Treatment Options for Footrot: Sheep

Abstract

The most productive animal husbandry that can be done in Turkey is sheep farming. It provides a suitable environment with its climate, natural structure and agriculture. In places where pasture animal husbandry is done, sheep farming is especially preferred. Foot diseases have an important place in sheep farming. It is quite effective on meat, milk, fertility and wool yield. It causes significant economic losses both individually and as a flock. Footrot is known as the most important of infectious sheep foot diseases. The disease occurs with the single or synergistic effect of predisposing and causing factors. Constantly moist and wet ground in pens and pastures depending on the climate and season, inadequate attention is paid to hoof care, mineral deficiency in rations and the involvement of infectious agents such as Fusobacterium necrophorum and Dichelobacter nodosus are effective in the formation of the disease. The main reasons for the regional differences in the disease are reported as climate, shelter and nutrition. In addition to these, racial predisposition due to congenital posture disorders is effective in the formation of the disease. Especially in places where pasture animal husbandry is done, the formation of diseases is also shaped due to trauma and contusions that directly affect the hoof. Based on these reasons, it is not possible to obtain a disease-free flock by only keeping good quality animals. All the factors listed should be taken into consideration and the animals should definitely be under the control of breeders or caretakers. Because with good observation and control, diseases can be detected at an acute level and the treatment process can be started early. Footrot is a specific infectious foot disease. The disease is characterized by inflammation and necrosis of the interdigital skin. In the formation of footrot, Fusobacterium necrophorum affects the interdigital skin and causes a foul-smelling exudative inflammation only in the skin part, while Dichelobacter nodosus acts by secreting a proteolytic enzyme that destroys the epidermal tissue. It is the most important reason for the welfare problem in sheep breeding. Yield losses due to footrot consist of meat, milk, offspring and wool, while economic losses consist of treatment and care costs. The fact that sheep are considered as a flock and losses are tolerable does not require treatment. In this review, treatment options for footrot, which significantly affects sheep breeding in our country, are discussed based on current information.