Bronllwyd Fawr Project Update: Sustainable options for managing lameness and reducing antibiotic usage in an intensive lowland sheep flock – November 2020

During November 2020, Joe Angell (Wern Vets), who is acting specialist on the project, visited Bronllwyd Fawr to review the lameness situation and formulate an action plan. The main objective of the visit was to diagnose cases of re-occurring lameness on the farm and identify the potential causes of high lameness prevalence within the sheep flock. 

The group of sheep examined included individuals with scald, footrot and contagious ovine digital dermatitis (CODD), with some sheep showing evidence of more than one infection type. It was estimated that 8-10% of the flock were lame. As a result, Joe discussed the implementation of a lameness action plan with the farmer to minimise cases of lameness and aim to eradicate CODD from the flock. This plan included isolating lame ewes from the healthy ewes prior to housing and also during the winter housing period and lambing. 

Summary of actions from first visit

• Identify and treat lame sheep every 2-3 days until well using Betamox LA (CODD or mixed infections) or Terramycin LA for footrot. Isolate from healthy sheep where possible.
• Administer Footvax to ewes, rams and ewe lambs around scanning time.
• Identify and cull out ewes that repeatedly get new cases of footrot or CODD.
• Use lime around high traffic areas or where sheep congregate.
• Keep lameness and medicine records as required.

Figure 1: Example of contagious ovine digital dermatitis (CODD)

CODD visual symptoms:

• Moist and sore at the top of the hoof (coronary band). 
• Loss of hair can also occur. 
• The hoof can come off in severe cases.

Figure 2: Example of scald

Scald visual symptoms:

• Sore and red in between cleats. 

Figure 3: Example of footrot

Footrot visual symptoms:

• Characteristic damage to the sole.
• Footrot can also cause a cheesy rotten sole. 

Figure 1, 2 and 3 supplied by Joseph Angell, Wern Vets