Getting to the bottom of infectious lameness

The prolonged wet and damp conditions witnessed across the country in recent weeks can facilitate the spread of infectious lameness conditions such as footrot within sheep flocks, Jake Delaney, Teagasc Athenry, tells us more.

Many flocks have already reported high rates of scald during the spring and early summer period and these events have led to infectious lameness being a frequent topic for discussion in recent weeks amongst farmers.

Infectious lameness is now commonly cited among the highest factors of concern amongst farmers when addressing animal health and welfare issues, with the majority of flocks within the country experiencing cases of infectious lameness each year.

There are three types of ovine infectious lameness namely; interdigital dermatitis (scald), footrot and contagious ovine digital dermatitis (CODD). Interdigital dermatitis and footrot are both the most prevalent types of infectious lameness in Irish sheep flocks. Anecdotal evidence currently suggests that CODD is an emerging issue within Irish flocks and is now present in approximately 50% of UK sheep flocks. The correct identification and treatment of the specific lameness issues present in the flock is essential to controlling and managing infectious lameness conditions. 

Currently, there are large gaps in the available literature in relation to the effects individual cases or outbreaks of infectious lameness have within Irish sheep flocks. Therefore, a research project being undertaken by Teagasc Athenry and University College Dublin (UCD) is seeking to quantify the production and economic losses associated with infectious lameness in sheep flocks and develop tailored evidence based control, treatment and prevention protocols which farmers can employ on farms. One element of this research project includes a nationwide survey on infectious lameness in sheep flocks.

This survey is available to complete online (QR code below) and is aiming to investigate the following factors:

• The on-farm prevalence of the different types of lameness and the times of year during which they are most prevalent on farm;
• The treatment methods farmers employ to treat lame sheep;
• What bio-security protocols farmers implement on farms;
• Where farmers source their information on lameness.

The completion of this survey by farmers will allow us to determine the on farm factors that are associated with an increased/decreased lameness prevalence on farms and establish the levels of which the different types of infectious lameness are prevalent at farm level in Ireland.

The survey can be accessed through the below QR code or by following this link: https://bit.ly/Lameness23

If you would prefer to complete a paper based copy of the survey detailed above instead, please contact (091) 845827 so that this can be arranged.

Also read: Quarantine procedures for sheep coming onto the farm