CARLOW’S 870 sheep farm-ers are suffering an annual income loss of 10% due to footrot, according to a leading veterinary expert.

Fergal Morris, veterinary adviser with Schering Plough Animal Health said as margins come under increasing pressure this loss could be dramatically reduced through effective control measures and annual vaccination.

According to Teagasc, an average of 10% of the 140,000 breeding sheep on Carlow’s 870 sheep farms suffer from footrot. Many flocks have an infection level of up to 20% of sheep. This is resulting in serious income losses, not to mention the huge drain on labour involved in treating infected animals.”

“Research shows that the income drop from a sheep infected with footrot could be as high as 60% as a result of poor performance, smaller lambs at birth, lower milk yields immediately after lambing, culling and treat-ment costs. The overall loss in income per farm could be over 10%,” Mr. Morris warned.

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Source: Carlow Nationalist
January 5, 2006

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