Footrot is a contagious bacterial disease of sheep and goats, caused by the organism Dichelobacter nodosus (D. nodosus) in association with several other bacteria.

There are many strains of D. nodosus and they vary in the severity of the disease they cause. In an infected flock, multiple strains of D. nodosus may be present. For regulatory purposes, footrot infections are classified as either benign or virulent at the flock level.

Virulent footrot is a severe, debilitating disease resulting in economic loss from reduced wool production (both quality and quantity), weight loss and/or lower growth rates, reduced ewe fertility, increased flystrike risk, and reduced value of sale sheep. There are substantial costs associated with the control of the disease for infected flocks.

Footrot is a notifiable disease in NSW due to the animal welfare and economic impacts. There is regulatory support for compulsory eradication programs in flocks diagnosed with virulent footrot.

In NSW, footrot is a notifiable disease under Schedule 1 of the Biosecurity Regulation 2017 (the Regulation). Clause 7 of the Regulation requires a person to notify an authorised officer under the Biosecurity Act 2015 (the Act) within 1 working day after they suspect or become aware of the presence of footrot in sheep or goats.

This means there is a legal obligation on occupiers of land, owners of stock, persons in charge of travelling stock, and veterinarians or other persons consulted about stock, to notify an authorised officer under the Act (employed by Local Lands Services (LLS)) if footrot is suspected. Regulatory action may result if virulent footrot is not notified promptly.

Notification when lameness is first observed will allow an early diagnosis of the cause of the lameness and provides an opportunity to devise an appropriate response strategy together with a district veterinarian.

Once virulent footrot is diagnosed or suspected, the owner/occupier will be advised by an authorised officer that they must discharge their general biosecurity duty. This will include identifying the actions required to discharge the duty. The authorised officer would also issue the owner/occupier an individual biosecurity direction which specifies the actions required to eradicate virulent footrot. As part of the direction, the owner/occupier is obliged to develop an approved footrot eradication program that is to be carried out within an agreed time. This program must be approved by the local LLS District Veterinarian (DV) and requires full documentation of the procedures to be followed.

The eradication program will be reviewed at regular intervals, and if progress is considered unsatisfactory, regulatory action may then be taken. The use of accredited footrot contractors to assist with eradication programs is strongly encouraged.

The diagnosis of footrot in a flock is an act of veterinary science governed by the NSW Veterinary Practice Act 2003 and must be made by a veterinarian. Local Land Services (LLS) veterinarians assist owners of infected flocks to develop a compulsory disease eradication program that will work for their property and flock. The details will vary depending on the enterprise types on the property.

Further laboratory information and submission forms can be found here.

The three main environmental factors necessary for a footrot infection to establish and then transmit from sheep to sheep are:

• an average daily temperature of 10°C or higher for 4–5 days and
• adequate moisture and
• adequate pasture length or pasture density to make feet susceptible to infection

Footrot will not spread during hot and dry weather conditions.

In southern NSW, the main footrot seasons are spring, wet autumns and mild winters. In northern NSW, summer rainfall is a determining factor and conditions suitable for spread are less predictable.

Footrot does not affect people.

The NSW Footrot Strategic Plan

The NSW sheep industry implemented the NSW Footrot Strategic Plan in 1988. The plan was developed jointly by the sheep industry and government, with the aim of eradicating virulent footrot from NSW. Due to the efforts of this strategy, the prevalence of virulent footrot in NSW has been reduced to less than 1% of flocks. This milestone was achieved in August 2009.

Ongoing surveillance and response activities have maintained our prevalence status to date. However, footrot remains a significant disease risk to the NSW sheep industry due to the large numbers of sheep movements occurring across the country. Eradication programs are continuing in flocks where footrot has been detected, and producers need to remain vigilant to keep the disease out of clean flocks.

Approved disease eradication programs

Unless destocking is chosen, eradication programs usually require multiple inspections of all sheep on the property. Accurate assessment of the disease state of every hoof of every sheep is a key factor in eradicating the disease quickly and minimising costs to the stock owner. This is where the assistance of an accredited footrot contractor can make the difference between a successful program and a failure.

Accredited contractors are experienced in detecting footrot, especially in sheep that may be potential carriers of infection, and they have specialised handling equipment to make the job easier. They may also be more able to make an objective decision about which sheep to cull from a mob than the owner. Holding on to sheep which have not responded well to footrot treatments is a guarantee of failure for the program.

Accredited Footrot Contractors

The Livestock Contractors Footrot Certification Scheme was established as part of the NSW Footrot Strategic Plan to facilitate the involvement of experienced contractors in footrot programs. The Scheme has been endorsed by the NSW Footrot Steering Committee, the Livestock Contractors Association and the Veterinary Practitioners Board of NSW.

After the initial diagnosis of footrot is made in a flock and an approved disease eradication plan is developed with an LLS veterinarian, the program can be managed by an accredited contractor who makes regular reports to the LLS veterinarian.

To become accredited, contractors must meet strict criteria which are outlined in the Livestock Contractors Footrot Certification Scheme Procedure.

Accreditation is for a period of five years, after which contractors may apply for re-accreditation. The following contractors are approved to undertake footrot work in NSW:

Accredited footrot contractors in NSW as at 19 May 2025

Development of footrot in sheep

The development of footrot in sheep depends on both infective and environmental factors.

Infective factors

The bacterium D. nodosus

• must be present for footrot to develop
• will not survive in the environment for more than 4 days even under favourable conditions
• may persist for many years in the feet of infected sheep, even under dry conditions
• will not invade dry healthy feet
• will only establish if conditions are right for the development of dermatitis between the claws

Footrot is introduced into a clean flock by the introduction of infected sheep or exposure to contaminated land.

Environmental factors

The three main environmental factors necessary for a footrot infection to establish and then transmit from sheep to sheep are:

• an average daily temperature of 10°C or higher for 4–5 days and
• adequate moisture and
• adequate pasture length or pasture density to make feet susceptible to infection

Footrot will not spread during hot and dry weather conditions.

In southern NSW, the main footrot seasons are spring, wet autumns and mild winters. In northern NSW, summer rainfall is a determining factor and conditions suitable for spread are less predictable.

Table 1: Differentiating between footrot and foot abscess in sheep.

There are many strains of D. nodosus and they vary in the severity of the disease they cause.

Benign strains

Benign strains usually cause lesions that are mild and resolve as conditions dry off, without treatment. Infection with benign strains is termed ‘benign footrot’.

Virulent strains

Virulent strains usually cause severe lesions associated with lameness, loss of production and, in severe cases, deaths. Lesions can become chronic and cause deformities of the hooves. Infection with virulent strains is termed ‘virulent footrot’.

The effect of the current environmental conditions on the expression of footrot (development of lesions) in a flock must always be considered when investigating lame sheep. Distinguishing benign and virulent footrot may require repeated inspections of a mob if conditions for spread are not favourable. Flocks will be placed under quarantine for suspicion of footrot if a government veterinarian believes that further inspections are required. A program of inspections and possibly laboratory testing will be developed to determine the diagnosis.

In NSW the term ‘footrot’, when used in the context of notification means benign or virulent footrot where an investigation is required to differentiate the strain/s. When ‘footrot’ is used in the context of control and eradication, this means virulent footrot has been confirmed.

Lesion development

The development of footrot lesions depends on:

• the presence of D. nodosus and the strain/s involved,
• host susceptibility (younger sheep are generally more susceptible than older sheep, Merinos are generally more susceptible than crossbreds)
• environmental factors (see above),
• predisposing infection with other bacteria between the claws.

In warm moist conditions, inflammation between the claws (score 1 and score 2) can develop into typical virulent footrot (score 3 and score 4) within 2 weeks if virulent strains of D. nodosus are present.

In the absence of virulent strains, lesions will not normally progress to the more severe form of the disease, even in the warm, moist conditions that are ideal for spread. However, a small percentage of sheep affected by benign strains, especially younger naïve sheep, may develop scores 3 and 4 lesions. Most of these will heal without treatment when pastures dry off.

The clinical expression of the disease is strongly influenced by any treatments given, and by the environmental conditions at the time. In cold conditions or dry situations, virulent footrot may not develop into the typical score 4 lesion but may remain at score 2 or score 3. However, when these sheep are exposed to warm wet conditions, the disease will develop.

Distinguishing between the forms of footrot

Differentiating between benign and virulent footrot requires the integration of clinical examination of sufficient sheep together with flock history and environmental assessment.  Hence, suspect cases of footrot should be notified to a district veterinarian, or other authorised officer, within one working day. Re-examination after 2-4 weeks may be necessary in some cases to check lesion progression and differentiate benign from virulent footrot.

Destock or on-farm eradication?

Before embarking on an on-farm eradication program, eradication by destocking of the whole flock should be considered. Destocking is a viable option as there is a ready source of clean restocker sheep in NSW.   Best practice for sourcing restocker sheep would be to request a Sheep Health Statement from the seller.

On-farm eradication programs

1. Control phase: before and during the spread period, to reduce the level of infection in the flock to the stage where eradication becomes feasible.
2. Eradication phase: involves the detection and removal of all infected sheep in the flock during the non-spread period.
3. Surveillance phase: involves monitoring the whole flock to ensure the disease has been eradicated and preventing re-infection.

Considerations when undertaking an on-farm eradication program

The following points are important:

1. Rely on the experts. An on-farm eradication program undertaken under the close supervision of an experienced veterinarian (District Veterinarian or private practitioner), with assistance from an accredited footrot contractor or a LLS Biosecurity officer, has the best chance of success.

   There are no shortcuts to eradication.

2. Relying on cheap treatments, or skipping treatments or inspections, will result in failure. Clean musters every time, and accurate record keeping are essential. All sheep should be marked with scourable paint at each inspection to make it easy to identify any that have been missed. Keeping infected animals that do not respond to early treatment will also result in the breakdown of the program.
3. The eradication program must be planned. Plan your eradication program in consultation with your veterinarian as early as possible in the year. Allocate suitable periods of time to carry out control and eradication programs in the flock. Prepare contingency plans following the eradication phase in case the disease reappears in one or two mobs. Allocate separate areas of the property for clean mobs and infected mobs, with separate handling facilities wherever possible.
4. Maintain facilities. Eradication is assisted by having sound fencing and good facilities for the handling, inspection and treatment of sheep.
5. Do not attempt an eradication program while the disease is still spreading. The disease will spread at a faster rate than it can be cured, so little will be achieved. Seek advice from your veterinarian on the time that spread is likely to occur in your district, and plan to start the eradication phase of your program after that.
6. The major effort should be spent on the mobs inspected and classed as clean. Many graziers consider sheep to be clean on the basis of one examination, but in most flocks some infected sheep will be missed. Reinspections of the clean mob to look for infected sheep are essential.  Unless they are found and culled these sheep will spread infection in the next footrot season.
7. Footrot is eradicated by culling, not curing, infected sheep. The sooner treatment of infected sheep can be stopped in non-spread conditions and replaced by culling, the chances of achieving eradication are much better.
   Cull (remove from the property) all infected sheep as soon as possible. While infected sheep remain on the property, they are a threat to clean sheep. Many eradication programs fail because infected sheep stray into a clean mob or because graziers spend too much time trying to cure infected sheep and not enough time ensuring that clean sheep are, in fact, clean.
8. Watch for carrier animals. Under dry conditions, some apparently normal sheep can carry virulent strains of the organism as a small pocket of infection in the claws. These sheep may not be lame, but they can still cause a breakdown in the flock when conditions are suitable for spread.
9. Treatment makes infected sheep harder to detect. Any treatments applied during the eradication phase, e.g. foot bathing, antibiotics, can make detection of sheep that are not totally cured much more difficult.
10. Dry conditions make infected sheep harder to detect.
11. Footrot usually cannot be considered eradicated until the flock goes through a season conducive to spread without showing evidence of the disease.
12. Prevent re-infection. Avoid re-infection from introduced sheep or from neighbouring properties. Isolate all introduced sheep for as long as possible to ensure freedom from footrot.

Footrot eradication programs have three phases:

1. Control: steps are taken to stop spread of footrot and minimise the number of infected animals
2. Eradication: all remaining infected animals are identified and culled
3. Surveillance: check eradication has been successful

Phase 1: Control phase

The control phase should be used before and during the spread period to reduce the number of infected sheep that will need to be culled during the eradication phase. Minimise the spread of footrot and the number of infected sheep by foot bathing and paring.

Treatments

1. Foot bathing

Traditional foot bathing alone will not eradicate footrot but a well-designed foot bathing program can help clean sheep to resist infection during the spread period and will minimise the number of sheep that need to be culled at subsequent eradication inspections. Sheep must be treated regularly (see below).

Do not use foot bathing in non-spread periods as it will delay or mask the expression of footrot in carrier sheep.

The two main preparations available are:

1. Zinc sulphate.  Treat sheep every 5–7 days by walking them through a 10-20% zinc sulphate solution in a footbath at least 8 metres long. Holding sheep in the bath for 15-30 minutes, followed by drying on concrete or grating, will cure a significant number of sheep.

1. Radicate^®. This is a commercial copper-based footbath solution. Hold sheep in the solution for 15 minutes, and then allow to dry for 1 hour on concrete or grating. Treatment must be repeated in 1–2 weeks. Good cure rates can be expected in a significant number of sheep. Formalin was once widely used as an external disinfectant but is no longer recommended due to human health and safety concerns, and the potential masking of lesions in carriers.

2. Foot paring

Minimal paring of feet may assist penetration of footbath chemicals, but it is preferable to postpone paring until the first eradication inspection at the end of the spread period.

3. Vaccination

Vaccination may control the severity and prevalence of virulent footrot but may only be used in accordance with an eradication plan compiled by a district veterinarian and following written approval of the NSW Chief Veterinary Officer. There is currently one commercially available vaccine for treating footrot. It is a killed, multi-serotype (10 strain) vaccine registered to aid in the control of footrot in sheep and lambs. The strain specific vaccines are not currently available.  Footrot vaccines offer a relatively short period of protection against infection.

Phase 2: Eradication phase

During the eradication, infected sheep are identified and culled. Before an eradication phase is considered, the disease should have been controlled during the spread period and the prevalence of infection reduced to minimise the number of sheep that will need to be culled. If the disease has not been controlled during the spread period, more animals will need to be culled.

Consider immediately destocking mobs that have significant numbers of infected animals on the first inspection. An alternative, particularly when the proportion of infected animals is low, is to immediately cull those animals on each inspection. During the eradication phase, only attempt to treat when culling is not an option, e.g. lambs/weaners or high value animals.

Procedure

1. Examine every foot of all sheep in the flock. Make a decision on whether to:
   • cull infected mobs, or
   • cull individual infected sheep, or
   • treat infected sheep.

   An ‘infected foot’ is any foot that the operator is not sure is free of footrot. Consider ‘doubtful’ feet as infected.

2. Reinspect all feet of all sheep in 3–6 weeks and cull all infected sheep. Do not keep any sheep treated on the first round that still have lesions.
3. Repeat the previous step every 3–6 weeks until there have been two successive clean inspections, with no infected sheep found.

Marking all sheep with scourable paint as they are inspected is an important part of the eradication program. It provides a means to separate clean and suspect sheep. It also allows sheep that have missed inspection to be identified back in the paddock.  Clean musters are essential. Missing sheep must be found before returning inspected sheep to their paddocks.

At inspection, use minimal paring to return feet to normal shape and to expose deep-seated infection. Avoid radical, or severe foot paring that will cause lameness and animal welfare issues; it will not improve cure rates. Taking the time to pare feet correctly at first inspection will pay off at subsequent inspections in an eradication program, as assessment will be quicker and more accurate.

Treatments

Where a decision is made to salvage animals by treatment and inspection, the following treatments are available.

1. Foot bathing - see previous section.
2. Antibiotics - Antibiotics are only available through your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will decide which product  is most suited to your eradication program. Accurate dosing and sound hygiene procedures are important. Generally, the sheep’s feet must be kept dry (e.g. on grating) for up to 12 hours after treatment. Appropriate withholding periods and export slaughter intervals must be observed before sending sheep to slaughter.
3. Foot paring - Light paring to expose infection is recommended.

Do not spend time trying to cure sheep that have not responded to an initial treatment. Sheep that fail to respond to treatment, either antibiotics or foot bathing, are often very difficult to cure and should be culled.

Phase 3: Surveillance Phase

The surveillance phase must:

• allow early detection of any breakdown in the eradication program,
• include a contingency plan to deal with any breakdown, and
• prevent re-infection from strays or introductions.

Inspect your flock regularly for any signs of lameness during autumn, winter and early spring. Seek prompt advice from your veterinarian on the cause of any lameness detected.

If a breakdown is detected, implement your contingency plan to confine the infection to a part of the property, and take immediate steps to eliminate the problem.

Preventing re-infection

Once the disease has been eradicated from the flock, prevent re-infection by minimising the risk from strays and introductions. Keep boundary fences well maintained.

Introduced sheep should only come from a flock known to be clean, and where the owner of that flock is prepared to complete and sign section B of the National Sheep Health Statement. You should always request a signed National Sheep Health Statement from the vendor before taking delivery of any sheep.

In addition, check the sheep carefully on arrival. Keep introduced sheep in isolation and monitor closely until they have passed through a spread period without showing any signs of footrot.

Developing a comprehensive on-farm biosecurity program that addresses straying onto and off your property and the risk of disease from introduced stock, is strongly recommended. This will guard against several important diseases of sheep. Stray sheep or goats should not be tolerated – they are dangerous to road-users and neighbouring sheep flocks. Stray sheep should never be put over a fence, without the express approval of that landowner.

Where there is a suspicion of footrot in a district owners should not share roads or any other ground with other flock owners, unless there is at least 7 days between sheep movements.

More information can be found at the Farm Biosecurity website, or by talking to your veterinarian.

Post–release inspection requirement

Flocks released from quarantine require a surveillance inspection following the next spread period after release. Strategies used must have a high probability of detecting virulent footrot if still present in the flock. In small flocks (<100), all sheep should be examined. In flocks >100 sheep, muster what is considered the highest risk mob(s) for breakdown (hospital mob, any with initial large number of lesions) and inspect 100 sheep at random in each mob and any lame sheep.

An alternative might be to conduct paddock inspection of all mobs with any lame sheep caught and examined for footrot.

Footrot is a notifiable disease in goats, even if they are run on a property with no sheep.

Footrot infection in goats does not behave in the same way as in sheep. It is impossible to distinguish between the benign and virulent strains of footrot by clinically examining a number of goats.

The benign forms of footrot may cause severe underrunning in goats, and the virulent forms may cause only inflammation between the claws, with little or no underrunning. In goat herds, a laboratory test may be used to assist in differentiating between benign and virulent footrot.

However, in footrot eradication programs, goats have to be treated in the same way as sheep, and any lesions in goats must be viewed with suspicion.

Goats can carry the virulent form of footrot between properties and can infect sheep under suitable environmental conditions.

D. nodosus infection does occur in cattle, but nearly all the cases that have been investigated are due to benign strains.

Where cattle and sheep are both grazed on a property, it will not be possible to eradicate benign footrot from the sheep flock as cattle can act as carriers of the bacteria.

Virulent footrot organisms have occasionally been isolated from cattle in other states, but there are no reports in NSW despite the presence of cattle on many properties from which footrot has been eradicated. Owners should discuss with their veterinarian the role of cattle when planning an eradication program.

During spread periods, cattle movements should be considered as a possible method of mechanical transfer of the footrot organism between paddocks.

For more information on footrot contact your Local Land Services veterinarian on 1300 795 299.

For general inquiries regarding biosecurity, phone 1800 680 244 or email animal.biosecurity@dpird.nsw.gov.au