The 1,200 sheep farmers in Sligo are suffering an annual income loss of 10 per cent 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 per cent of the 110,000 breeding sheep on Sligo's 1,200 sheep farms suffer from footrot. Many flocks have an infection level of up to 20 per cent of sheep. This is resulting in serious income losses, not to mention the huge drain on labour involved in treating infected animals,” he said.

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

Mr. Morris said footrot is caused by two separate bacteria. It is highly infectious and can be spread by sheep showing no outward disease symptoms. Foot trimming, food bathing and treatment of infected cases will not solve the problem.