Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from November, 2013

Hoof Care

Hoof care is extremely important for the well being of your flock. Sheep with hoof problems will fail to thrive and meet their full genetic potential. Hooves should be regularly checked for overgrowth and disease. The diseases affecting the hoof are foot rot, foot scald, foot abscess, foot and mouth disease, bluetounge, soremouth and laminitis. The condition of the hoof depends on the breed of sheep,the genetics, the farm management and the soil condition. Lameness in a sheep is a sign of several foot conditions many that are serious. A perfect hoof should be flat at the bottom and have a boxy shape. Sheep grazed on rocky dry land usually need less hoof care than those grazed on moist rock less land. Sheep in high rainfall areas will need their hoofs checked more regularly. The two most common disease of the foot in sheep are footrot and scald. Foot rot is responsible for 90% of lameness in sheep. A rotting smell of the foot is a sign of footrot Ewes that have excess