You may have heard recently the sad news of the death of Murray Ball, creator of the well-known and well-loved ‘Footrot Flats’ cartoon. The cartoons captured in a pretty unique way the many joys (read: frustrations…) of the farming life.
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Most cockies are pretty familiar with ‘Footrot Flats’, but an understanding of footrot itself is probably less common.
In the past, footrot was much more prevalent in New South Wales, but a control strategy was extremely effective in reducing the number of affected properties. This was a great win for the sheep industry and for affected producers.
Of course, having less footrot around also means that over time, people become less aware of what it looks like. Although we have less footrot in NSW these days, it certainly hasn’t gone completely, and so it’s a good idea to remain vigilant.
It’s important to remember that footrot is more than just an environmental disease caused by prolonged wet conditions. The disease does require warm, wet conditions to establish, but it is caused by a particular bacteria which not all sheep flocks carry. The bacteria doesn’t last long in the environment, but can hang around indefinitely in the feet of infected sheep.
When conditions are right, the footrot bacteria can get into the skin around the feet. If it’s a nasty strain of the bug, the hooves can become “under-run”. Under-running refers to lifting of the sole or wall of the hoof, and it’s caused by the severe inflammation and tissue death which the footrot bacteria produces. The end result for the sheep is often marked lameness. Footrot can sometimes be confused with foot abscess, or other foot diseases.
The lameness caused by footrot is a serious welfare and production issue. Affected sheep will have lower growth rates and can be more susceptible to diseases like preg tox. The pain caused by footrot can also be severe. This is definitely not a disease you want in your flock. It pays to keep it out, and if you do end up with an issue, it pays to get rid of it.
We’ve recently been fortunate to have good rain and warm weather. These conditions will result in some good pasture growth, setting us up well for winter, but they also create the right environment for footrot. Keep an eye on your sheep and get in touch with Local Land Services if you see anything that concerns you. Early action is the best way to get on top of a problem.
Next week I’ll provide some more information on how to keep footrot (and other diseases) off your property. Taking a few simple steps can really pay off.
Nigel Gillan is the district vet for the Central Tablelands Local Land Services. Mudgee office: 02 6378 1700
