Sheep 201: Hoof care

Sheep on its knees

Hoof needs trimmed

Trimming hooves

Abnormal heel growth

Limping sheep

Tilt table for trimming hooves

Sheep standing in a foot bath

Overgrown hoof

Hoof care

Hoof care is an important aspect of sheep management. Hooves should be regularly checked for disease and excess growth.

Hoof Trimming

Hoof growth is affected by the breed and genetics of the sheep, soil moisture, and soil characteristics. Sheep grazed on rocky, dry soil may not require the extent of hoof care needed for sheep on soil that is free of rocks and higher in moisture content. Sheep in high rainfall areas will need to have their hooves inspected more regularly than those on dry ground. How often will depend on the specific conditions.

Proper footrot or foot paring shears are essential to doing the job properly. The ordinary, manual shears are not expensive and make the task so much easier. Air compressor driven shears are an option for people with large numbers of sheep. A sharp paring knife is needed to remove pockets and do a more thorough job of hof trimming.

Foot paring can be back-breaking work if there are a lot of sheep’s feet to pare. There are various types of sheep handling equipment that can “hold” the sheep in a good position so that the stress on the person paring can be reduced. However, for small numbers of sheep, it is usually enough to tip the sheep up and sit it on its rump, as you would for crutching.

Securely hold the leg of the sheep. Inspect the hoof and remove any mud, manure, or small stones between the walls of the hoof. A rotten smell is usually indicative of foot rot. Clean all the junk and crud out of the hoof using a knife or the point of the shears. After cleaning the hoof, begin trimming around the perimeter of the hoof.

Avoid cutting off large chunks of hoof. Stop at the first sign of pinkness. A pink color means you are getting close to the foot blood supply. The foot should be trimmed from the heel to the toe to remove excess growth of the "horny" portion of the hoof. To learn what a properly trimmed hoof look like, study the feet of a newborn lamb. Its hooves are flat on the bottom and have a boxy look.

When trimming feet, avoid stressful times such as hot weather or late gestation. It's a good idea to combine hoof trimming with other management tasks, such as shearing or deworming. It will be easier to trim hooves that are soft from heavy dew or rain.

Diseases Affecting the Hoof

You should never ignore lameness in sheep. Lameness is a sign of several foot conditions – some of which are very serious – as well as some other problems. They include:

Bluetongue
Foot lesions occur in some animals with bluetongue, an arthropod-borne virus. A red to brown band around the coronet is an important diagnostic sign of bluetongue.

Foot Abscess
This disease is characterized by a swelling of the soft tissues immediately above the hoof and in advanced cases, draining abscesses in this area and between the toes. Foot absceses are caused by bacterial infection of damaged foot tissue. The front feet are most commonly affected. Treatment is with anti-bacterial compounds.

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)

Foot and mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease that affects pigs, cattle, sheep, goats, and deer. It is endemic in many parts of the world. Clinical signs of the disease in infected animals include blisters or ulcerations on the mouth, snout, tongue, gums, teats, or around the top of the feet. The signs of FMD in sheep and goats are usually much less obvious than in cattle or pigs.

The United States has eradicated nine outbreaks of FMD, the last of which occurred in 1929. Since then, no cases have ever been reported in the United States. Canada has been free of foot-and-mouth disease since 1929. The United Kingdom experienced a foot-and-mouth outbreak in 2001.

Foot Rot

Foot rot is one of the most devastating diseases in the U.S. sheep industry. It is caused by a synergistic action of two anaerobic bacteria, along with environmental conditions conducive to their growth and spread. The bacteria are Fusobacterium necrophorum and Bacterioides nodusus.

F. Necrophorum is commonly present in soil and manure. It is the B. Nodusus organism, when present, that causes the problem. Again, both bacteria have to be present to cause footrot. There are over 20 strains of the B. Nodusus bacteria, varying in their infectivity and severity.

Warmth, mud and poor sanitation are environmental conditions that also favor footrot spread. these conditions create the anaerobic (lack of oxygen) conditions necessary for the spread of the disease. The B. Nodusus organism will only live in soil for 14 to 21 days.

The bacteria that causes foot rot, Bacteriodes nodosus, is spread from infected sheep to the ground, manure, bedding, etc., where it is then picked up by noninfected sheep. Foot rot is introduced by purchase of an infected animal or by simply using facilities or trucks that have been contaminated by infected sheep.

Spread occurs best when temperatures are from 40-70°F and the environment is wet. Since the organism doesn't survive long in the environment (< 2 wks), carriers in the flock will continue to reinfect the flock unless the animal is either culled or the organism is eliminated by proper treatment.

Treatment of foot rot should be approached from a flock standpoint. Since the footrot organism is anaerobic, the introduction of oxygen to its environment will help in eradicating it. Thus, it is important to keep sheep's hoofs trimmed. Elimination of overgrown hoof tissue will result in less mud and manure packing, which aids in environmental conditions conducive to footrot development. After foot trimming, the use of regular soaking in a footbath of a zinc sulfate solution (10% w/v) can greatly help in eradicating the disease.

Vaccination of flocks with a history of footrot can help in prevention and in treatment of current cases. However, just because a sheep is vaccinated for footrot does not mean it is immune to infection. The vaccine does not cover all the strains of footrot. Producers with clean flocks can control footrot more economically by prevention rather than vaccination. Antibiotics can also be used to help treat cases of footrot. Penicillin can be particularly effective on a short-term basis.

Severely infected sheep that do not respond to treatment should be culled. There can be a genetic susceptibility to footrot; some sheep are more susceptible to footrot than others. Also, there can be breed differences in susceptibility to footrot.

British and European breeds are less susceptible to footrot. Thus, sheep that have a resistance to footrot should be propagated, while, susceptible animals should be culled. Keeping records can help in identification of these types. Generally, black-pigmented hooves are hardier than white-colored hooves.It is much easier to prevent foot rot than to eradicate it.

Several management practices help to minimize the chances that foot rot will establish itself in a flock. You should never buy sheep infected with foot rot. Avoid buying apparently clean sheep from an infected flock. Avoid buying sheep from sale barns where clean and infected sheep are penned together.

Assume all new additions to your flock are infected with foot rot. Always isolate new animals for at least two weeks. Trim feet immediately upon arrival. Treat feet of new sheep following trimming. Re-inspect feet during the quarantine period.

Foot Scald (interdigital dematitis)

Foot scald is an infection of only F. necrophorum and is not contagious. Foot scald causes lameness, frequently on the front feet, and lesions are found between the hooves. The tissue between the toes of a sheep with foot scald are generally blanched and white, or red and swollen. Foot scald is much easier to treat than foot rot. Many times, placing sheep on drier footing and out of mud will alleviate the problems of the disease.

Foot scald may also be treated topically by applying a solution of copper sulfate (Kopertox). The simplest and most effective treatment is use of a footbath containing 10% zinc sulfate solution (8 pounds zinc sulfate to 10 gallons water). The frequency and severity of foot scald infection will decline as drier weather returns.

Laminitis (founder)
Lameness related to laminitis is caused by inadequate blood flow in the hoof caused by digestive problems resulting from the excessive intake of grain (grain overload, acidosis). Animals often die before the feet become involved. Recovered animals may exhibit unusual foot growth and/or permanent lameness.

Soremouth (contagious ecthyma)
Lameness caused by soremouth is the result of blisters appearing on the skin near the top of the hoof wall. Simultaneous blisters appear on the mouth and other areas of the sheep's body. The infection is more common around the mouth than on the legs or feet. Lesions can be treated with an ointment containing a broad spectrum antibiotic. Soremouth can be prevented with vaccination.


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Trimmed hooves Hoof trimming tools Sheep on its knees Hoof needs trimmed Trimming hooves Abnormal heel growth Limping sheep Tilt table for trimming hooves Sheep standing in a foot bath Overgrown hoof	Hoof care Hoof care is an important aspect of sheep management. Hooves should be regularly checked for disease and excess growth. Hoof Trimming Hoof growth is affected by the breed and genetics of the sheep, soil moisture, and soil characteristics. Sheep grazed on rocky, dry soil may not require the extent of hoof care needed for sheep on soil that is free of rocks and higher in moisture content. Sheep in high rainfall areas will need to have their hooves inspected more regularly than those on dry ground. How often will depend on the specific conditions. Proper footrot or foot paring shears are essential to doing the job properly. The ordinary, manual shears are not expensive and make the task so much easier. Air compressor driven shears are an option for people with large numbers of sheep. A sharp paring knife is needed to remove pockets and do a more thorough job of hof trimming. Foot paring can be back-breaking work if there are a lot of sheep’s feet to pare. There are various types of sheep handling equipment that can “hold” the sheep in a good position so that the stress on the person paring can be reduced. However, for small numbers of sheep, it is usually enough to tip the sheep up and sit it on its rump, as you would for crutching. Securely hold the leg of the sheep. Inspect the hoof and remove any mud, manure, or small stones between the walls of the hoof. A rotten smell is usually indicative of foot rot. Clean all the junk and crud out of the hoof using a knife or the point of the shears. After cleaning the hoof, begin trimming around the perimeter of the hoof. Avoid cutting off large chunks of hoof. Stop at the first sign of pinkness. A pink color means you are getting close to the foot blood supply. The foot should be trimmed from the heel to the toe to remove excess growth of the "horny" portion of the hoof. To learn what a properly trimmed hoof look like, study the feet of a newborn lamb. Its hooves are flat on the bottom and have a boxy look. When trimming feet, avoid stressful times such as hot weather or late gestation. It's a good idea to combine hoof trimming with other management tasks, such as shearing or deworming. It will be easier to trim hooves that are soft from heavy dew or rain. Diseases Affecting the Hoof You should never ignore lameness in sheep. Lameness is a sign of several foot conditions – some of which are very serious – as well as some other problems. They include: Bluetongue Foot lesions occur in some animals with bluetongue, an arthropod-borne virus. A red to brown band around the coronet is an important diagnostic sign of bluetongue. Foot Abscess This disease is characterized by a swelling of the soft tissues immediately above the hoof and in advanced cases, draining abscesses in this area and between the toes. Foot absceses are caused by bacterial infection of damaged foot tissue. The front feet are most commonly affected. Treatment is with anti-bacterial compounds. Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Foot and mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease that affects pigs, cattle, sheep, goats, and deer. It is endemic in many parts of the world. Clinical signs of the disease in infected animals include blisters or ulcerations on the mouth, snout, tongue, gums, teats, or around the top of the feet. The signs of FMD in sheep and goats are usually much less obvious than in cattle or pigs. The United States has eradicated nine outbreaks of FMD, the last of which occurred in 1929. Since then, no cases have ever been reported in the United States. Canada has been free of foot-and-mouth disease since 1929. The United Kingdom experienced a foot-and-mouth outbreak in 2001. Foot Rot Foot rot is one of the most devastating diseases in the U.S. sheep industry. It is caused by a synergistic action of two anaerobic bacteria, along with environmental conditions conducive to their growth and spread. The bacteria are Fusobacterium necrophorum and Bacterioides nodusus. F. Necrophorum is commonly present in soil and manure. It is the B. Nodusus organism, when present, that causes the problem. Again, both bacteria have to be present to cause footrot. There are over 20 strains of the B. Nodusus bacteria, varying in their infectivity and severity. Warmth, mud and poor sanitation are environmental conditions that also favor footrot spread. these conditions create the anaerobic (lack of oxygen) conditions necessary for the spread of the disease. The B. Nodusus organism will only live in soil for 14 to 21 days. The bacteria that causes foot rot, Bacteriodes nodosus, is spread from infected sheep to the ground, manure, bedding, etc., where it is then picked up by noninfected sheep. Foot rot is introduced by purchase of an infected animal or by simply using facilities or trucks that have been contaminated by infected sheep. Spread occurs best when temperatures are from 40-70°F and the environment is wet. Since the organism doesn't survive long in the environment (< 2 wks), carriers in the flock will continue to reinfect the flock unless the animal is either culled or the organism is eliminated by proper treatment. Treatment of foot rot should be approached from a flock standpoint. Since the footrot organism is anaerobic, the introduction of oxygen to its environment will help in eradicating it. Thus, it is important to keep sheep's hoofs trimmed. Elimination of overgrown hoof tissue will result in less mud and manure packing, which aids in environmental conditions conducive to footrot development. After foot trimming, the use of regular soaking in a footbath of a zinc sulfate solution (10% w/v) can greatly help in eradicating the disease. Vaccination of flocks with a history of footrot can help in prevention and in treatment of current cases. However, just because a sheep is vaccinated for footrot does not mean it is immune to infection. The vaccine does not cover all the strains of footrot. Producers with clean flocks can control footrot more economically by prevention rather than vaccination. Antibiotics can also be used to help treat cases of footrot. Penicillin can be particularly effective on a short-term basis. Severely infected sheep that do not respond to treatment should be culled. There can be a genetic susceptibility to footrot; some sheep are more susceptible to footrot than others. Also, there can be breed differences in susceptibility to footrot. British and European breeds are less susceptible to footrot. Thus, sheep that have a resistance to footrot should be propagated, while, susceptible animals should be culled. Keeping records can help in identification of these types. Generally, black-pigmented hooves are hardier than white-colored hooves.It is much easier to prevent foot rot than to eradicate it. Several management practices help to minimize the chances that foot rot will establish itself in a flock. You should never buy sheep infected with foot rot. Avoid buying apparently clean sheep from an infected flock. Avoid buying sheep from sale barns where clean and infected sheep are penned together. Assume all new additions to your flock are infected with foot rot. Always isolate new animals for at least two weeks. Trim feet immediately upon arrival. Treat feet of new sheep following trimming. Re-inspect feet during the quarantine period. Foot Scald (interdigital dematitis) Foot scald is an infection of only F. necrophorum and is not contagious. Foot scald causes lameness, frequently on the front feet, and lesions are found between the hooves. The tissue between the toes of a sheep with foot scald are generally blanched and white, or red and swollen. Foot scald is much easier to treat than foot rot. Many times, placing sheep on drier footing and out of mud will alleviate the problems of the disease. Foot scald may also be treated topically by applying a solution of copper sulfate (Kopertox). The simplest and most effective treatment is use of a footbath containing 10% zinc sulfate solution (8 pounds zinc sulfate to 10 gallons water). The frequency and severity of foot scald infection will decline as drier weather returns. Laminitis (founder) Lameness related to laminitis is caused by inadequate blood flow in the hoof caused by digestive problems resulting from the excessive intake of grain (grain overload, acidosis). Animals often die before the feet become involved. Recovered animals may exhibit unusual foot growth and/or permanent lameness. Soremouth (contagious ecthyma) Lameness caused by soremouth is the result of blisters appearing on the skin near the top of the hoof wall. Simultaneous blisters appear on the mouth and other areas of the sheep's body. The infection is more common around the mouth than on the legs or feet. Lesions can be treated with an ointment containing a broad spectrum antibiotic. Soremouth can be prevented with vaccination. <== SHEEP 201 INDEX
Late updated 18-Sep-2011 by Susan Schoenian. Copyright© 2011. Sheep 101 and 201.