foot bathing

[glensman]

What are others using for foot bathing and what is most effective? (sheep)

 

[bruce9001]

We use Formalin 40 and run all our ewes through it twice 10 minutes apart and works perfectly for us!

 

[glensman]

Formalin is the best in my experience but it's nasty stuff,I was wondering was there anything else out there that people find effective.

 

[Downton_shep]

Zinc sulphate works well but they need to stand in it really rather than just run through it.

 

[glensman]

Used it as well but it takes to long to do a bunch.

 

[JohnGalway]

Using zinc sulphate here, big footbath is the answer and letting them stand somewhere dry after. On the bag it reckons only a few minutes for scald, I gave them 5 and it worked well. However it does say 30 mins for footrot, I'd weed them out if possible to do separate maybe at the end.

 

[Castle Farm]

I need to get a foot bath, but where do you get rid of the left over dip ?

 

[Girlfarmer]

Trying formalin this year as wasn't getting good results with golden hoof for what it costs! Using a 3% solution with varying success. Not sure how to improve it really. Do people tend to footbath and let them stand afterwards, before dosing/jabbing them etc. or the other way round? We only have hardcore pens, no concrete, which would be better I know, but soooo expensive to get done! Do people put them through once or twice?

 

[hubbahubba]

5% formalin run through once and onto stone or concrete pen. Job done. Getting lambs to run themselves is a nightmare though.

 

[Downton_shep]

A squirt of fairy liquid does help break surface tension!

 

[pine_guy]

I need to get a foot bath, but where do you get rid of the left over dip ?

Run plenty of sheep through and all you will have is a sh!t puddle to get rid of. Keeping the stuff in should be more your worry and the shape of the footbath can greatly effect this.

 

[pine_guy]

5% formalin run through once and onto stone or concrete pen. Job done. Getting lambs to run themselves is a nightmare though.

To help lambs run in the past I have laid some straw in the race and foot bath, not ideal but helps. Did some older lambs for the first time the other day. Mum was having a clear out and had some foam. Worked a treat, reduced splashing, but more over the lambs ran through will little hesitation. It's the shine/reflection on the water I think they don't like.

 

[Girlfarmer]

I'm wondering if 3% isn't strong enough? What strength does everyone use? Worried about using it too strong and causing more harm than good!

 

[Downton_shep]

4-5% here

 

[100percent]

We mostly use formalin at 5% but have had a little trial with a disinfectant called green gaurdian seemed to clear most nastys up after a couple of days, sheep are green for a couple of days though :/ but don't mind as I know the shepherd has been working

 

[johnflimston]

Anyone using Cling on Blue

 

[JohnGalway]

Run plenty of sheep through and all you will have is a sh!t puddle to get rid of. Keeping the stuff in should be more your worry and the shape of the footbath can greatly effect this.

That's a very good point They tend to splash at any given opportunity, think kids at the beach

 

[JohnGalway]

To help lambs run in the past I have laid some straw in the race and foot bath, not ideal but helps. Did some older lambs for the first time the other day. Mum was having a clear out and had some foam. Worked a treat, reduced splashing, but more over the lambs ran through will little hesitation. It's the shine/reflection on the water I think they don't like.

I remember moving sheep along the shore one time, they'd escaped a parcel of Dads land and gone on an adventure. Anyway it's a very rocky shore and they were well used to hopping from rock to rock, except on the way back the tide was in. Got to one particular place where they'd have hopped on a particular rock, it was only just barely covered with water. Hooves were extended, great thought was given to taking a chance, but in the end no way no how were they taking that step. I don't think they can tell depth.

 

[JD-Kid]

best thing for foot baths

 

[pine_guy]

Not do much to mine, it's plastic

I understand the idea of breeding out problems and improved management but I am a flying flock and it just won't work. What do you do if you get an outbreak of scald in the lambs?