Advances in the control of foot rot in sheep

All cases of foot rot, whether acute, chronic, benign, or inapparent, must be identified. If the outbreak is severe and production losses warrant, each foot of each animal must be examined thoroughly. Proper handling facilities and equipment, adequate light, and dry working conditions are needed to properly examine each foot. Infected sheep must be separated from the clean flock. Following extensive treatment, these animals must be diagnosed as free from the disease before returning to the clean flock. Animals that do not respond must be culled from the flock. Although copper sulfate and formalin are effective materials for footbathing, zinc sulfate is equally effective and does not irritate the skin, eyes, or lungs as does formalin, or stain the wool as does copper sulfate. A 10% zinc sulfate solution with a nonionic surfactant is an effective footbathing or foot soaking solution. The cure rate is improved by a thorough foot paring and a foot soak of at least 30 minutes. A number of treatment options along with formulations are outlined in the 1988 edition of the Sheep Production Handbook of the Sheep Industries Development Program, Inc, 6911 Yosemite, Englewood, CO 80112.