The Poultry Keeper

Marti · Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Posts: 14 Location: England

Hi,

I got five sheep a couple of weeks ago. At first all was well, but when I put them on some new pasture a couple got scald. Now, the grass is longish, about 8-10", but it hasn't been THAT wet lately.

Anyone else have this problem?

I treated the scald and the limping stopped, but am just wondering as if this happens even in summer I'm a little worried what on earth will happen in winter!

Marti

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 1183 Location: Cornwall

YOu can vaccinate against footrot/scald but not sure if you have to buy huge amounts of vaccine or if you can get smaller amounts.

Winter shouldnt be a problem, as the bacteria only live in warm damp grass/soil.

Make sure you move the water containers to an area that's well drained so any spillage is soaked up quickly and move them around the field so they're not on the same soil all the time (water not sheep). Same goes for feeders/

Can you move them onto another field thats not got the bacteria on it? Say for 2 weeks after treatment of scald, then move them back again to the main grazing area?

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1721 Location: Clawddnewydd

Scald usually occurs with long wet grass. The wet softens up the area between their toes and then the long grass cuts them, you know how painful grass/paper cuts are! Then the cuts become infected with the same bacteria that cause footrot. Scald is far easier to treat than footrot, but it necessitates moving them onto short grass or keeping them in for a while to let their skin harden up again. When you treat them, make sure you keep them on hard standing until the spray has time to dry!! This year scald and footrot are a nightmare Evil or Very Mad

Marti · Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Posts: 14 Location: England

Thank you for the reply! I have them on a relatively small patch which they will shortly eat down. The weather forecast is dry, so I'll try to leave them there for a couple of days and see if things get better. If they don't, then they'll have to move.

I'm new to sheep. I didn't think I could drive them up to the hardstanding myself, so I just treated the foot that was hurting by holding it in zinc sulphate for 5 minutes this morning. They aren't all that used to lots of handling, so it hasn't been the easiest of mornings!

I got a footbath so maybe I can get them all up onto the hardstanding and get them into the darn thing for 5 minutes each..... Shocked

Marti