As discussed in this week’s management notes, some mid-season lambing flocks are facing the prospect of earlier housing, while early lambing flocks are being seasonally housed at this stage of the year.

An indoor environment, and particularly straw bedding, provides ideal conditions for any lameness issues in ewes to quickly spread. This has the potential to lead to significant outbreaks, which will be considerably harder to overcome. It will result in increased workload, higher costs in treating affected animals and lost performance.

Best approach

Therefore, the best approach is to address any lameness issues before animals are housed. Lame sheep should be isolated and grouped in one batch to reduce the risk of disease spreading. This will also facilitate more straightforward treatment.

If these animals have not recovered by the time housing is taking place, then housing should be delayed for these or sheep should be confined to a separate area. Healthy animals should also be run through a foot bath as a precautionary measure before housing and at regular intervals.

Some farmers administer the Footvax vaccine ahead of the high-risk period

Establishing the cause of lameness is central to the success of treatment, while misdiagnosing the cause can lead to prolonged issues and misuse of antibiotics.

This article on lameness gives detailed information which can be followed to lead to an accurate diagnosis, while veterinary assistance should be sought where still in doubt.

Some farmers administer the Footvax vaccine ahead of the high-risk period, which stimulates an immune response. It possesses treatment properties for footrot.

Producers should be aware that extreme caution needs to be practised to prevent self-injection. Should this occur, medical treatment should be sought immediately, as the Footvax solution is very potent.

House when dry

With regard to housing itself, where possible, sheep should be housed dry, as wet sheep will take much longer to dry indoors. This is a particularly important element where sheep are being shorn post-housing.

Lambs housed in previous weeks have, in cases, taken a long time to settle indoors due to higher than normal temperatures. As such, it is also important to ensure there is adequate ventilation and air flow through the shed.

Read more

Identifying the cause of lameness

Seven steps to tackling footrot in your flock

Weekly Vet Video: tackling footrot