Animal Health & Welfare

In a large SAC study, scald was seen to be the single most common cause of foot disorders in Scottish blackfaces and mules.

Typically, scald will appear in rapidly growing lambs. It is a difficult and frustrating condition to tackle and is caused by the bacterium Fusobacterium necrophorum, found naturally in the environment.  All age groups are vulnerable.

Diagnosis

• Commonly, problems identified between the toes are scald (or benign foot rot)
• As scald is not invasive, there is no separation of the horn from deeper tissues
• Instead of being dry, the skin of the cleft between the claws becomes inflamed, moist and swollen.

Treatment

• Prompt treatment (foot bathing) in wet weather is vital - delay in treatment for only a few days can mean scald has developed into footrot and a much more difficult problem.
• For larger numbers, or for flocks with recurring problems, the only practical answer at present is regular foot bathing.
• Topical use of antibiotic sprays is also effective.

For more detailed information on foot bathing, click on the 'Foot Bathing' link to the left.

• One of the most practical and cheap methods is to walk animals slowly through a weak solution of formalin (3%), though zinc sulphate and other proprietary products should be effective.
• As scald is a superficial bacterial infection it is not necessary to stand the animals in the foot bath for very long.
• Scald responds well to foot-bathing when followed by a stand on a dry surface for up to one hour.

Prevention

• Avoid damage to interdigital skin from injury or wetness.
• Pasture conditions may be responsible - longer swards (15-18cm) are wetter and can cause abrasions allowing access to bacteria.
• Short leafy pasture is best for high lamb growth rates and avoiding scald (although on lowland pastures heavy stocking rates can be a predisposing factor in wet weather)
• Attending to overflowing water troughs and moving creep feeders before they get muddy can eliminate localised problems.

 

To dowload the Defra booklet on Lameness in Sheep, use the link to the right.