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Footrot in sheep and goats: a case study.
S M Robertson1,2, M B Allworth1,2,3
1School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, Australia.
Australian Veterinary Journal
|January 18, 2025
Summary
Footrot appears less severe in goats than sheep. Managing this disease requires cleaning equipment and implementing biosecurity measures during kidding or lambing to prevent false negative test results.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Animal Health
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Footrot is a significant concern in small ruminants.
- Understanding disease presentation in different species is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the severity of footrot in goats and sheep.
- To evaluate diagnostic test reliability for footrot.
- To identify key biosecurity measures for footrot control.
Main Methods:
- Observational study design.
- Clinical assessment of footrot in goats and sheep.
- Evaluation of elastase testing for footrot diagnosis.
Main Results:
- Footrot presented with apparently lower severity in goats compared to sheep.
- Elastase tests carry a risk of false negative results.
- Contractor equipment cleaning is essential between properties.
Conclusions:
- Goats may exhibit milder footrot symptoms than sheep.
- Biosecurity practices, including equipment hygiene and timing of interventions (kidding/lambing), are vital for managing footrot.
- Elastase test limitations necessitate careful interpretation.
