Determination needed to keep foot-rot at bay
Determination needed to keep foot-rot at bay
By Hannah Velten
FOOT-ROT is a nagging concern in most flocks, but it can be eradicated with a determined attitude, vaccination and careful management.
When Chris Burton, farm manager at Brooksby Melton College, Leics, took over the flock in 1996 he estimates that 35-40% of the 800-ewes had chronic foot-rot. Over half were infected in more than one foot.
Although ewes were foot trimmed twice a year and foot-bathed 3-4 times a year, Mr Burton believes bacteria levels around the farm were responsible for perpetuating infection. "In summer, lambs on pasture with ewes suffering from foot-rot were also becoming infected with scald. It seemed to be a knock-on effect."
Gravel-floored handling pens around the foot-bath also contributed to the continued infection as mud, muck and disease became trapped in the yard surface. Infected stock were not isolated when put into straw-bedded housing so bacteria spread, putting clean ewes at risk, he adds.
"But foot-rot is not a disease that flocks have to live with. It is a big problem to beat, but given time, a little investment and a change in attitude we have virtually eradicated it," says Mr Burton.
The decision to act against foot-rot was inevitable. "The flock was not performing at maximum efficiency. Ewes were not milking well enough, lambs were finishing late and far too much labour and time was spent trying to keep on top of the problem – my hands were permanently covered in purple spray."
Antibiotic costs were estimated at £2.50 a ewe treated. Welfare concerns were raised and being a college flock, foot-rot was unsightly, he adds.
After a year of intensive work, foot-rot levels fell dramatically and ever since, less than 0.5% of the flock suffer. "When a problem is spotted, it is investigated immediately rather than waiting until ewes are next handled. Usually they have just picked up mud between the cleats."
Mr Burton ensured all ewes routinely received a one-dose foot-rot vaccine in that first year, just after lambing. "They were fully immune by the time they were turned out to spring grass, when foot-rot is most likely to strike in wet conditions."
Although costing 60p a ewe a year, he believes the vaccine has been cost-effective in the long run. "Vaccination costs soon started to be paid back as flock performance increased, including ewe conception rates, and lambs finished quicker. I did not think feet could influence flock performance so much."
In the first, intensive year about 220 infected ewes were isolated from the main flock, treated and put through a fortnightly foot-bath of 5% formalin over 2-3 months. About 10% of these ewes were eventually culled.
Problem ewes are still sorted at weaning and isolated. Mr Burton believes ewes now respond quickly to antibiotic treatments because they are rarely used. "Although we no longer need to cull for feet, any ewe with an incurable foot problem must be culled out. If you do not make the sacrifice, you penalise the whole flock," he says.
To prevent reinfection, all replacement ewes are isolated for 2-3 months, vaccinated and foot-trimmed. They are inspected before they are turned out on-farm and then again in December just to make sure they are foot-rot free.
Routine foot-trimming takes place in the lambing pen and 8-6 weeks before tupping, using a turn-over crate, and foot-bathing occurs 10-12 times a year, whenever sheep are bought in for treatment.
"Feet must not be over-paired and a weak solution of 5% formalin is used. High formalin concentrations tend to burn feet and almost make ewes lame. Formalin is never used on an open wound," he adds.
The stone handling areas were improved in the first year of treatment so ewes could stand on concrete for half an hour after running through the foot-bath. "This area can be kept clean and standing allows formalin to act on the feet."
Other preventative measures against foot-rot returning, include using a feeder on the front of the quad bike so feed can be distributed around pasture to avoid muddy, high bacteria burden areas around troughs. Ewes also have access to one paddock at a time so that gateways remain solid. *
Living with foot-rot is not necessary as Chris Burton found after intensive and routine work has almost eradicated the disease.
FOOTROT
• Disease can be eradicated.
• Vaccination and culling successful.
• Continue preventative treatment.