Description
Lameness in sheep is regarded by many as one of the most significant welfare concerns of sheep. Currently lameness in the UK is estimated to affect approximately 5% of the UK sheep population, but there is pressure for this to be reduced to below 2% by 2021. Key causes of lameness in sheep are footrot and contagious ovine digital dermatitis (CODD), although other causes may play a role. Recent research has identified effective strategies to reduce lameness due to footrot and there is a growing body of evidence to help deal with CODD on farms. In this webinar we will look at a practical approach to diagnosing, investigating and dealing with lameness on sheep farms and by applying up-to-date evidence understand the tools available to control and reduce lameness on UK farms. Joe graduated as a vet from the University of Liverpool in 2008 and since then has combined research with private veterinary practice. He is currently an associate partner at Wern Veterinary Surgeons in North Wales, and an Honorary Fellow of the University of Liverpool. He holds an MSc in Epidemiology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and a PhD on the epidemiology of contagious ovine digital dermatitis (CODD) from the University of Liverpool. He is currently involved in various research projects on Ischaemic Teat Necrosis in cattle, blood gases in neonatal ruminants and digital dermatitis in cattle, as well as further work on CODD.