Prevalence of Footrot in Swedish Slaughter Lambs
Author Information
Author(s): Ulrika König, Ann-Kristin Nyman, Kerstin de Verdier
Primary Institution: Swedish Animal Health Service
Hypothesis
What is the prevalence of footrot in Swedish lambs at abattoirs and how is it distributed geographically?
Conclusion
Footrot is fairly common in Swedish slaughter lambs, with a prevalence of 5.8%.
Supporting Evidence
- The prevalence of footrot at the individual sheep level was found to be 5.8%.
- Dichelobacter nodosus was detected in 83% of samples by culture and 97% by PCR.
- Geographical differences in prevalence were observed, with higher rates in northern Sweden.
Takeaway
Footrot is a disease that affects the feet of sheep, and this study found that about 6 out of every 100 lambs had it in Sweden.
Methodology
Visual examination of 2000 feet from 500 lambs submitted from six slaughterhouses, with scoring based on a 0 to 5 system.
Limitations
The study did not collect information about the identity of lambs and sheep farmers due to practical reasons.
Participant Demographics
The study involved lambs from six slaughterhouses across Sweden.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.008
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 3.9% - 8.2%
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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