This PowerPoint presentation was prepared for the 2011 Missouri Livestock Symposium by Susan Schoenian, University of Maryland Extension Sheep & Goat Specialist.

1. SUSAN SCHOENIAN (Shāy-nē-ŭn)
Sheep & Goat Specialist
Western Maryland Research & Education Center
sschoen@umd.edu - www.sheepandgoat.com
http://www.slideshare.net/schoenian/
sheep-hoof-health-and-management

2.  Hoof care is an important
aspect of animal
management.
 Hoof health can affect an
animal’s performance,
disease resistance, and
welfare.
 Hooves should be regularly
checked for disease and
excess growth.
 Animals with excessive or
abnormal hoof growth and
chronic hoof disease should
be culled. CULLING IS YOUR MOST POWERFUL TOOL!

3.  To prevent lameness.
 To allow air to reach the
hoof to eliminate the
bacteria that can cause
infection.
 To create a flat sole
surface, removing trapped
mud and feces and
reducing the possibility of
infection.
 To promote proper hoof
growth in young animals.

4. Factors affecting the
need for hoof trimming:
 Genetics
 Individual
 Breed
 Color of hoof
 Structure/shape of hoof
 Environment
 Soil moisture and
characteristics (terrain)
 Season and rainfall
 Housing
 Diet

5. 1. Hoof shears (trimmers) YOU CAN’T DO A THOROUGH JOB OF
 Manual HOOF TRIMMING WITHOUT A KNIFE.
▪ Smooth vs. serrated
▪ Rotating handle
 Air-compression driven
[large flocks]
2. Hoof knife
 Straight vs. curved
3. Brush
[for cleaning hoof]
4. Tight fitting (nitrile) gloves
(for safety and comfort)

6.  Tip animal onto
its rump
 Deck chair
 Tilt table or
“squeeze”
 Manual
▪ Half-tilt
▪ Full-tilt
 Automatic

7.  Not during late
gestation.
 In conjunction with other
management tasks.
[e.g. shearing]
 2 to 3 weeks before a
show.
 When hooves are soft.

8.  Clean hoof
 Trim excess growth
 Trim to pad (sole)
 Trim axial surface
 Don’t cut tip PRACTICE MAKES “PERFECT.”
[entry for infection]
 Try not to draw blood.
[entry for infection]
 Disinfect tools
between animals.

9. COMMON
Foot scald (esp. goats)
BACTERIAL

 Foot abscess
 Footrot (esp. sheep)
LESS COMMON
 Laminitis (founder)
 Bluetongue
VIRAL
 Soremouth
 Foot-and-mouth disease

10.  Gram-negative,
CAUSES FOOT SCALD anaerobic bacteria that
(INTERDIGITAL DERMATITIS)
live in the digestive tract
and feces of animals.
 Interact with other
bacteria to cause foot
scald and foot abscesses.
BACTERIA ON EVERY FARM  Work in conjunction with
D. nodosus to cause
footrot.

11.  An inflammation and
SKIN BETWEEN TOES IS redness between the
RAW AND INFLAMED. toes (claws) of the hoof.
 No (or minimal)
involvement of the hoof.
 Precursor to footrot and
foot abscess.
NOT CONTAGIOUS  Outbreaks occur during
periods of wet weather.

12.  Occur when Actinomyces
HEEL OR TOE spp. bacteria invade tissue
already weakened by an
interdigital infection.
 Causes
lameness, pain, swelling, a
nd heat.
 Affects mostly mature
and heavy animals.
COMMON BACTERIA  Usually only one hoof or
digit is affected.

13.  Gram-negative, anaerobic
CAUSES FOOTROT bacteria that live in the feet of
infected animals.
 Release protease enzymes which
digest connective tissue between
the horn and flesh of the hoof.
 Survival of D. nodosus
 Does not infect healthy hooves.
 Up to three years in
chronically-infected hooves.
20 DIFFERENT STRAINS OF BACTERIA  Up to 14 days on soil, feces,
and pasture.
THAT VARY IN VIRULENCE.
 Up to 6 weeks in hoof horn clippings
 Other surfaces: not known

14.  Involves a separation of
the horny portions of the
UNDERMINING OF HOOF hoof from the underlying
sensitive areas.
 Foul odor.
 Both claws are usually
affected.
HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS
 More than one hoof may
be involved.

15.  Irritation of interdigital tissue
caused by moisture or trauma
allows entry of F. necrophorum.
 Other disease-causing
bacteria invade tissue already
weakened by interdigital
dermatitis.
 Predisposing factors to hoof
disease:
 Warmth (>45°F) + moisture
 Overgrown hooves
 Abnormal hoof growth
 Infection or exposure does not
provide natural immunity.

16. Moisture / trauma
Softening, damage to skin between toes
Invasion by Fusobacterium necrophorum
INTERDIGITAL DERMATITIS OR FOOT SCALD
Invasion by Invasion by
Actinomyces pyogenes Dichelorbacter nodosus
FOOT ABSCESS SHEEP FOOTROT
Source: Guide to Footrot in Sheep, Alberta Sheep & Wool Commission

17. Primary
 In the hooves of newly
acquired animals.
Secondary
 On contaminated
equipment.
 In contaminated bedding at
sales, fairs, and during
transport.
 In the hooves of goats
and cattle.
 On pasture and in barn lots.
 On footwear.
 From service personnel FOOTROT USUALLY “WALKS ON” TO A FARM IN THE
HOOVES OF AN INFECTED ANIMAL OR CHRONIC CARRIER.

18.  Have a written
biosecurity plan and
follow it.
 Do not buy animals from
flocks with a history of foot
diseases or noticeable
lameness.
 All newly acquired animals
should be suspected of
having footrot and be
quarantined for a minimum
of 3 weeks.
FOOTROT PUTS PEOPLE OUT OF BUSINESS!

19.  Observe all new
animals for lameness.
 Carefully inspect
each foot.
 Closely trim hooves.
 Spray each foot with
a solution of 20% zinc
sulfate.

20.  Re-trim (if necessary)
and thoroughly
examine hooves for
signs of infection.
 If there is any evidence
of footrot infection, all
animals in the group
should be foot bathed
with a 10% solution of
zinc sulfate.

21.  Goal: eliminate the effects
of footrot in sheep
flocks in the Northeast.
1. Education
▪ Cooperating flocks
▪ 4 week protocol for
eliminating footrot
▪ Web site:
extension.umaine/sheep/
2. Research
▪ Scoring
Dr. Richard Brzozowksi
▪ DNA testing University of Maine Extension

22.  Trim, inspect, and
score feet of every
sheep (and goat) on
the farm.
 Separate into groups
1. Healthy,
infection-free
2. Infected (recovering)
 Consider culling
infected animals.

23.  Health (scale of 1-5)
1. No sign of infection
2. Inflammation of digital skin,
possible odor
3. Odor, undermining/
separation, lameness
4. Excessive undermining two
or more feet infected, odor
5. Chronic carrier
 Structure
 Pockets
 Other abnormal growth
 Hoof color “Pocket”
white, mottled, black, brown, gray

25. Foot bath all animals
Protocol for foot bathing
 Mix 8.5 pounds of zinc sulfate in
10 gallons of water + 1 cup of
laundry detergent (wetting
agent).
 Create a “soak” pad in bottom of
footbath (wool or sawdust) to
prevent splashing and loss of
solution.
 Sheep (and goats) should
stand in foot bath for at least
3 to 5 minutes.

26.  After soaking, put
animals in drying area:
 Well-bedded barn area
 Dry, hard surface
▪ Clean concrete pad
▪ Wooden floor
 After drying, put groups
into separate pastures or
barn areas where sheep
(or goats) have not been
for at least two weeks.

27.  Repeat foot bathing
and drying protocol.
 Observe animals and
check for any limpers.
 Check and trim feet of
limpers in healthy group
and move to infected
group.

28.  Inspect all sheep (and goats)
 Check and trim hooves
(if necessary).
 Score hooves
 Move infected animals that
have recovered to healthy
group and vice versa.
 Repeat foot bathing and
drying protocol.
 Move groups to separate
pastures where sheep (and
goats) have not been for at
least 2 weeks.

29.  Repeat foot bathing
and drying protocol.
 Observe animals and
check for any limpers.
 Check and trim feet
of limpers in healthy
group and move to
infected group.

30.  Inspect all sheep
(and goats)
 Score each hoof
 Repeat foot
bathing and
drying protocol.

31.  After 4 weeks, Cull carriers!
all animals except
“carriers” should
have been able
to heal.
 Cull any animal
that is still
infected.

32. TRIM TREAT ISOLATE CULL
Day 0    
4-plus
Day 7  
Day 14   
Day 21  
  
Day 28
Footrot eradicated!

33.  Antibiotic injections
 Penicillin
 Tetracyclines
 Antibiotic sprays
 Topical treatment with
Koppertox® or 7% iodine
 Dry chemicals
(zinc sulfate + lime)
 Absorptive pads (zinc sulfate)
 Vaccination [prevent + treat]
 Zinc supplementation CONTROL AND/OR ERADICATION OF
FOOTROT USUALLY REQUIRES A
 Genetic selection COMBINATION OF PRACTICES.

34. CONVENTIONAL SELECTION MARKER-BASED SELECTION
USING FOOTROT LESION SCORING USING DNA TESTING
 Resistance to footrot  Genetic markers have been
found which can identify if a
is heritable. sheep is resistant to footrot.
 Low to moderate heritability
 A blood test for resistance
0.02 to 0.40 (UK) is currently available (NZ)
0.30 to 0.40 (NZ)  To be effective the same
strains of D. nodosus must
 Low repeatability be causing footrot.
At least two footrot scores
are recommended (UK)  A rapid test to identify D.
nodosus strains is being
commercialized.
 Goal: EPDs/EBVs for footrot
resistance.  Does not require exposure
to disease.

35. http://www.sheepandgoat.com/footrot.html
http://extension.maine.edu/sheep

36. Thank you for your attention http://www.slideshare.net/schoenian/
Any questions? sheep-hoof-health-and-management
SUSAN SCHOENIAN
sschoen@umd.edu
www.sheepandgoat.com