Footbaths

[paul&mandy]

Need to run lambs through something for scald. Can get them on concrete or short dry grass. We use a rappa mobile yard with a double race setup.
What do you all use to footbath ewes and lambs? Need to walk through not stand so a big ish bath ideally. About 3000 to walk through.

 

[paul&mandy]

photo of our race

 

[andybk]

just a long footbath at end hurdles either side , 4% formalin mix , be warned they will knock the worst of the scald but the bug is like rust and will get places formula cant reach so some lambs will continue to limp after a few days , i tend to footbath a few times over a month , then go through any limpers with clippers carefully exposing infection , oh and sprinkle straw over bath first time through lambs will run better ,

 

[neilo]

photo of our race

Formalin (at 4%) is cheap, cheerful and effective for scald.
Do them out into fields that haven’t had sheep on for 10+ days, even if you can’t stand them on concrete. The bacteria responsible live off sheep for 10days, so turning them back onto the same fields will have you doing it again sooner.

I would get two wide, plastic foot baths and put them end to end in one of the drenching races, so that they run through both one after the other for better chemical contact. A longer foot bath will also mean they can see sheep running in front all the time.

As above, stick some hay/straw/wool on the water to break the shine for the first time through.

If you’re doing them in the field, be prepared for a dead patch of grass where they run out as the formalin will kill it.
Have fun.

 

[andybk]

isn scald the most irritating thing that lambs get , one sheep limping this week , the whole lot next , and hides itself inside the foot to re-infect .Thankfully weather usually sorts most issues

 

[Yale]

We have a galvanised 3m foot bath which with a bit of modification with a hammer fits in the Rappa race.

 

[Northern territory]

I set it up with the Wooden ally boards at the end of the prattley in the wider pin holes. Plastic bath. Works ok but keeping lambs going first couple of times is the hardest bit. Where goggles or sunglasses and have some water nearby as if you get some in the face it stings like hell.

 

[exmoor dave]

Need to run lambs through something for scald. Can get them on concrete or short dry grass. We use a rappa mobile yard with a double race setup.
What do you all use to footbath ewes and lambs? Need to walk through not stand so a big ish bath ideally. About 3000 to walk through.

10ft x 3ft plastic footbath for cattle are brilliant for footbathing sheep,
You wouldn't go back to single file set up after using a wide bath.

Only trouble is the baths have got fair expensive

 

[Al R]

The footbath mats are ideal for lambs, trays better for ewes. What I’ve done before from the DF race is made a V from the 2 DF gates down to a straight with hurdles and put the footbath in there with metal pegs in the ground (angle iron) to keep the hurdles tight to the footbath so they can’t put their feet out the sides.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

10ft x 3ft plastic footbath for cattle are brilliant for footbathing sheep,
You wouldn't go back to single file set up after using a wide bath.

Only trouble is the baths have got fair expensive

But as you say, once tried never gone back too singles!

 

[Moors Lad]

Paxton FB4 here (approx 10 ft x 3ft ) . Brilliant for getting lambs through with the ewes.

 

[Yale]

Who else puts some straw in to help get the sheep to flow?

 

[Six Dogs]

We buy some cheap upholstery foam about 2 inch thick,uses less chemical no splashing and sheep walk easily through it,lasts a good couple of years

 

[neilo]

Who else puts some straw in to help get the sheep to flow?

Wool’s cheaper.

 

[Al R]

Wool’s cheaper.

I don’t think there is any product cheaper than wool? Possibly Air but give it a few months and wool will probably be cheaper than that

 

[Estate fencing.]

Who else puts some straw in to help get the sheep to flow?

I do, no one who doesn’t have sheep would understand the anger of getting 500 lambs through a footbath with out straw! also formalin in the eyes isn’t much fun.

 

[paul&mandy]

10ft x 3ft plastic footbath for cattle are brilliant for footbathing sheep,
You wouldn't go back to single file set up after using a wide bath.

Only trouble is the baths have got fair expensive

That's the sort of thing I'm looking for. Might go double length so there walking through longer.

 

[Moors Lad]

Ideally we put them through 3 times - concrete pen either side of footbath - not always practical but it`s a RR job!

 

[Al R]

I do, no one who doesn’t have sheep would understand the anger of getting 500 lambs through a footbath with out straw! also formalin in the eyes isn’t much fun.

Before I had mats I would run them through the footbath empty and then half fill it and then fill it, a lot of work but now I can push lambs through and they run without needing ewes as leaders.. never used straw or wool in any of mine

 

[Alias]

We have two short wide plastic foot baths instead of one long one. Makes it much easier to level up and handle, all our fields are on a slope