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PREVENTION is by thorough examination, footbathing and movement control. DAMAGE CONTROL is minimising the effect by isolation and checking all new sheep until removed or sheep go through spring with no sign of footrot. Introducing an infected sheep or mob is bad enough, but to allow it to spread footrot to others or all mobs is disaster. Treat all new and stray sheep as risks, keep them isolated, handle and visit them last and watch them carefully. Footrot prevention and damage control Best practiceBuying SheepSource - A purchase direct from the breeder's property is usually safer than buying from saleyards. Vendor Declaration - Request the vendor supply a declaration that the sheep and property are free of virulent footrot. Vendor declarations are a formal, industry-recognised method of providing a safe way to buy and sell. They reduce the risk of buying virulent footrot and allow the purchaser to return sheep (with full refund of purchase and transport costs) if they are confirmed infected with virulent footrot within 14 days. A Vendor Declaration form is appended to this Agriculture Note. They are also available from DPI offices and from stock agents. Observe - On arrival at the vendor's property, look around for signs of footrot treatment, a recently used footbath, "Formalin" containers or zinc sulphate bags or even a pile of hoof clippings. Overview - Whether in a saleyard or on a farm, first take an overview of the mob. Are there any "ring-ins" or strays that don't fit the mob, or sheep that are in poorer condition than the rest? Give these types of sheep a close examination. Examine - Allow sheep to drift quietly past while you look for any lameness or reluctance to walk. A sheep that prefers to sit, limps or eases the weight on a foot is a prime suspect that should be tipped up and examined, foot by foot. Get in amongst the sheep and tip a number up, examine their feet for any signs of footrot or for signs of paring or footbathing. Look for redness or scalding between the claws, lifting and separation of horn on inside of the hoof or any unacceptable foot deformity. A recent footbath may have dried the moisture out, but the bare pink or scaly skin will still be evident in early cases. Beware - Remember that an unscrupulous person selling sheep from a "foot-rotty" flock will have drafted out the lame sheep. When you see the sale mob, you will have to pick the one or two that may have been missed; they may be your only clue. Tight penning or running sheep are means of hiding lameness. Saleyards - Animal Health Officers in Victoria attend most store sales and they detected many footrot affected sheep in saleyards. While their presence is a deterrent to the unscrupulous vendor, obviously they cannot guarantee that every sheep is free of footrot. If you have examined the sheep you wish to buy and are unsure about some feet, ask the Animal Health Officer at the sale to check them with you. Satisfied - Having satisfied yourself that the sheep are clean and that you have confidence in the state of their feet, then conclude the purchase. Trucking - Select a reputable carrier with a clean truck to take them home. Question the carrier about his recent loads of sheep and insist the truck is washed out before loading your sheep. Taking Delivery - On arrival at your sheep yards, take time to check the sheep again, looking for "ring-ins" or lameness that weren't apparent before. A footbath in zinc sulphate will destroy any bacteria that may have been picked up during yarding or transport. This footbath adds another string to your bow of protection. This is your last chance to pick up footrot before releasing it onto your property. Isolation and checking - Your newly-acquired sheep should be isolated as a separate mob for as long as possible. Regularly inspect them and investigate any signs of lameness. Always yard, handle and visit them last to avoid transfering undetected infection to your clean mobs. New sheep can be considered free of footrot when they have passed through a suitable spread period, such as spring, without treatment or signs of footrot. They can then be safely integrated with other mobs. If at any stage you are unsure about a foot condition or you suspect footrot, contact your veterinarian or Animal Health Officer. Their experience will provide an accurate diagnosis. StraysStray sheep and goats are the other major means of introducing footrot to your property. Protect your flocks by ensuring that boundary fences are as secure as possible. Sheep droving along road reserves, neighbours' sheep and wandering stock all pose a risk. When stray sheep are found in your flock, catch them at first sighting and examine them carefully before returning them. Ask your neighbours to let you know if they find any of your sheep in their flocks or on roads. A wandering sheep put back over the fence may be the one to introduce footrot to your property. Collect the wanderer from the neighbour's farm, raddle it and thoroughly examine it before returning it to the mob. If you have any doubts, footbath the offender and keep it in isolation until you are satisfied that it is not a risk. RoadsRoads used by other sheep may remain infected for up to 7 days. Drovers, neighbours, other farmers and strays may use your road. Be aware of who has been around and look for signs of other sheep travelling your route. A footbath on arrival will eliminate most of the risk if road use was unaviodable. Trucking sheep between properties is a safer option if neighbouring properties or other users are suspected of having footrot. Beware and take careThe history of most footrot outbreaks shows that a little care could have prevented the infection coming onto the property in the first place. Beware and take care is the best advice. If you are ever unfortunate enough to experience an outbreak of footrot in your sheep, all is not lost. You have options available to combat, control and cure footrot. Complete eradication of footrot is possible and practical, but prevention is even better.
Further informationFootrot in Sheep - Agriculture Notes from DPI offices -
Beating Footrot - 39 pages, including colour photos, available from DPI offices. Footrot the Facts - Video all about footrot, available on loan from DPI offices. AcknowledgementsThis Agnote was developed by Tom Glynn. August 2003. It was reviewed by: Tom Glynn, Farm Services Victoria. March 2009 ISSN 1329-8062 Published and Authorised by: This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968.
The advice provided in this publication is intended as a source of information only. Always read the label before using any of the products mentioned. The State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication
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