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WINTER 2015 ISSUE
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
12
SHEEP LAMENESS
Andrew Isles and Adelle Isaacs
Avoiding spread
Bringing ewes together into lambing sheds is
recognised as a high risk period for spreading
lameness. Andrew explains: ‘There only
need to be a few lame ewes – but they are
carriers and so the rest start getting lame too.’
To help reduce spread, Adelle has
recommended a more regular mucking out
of the straw yards and the use of hydrated
lime as a disinfectant in the lambing pens.
Adelle adds: ‘Some farmers are also finding
it beneficial to spread lime around feeders,
troughs and gateways. It can be bought
relatively cheaply from builders’ merchants.’
Andrew also used to get outbreaks of
lameness when sheep were grazing on
wet ground due to poor drainage. So he
is going to look into fencing off these
areas with electric fencing.
Footbathing
Sheepstead Farm has sandy soil, and this is
an irritant. Andrew explains: ‘It dries around
the top of the hoof. So I will run sheep gently
through a footbath to clean their feet.’
Adelle explains: ‘Andrew had been using
zinc sulphate in the footbath but sheep need
to stand in it for at least 15 minutes for it to
be effective. So I advised a switch over to
2% formalin – then sheep just need to move
through the bath at walking pace.’
Andrew adds: ‘I’m careful to ensure it is a
2% concentration, as any stronger and it can
be an irritant. And I always allow the sheep
to stand on concrete afterwards, whilst their
feet dry.
‘I’ve noticed the effects of the formalin are a
lot more instant. I footbathed a group of 50
ewes with scald and within three days the
lameness had cleared.’
Culling decisions
Adelle adds: ‘Ideally, to eradicate lameness
from a flock, any sheep that require treating
for lameness a second time should be culled.
But Andrew was concerned he would lose
too many of his ewes that way, and so he
gives them a third chance.’
Andrew and Adelle have created a system
for monitoring lameness and identifying
susceptible animals, and which does not
require computer records.
Andrew uses a coloured marker spray. At the
first case of lameness, the ewe/ram receives
an orange dot on the head, and the second
time around they get a dot on the shoulder.
At the third case of lameness, they are
marked on their rear and also given a purple
cull ear tag. They are put into a separate
‘lame’ group and treated. Then they will go
to the abattoir with the first batch of lambs in
early February.
Foot-trimming stopped!
There has been a complete change of
policy on foot-trimming. Andrew explains:
‘Every autumn we used to check sheep’s teeth
and udders, and trim their feet. I’ve done it all
my life. But last autumn, on Adelle’s advice,
we did not trim at all – because this can
spread the scald or footrot. It’s been quite an
event for me to stop it! In fact, my wife has
had to hide the foot-trimmers!’
Adelle explains: ‘The only cases that require
trimming are where sheep are actively lame
due to shelly hoof or white line disease. It’s
quite a change of practice, and mindset, for
many sheep farmers.’
Quarantine
Andrew’s flock health plan also has a
quarantine protocol for bought-in animals.
Sheep are kept separate from the flock for six
weeks. They are footbathed on arrival and
again before joining the main flock. They will
now also receive a primary course of footrot
vaccine.
Results pending
Andrew is hoping with this new focus on
lameness that he will eventually eradicate
it altogether. He is also keen to see a
reduction in the use of antibiotics, not only
from a cost viewpoint but also ultimately
food safety.
The financial returns of the new strategies are
not yet known. However Adelle expects, all
other elements being equal, that Andrew will
see a higher scanning percentage, and
ultimately see more lambs reared per ewe
mated. Lambs with healthy feet should also
finish faster.
Andrew agrees: ‘Sheep that are up on
their four feet grazing will be in better body
condition than lame ones. Going to the
tup is only half of it. It’s also important that
ewes have good quality eggs and stay in
good condition to hold to lamb. Then they
can carry two lambs and not succumb to
twin-lamb disease.’
Adelle adds: ‘The big changes at Sheepstead
Farm have been in the stopping of foot-
trimming and the use of a vaccine against
footrot. But key to success with reducing
lameness is to take a balanced approach,
and tackle every area of the 5-point plan.’
FarmSkills sheep lameness courses
In June 2015, XLVets launched the health
initiative ‘Stand up to Sheep Lameness’ to
help famers focus on controlling the problem.
Many XLVets practices, including Larkmead
Veterinary Group, have been holding
FarmSkills training courses to show farmers
how to identify the causes of lameness and
learn what the best treatment options are.
Andrew kindly hosted one of these very
practical courses. He had gathered his
group of cull (lame) ewes and Adelle
showed the attending farmers what to look
for, and how best to treat the specific causes
of lameness.
To find out about courses running in your
local area, speak to your XLVets practice or
visit
www.farmskills.co.uk.
Five Point Plan to reducing lameness
1.
TREAT
– quickly and correctly
2.
AVOID
– gathering more than
necessary, segregate lame sheep
3.
CULL
– susceptible breeding animals
4.
QUARANTINE
– check feet on arrival; spray
all feet with antibiotic/footbath them
5.
VACCINATE
– discuss footrot vaccine
protocol with your vet
AHDB Beef & Lamb Better Returns Programme
Reducing Lameness for Better Returns manual
Cull and Barren Tags are an excellent
method of recording