Footrot of sheep - Vrotpootjie - prevention and treatment

Disease and health problems of livestock are closely associated with management and nutrition. Medication cannot cure the results of poor management and poor nutrition.

Footrot of sheep “vrotpootjie”

•Contagious ovine footrot is an infection of the hooves of sheep.

The disease is caused by the bacterium Bacteriodes nodosus that lives in the hoof material of some sheep. There are 10-footrot stereotypes.  

Footrot usually develops under wet and muddy conditions when the skin around the feet becomes softened and allows the entry of other bacteria that initiate the infection.

A painful condition of the hooves develops in a large percentage of sheep in the flock.

The inflammation usually begins between the two claws of the hoof and can result in the separation of the hoof and soft tissue.

The infection causes pain and lameness that can interfere with feeding, mating and nursing of lambs.

Footrot and other lameness may reduce feed intake and hence sperm production, as well as reducing mobility during mating. Foot abscess will elevate body temperature and cause infertility for up to two months.

Prevention and Treatment

•Vaccines are available for the control of the disease.

•When an outbreak occurs, the vaccine should be given immediately. Vaccines that

•A second vaccination should be given 4-6 weeks later as this will help clear up and prevent the spreading of the infection.

•To prevent outbreaks, the flock should be vaccinated a month before the start of the rainy season. Vaccines that treat two or more stereotypes are expected to be more effective.

•Loss of weight and decreased wool growth is a result of the infection.

•Lambing percentages is also lower, as sheep are unable to mate and ewes may refuse to suckle their young.

•Inoculation is imported, as the animals do not build up a natural immunity to the disease.