Lewis Katharine Eleanor, Green Martin, Clifton Rachel, Monaghan Emma, Prosser Naomi, Nabb Elizabeth, Green Laura
School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
Institute of Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
Animals (Basel). 2024 Jul 14;14(14):2066. doi: 10.3390/ani14142066.
Since 2004, the prevalence of lameness in sheep flocks in England has reduced as farmers have adopted evidence-based management practices to control lameness. In 2011, the Farm Animal Welfare Council proposed a target prevalence of <2% lameness in sheep by 2021. This study investigated whether that target had been achieved and determined which practices were associated with prevalence of lameness. A postal questionnaire was sent to 1000 randomly selected farmers to investigate the prevalence of lameness and management practices in 2022. The geometric mean prevalence of lameness was <2% in ewes and lambs, but the median was 3%; approximately 26% flocks had <2% lameness. Data were analysed using robust variable selection with multivariable linear models. Farmers that quarantined ewes for ≥3 weeks and did not use foot bathing or foot trimming to prevent lameness had 40-50% lower prevalence of lameness than those not using these practices. Fewer farmers (19.0%) were always using parenteral antimicrobials to treat footrot, an effective practice, than in previous research (49.7%). We conclude that the target of <2% lameness in England has been achieved by 26% of farmers, and further work is required for more farmers to follow the evidence-based management practices to minimise lameness.
自2004年以来，随着养殖户采用循证管理措施来控制跛足问题，英格兰羊群中跛足的患病率有所下降。2011年，农场动物福利委员会提出到2021年绵羊跛足患病率的目标为低于2%。本研究调查了该目标是否已实现，并确定了哪些措施与跛足患病率相关。向1000名随机挑选的养殖户发送了邮政调查问卷，以调查2022年跛足的患病率和管理措施。母羊和羔羊跛足的几何平均患病率低于2%，但中位数为3%；约26% 的羊群跛足率低于2%。使用稳健变量选择和多变量线性模型对数据进行分析。将母羊隔离≥3周且不使用足浴或修蹄来预防跛足的养殖户，其跛足患病率比未采用这些措施的养殖户低40 - 50%。与之前的研究（49.7%）相比，一直使用肠胃外抗菌药物治疗腐蹄病（一种有效措施）的养殖户较少（19.0%）。我们得出结论，26% 的养殖户实现了英格兰跛足率低于2% 的目标，还需要进一步努力让更多养殖户遵循循证管理措施，以尽量减少跛足情况。
