Footrot resources
Information available to woolgrowers about footrot has been boosted by the launch of two new resources: the South Australian version of ‘Footrot: A guide to identification and control in the field’, and a website by University of Sydney: www.footrotsydney.org.
Footrot management strategies can include footbathing. PHOTO: James Tyson
Information available to woolgrowers about footrot has been boosted by the launch of two new resources: the South Australian version of ‘Footrot: A guide to identification and control in the field’, and a website by University of Sydney: www.footrotsydney.org.
The South Australian version of ‘Footrot: A guide to identification and control in the field’, from AWI, Sheep Connect SA and PIRSA Biosecurity SA, is now available to download and in a hard copy. The new ute guide has been built using the popular Tasmanian version of the publication as a base, including SA-specific guidelines and contact details.
The University of Sydney recently launched a new website that provides a suite of technical resources, based on decades of research partly funded by AWI. Suitable for veterinarians and other animal health practitioners as well as producers, the information on the website ranges from footrot diagnosis to its prevention, treatment, control and eradication.
The website can be accessed directly at www.footrotsydney.org, but can also be accessed via the AWI website at www.wool.com/footrot, which contains links to the ute guide from South Australia and other useful footrot information, such as:
- Farmer Footrot Tool, an excel spreadsheet developed under the direction of Tasmania DPIPWE with funding from AWI to help footrot-affected producers understand the financial cost of the disease on their farm and to evaluate the cost effectiveness of different strategies to control or eradicate the disease.
- Footrot Ute Guide, a guide to identification and control of footrot in the field, which was developed by AWI’s Tasmanian grower extension network, Sheep Connect Tasmania, as part of a collaborative project with DPIPWE. The guide outlines the disease’s cause, symptoms, treatment, management and eradication options. It also features case studies from two Tasmanian producers who have overcome the challenges of footrot.
While the number of flocks with virulent (severe) strains of footrot has been reduced considerably over the past 20 years, footrot remains a serious disease with significant welfare and economic impacts. Virulent footrot can be eradicated from flocks but at considerable expense. Success is often season dependent because wet, warm conditions favour footrot. Less virulent strains can cause considerable lameness and production loss but may not be eradicable.
An AWI funded project, commenced in 2018/19, with the University of Sydney and Treidlia Biovet, to investigate a new multivalent vaccine formulation is expected to lead to improved short-term protection or control of footrot.
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This article appeared in the March 2020 edition of AWI’s Beyond the Bale magazine. Reproduction of the article is encouraged, however prior permission must be obtained from the Editor.
