

  Painful red swelling at the toe
• What is the most common outcome for toe granulomas?

  Culling
• What are the principles for controlling lameness in sheep?

  1. Build resilience
  2. Establish immunity
  3. Reduce challenge

  
• What general flock information is important for lameness management?

  • Size of flock
  • Farming enterprise setup
  • Closed or open flock
  • Biosecurity measures
• What lameness information should be gathered during an outbreak?

  • Start of outbreak
  • Affected cohort of animals
  • Prevalence and comparison to previous outbreaks
  • Current treatment protocols
  • Management changes
  • Vaccination status
• What did the farmer notice about his usual treatment for lameness?

  It was not effective
• What types of animals were affected in the farmer's flock?

  Mixed ewes and lambs
• How often does the farmer buy in new animals?

  Almost weekly
• What is the average body condition score of the examined lame animals?

  1.5
• What was observed on many of the animals' feet during the examination?

  Evidence of blue antibiotic aerosol spray
• What are the key aspects of clinical examination for lameness?

  • Assess body condition score
  • Observe weight-bearing status
  • Check for lesions and treatments