The current run of hot dry weather has been a great opportunity to tip some ewes over to sort out lingering infection before it spreads again in the Autumn.

The works are getting picky about what is acceptable for transport and processing. Vet certificates can allow them to get priority processing if you do have space.

What are some options if you are having to keep and treat lame ewes for breeding:

A plan is important. What are the trimmers for, how much do you pare? Do you carry on tipping if there is a lot of scald? What are the daily targets to get through?
A pre-wash bath, a good handling facility, a set of sharp trimmers (pneumatics for the hard ones) can make a big difference. Don’t make them bleed. Running through pre-wash not only increases sensitivity it also softens hoof for easier trimming. Trimming itself is not a treatment. It is a diagnostic aid.
CULL mis-shapen, multi-feet infections that are too far gone. Some sheep just keep getting re-infected and have lost too much condition to turn around.
Antibiotics. There are some useful long acting formulation s that achieve good efficacy provided you do the follow-up (below). Vet only tilmovet is still the best.
Topical something – a 10% zinc troughing or blue spray into lesions after the diagnostic trim and dose of antibiotics.
A night on the grating post treatment. This allows feet to dry out and allow treatment reach peak concentration on the hoof. Seems to make a big difference.
Follow up treated cases. Do this ~14 days after treatment is important. This is to remove dried up lesions and expose any pockets of bacteria that maybe hanging on. Applying blue spray or another zinc troughing after the check is ideal. Antibiotics will relieve clinical signs of footrot, but they can also suppress footrot bacteria that can re-surface 2-3months later, and possibly be more tolerant to subsequent treatments, so this clear-up check and trim is essential.

Footvax sensitizer to clean sheep now can give you options for booster shot pre-tup and/or pre-lamb. For irrigated properties troughing and footvax are your best footrot control tools.