VIRULENT footrot has hit the Central Tablelands.
After an outbreak was discovered in the Central West this month, now district vets in the Central Tablelands are following suit and scrambling to trace flocks of sheep which may be carrying the notifiable disease.
Earlier this month six properties in the Coonamble, Narromine, Warren, Nyngan and Gilgandra regions were found to have the disease, with vets continuing to trace flocks to ascertain its spread.
Central Tablelands Local Land Services (LLS) district veterinarian Dr Amy Masters said that six properties in this region were currently under quarantine for virulent footrot.
She said about four of these properties, which are located in the Mudgee, Molong, Bathurst and Canowindra areas, have been diagnosed in the past two weeks.
She said the wet weather had given vets very short periods of time to assess flocks.
The cooler temperatures in parts of the Tablelands have played a part in the recent discovery. “Some areas haven’t reached the warmer temperatures which make it ideal conditions for footrot,” she said.
Dr Masters said some of the discoveries have come from tracings, but others had come from farmers who had noticed lame sheep.
“Tracings are still ongoing,” she said. “There is a very low prevalence of footrot in the state, but vets are seeing it on places that haven’t had it before or not for a very long time.”
Signs of footrot include lame sheep, inflammation between the digits and under-running of the sole and heel. In severe cases, sheep will lie down, walk on their knees and lose weight.
Dr Masters urged farmers to monitor their flocks, and to call their local vet if they suspect the disease.
“Just remember, not every lame sheep is going to be a case of virulent footrot,” she said.
She said farmers could protect themselves from footrot by insisting on a Sheep Health Statement when buying sheep, and quarantining newly introduced stock for at least two weeks.
But as the weather warms up, Dr Masters said there was a possibility more cases of footrot would show up.
“We want to prepare for the worst. We want people to be vigilant,” she said. “I think we will have to wait and see if it is going to be a problem in the Central Tablelands.”
Virulent footrot is caused by the bacteria dichelobacter nodosus, and is notifiable under the Stock Diseases Act 1923.
