Factors affecting the prevalence and severity of footrot in a Merino flock selected for resistance to Haemonchus contortus

Abstract

An outbreak of virulent footrot occurred in three lines of sheep selected for different levels of resistance to Haemonchus contortus, providing an opportunity to examine the factors affecting footrot severity. The selection lines did not differ significantly in average footrot score, but various other factors were found to have an effect. In breeding ewes, the average score was 10.2 (maximum possible score 20) and the prevalence of footrot was 96%. There was a significant age effect, with average score increasing from 9.1 +/- 0.8 in 2-year-old ewes, to 13.4 +/- 0.9 in 7-year-old ewes. Ewes that lost their lambs tended to have higher scores than those that either failed to lamb or successfully reared their litter. Significant differences in footrot score were caused by the lambing paddock in which the ewes had been, during the period seven weeks to one week before infection. Among lambs, aged about 20 weeks, the average footrot score was lower (5.0), as was the prevalence (75%). The score increased by an average of 0.09 +/- 0.03 per day of age and the prevalence increased by an average of 0.6% +/- 0.3% per day of age. Lambs born and reared as twins had significantly lower scores than singles, and progeny of maiden dams had lower scores than progeny of older ewes. There was no significant difference because of the sex of the lamb.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)