Grant ID Number: LNE10-294
Grant Recipient: Richard Brzozowski, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Portland ME
Footrot is a contagious disease requiring persistent hoof trimming, foot bathing, customized vaccines, and farmer diligence, using up time and money. The project manager will address prevention, causes, and treatment for footrot with a specific focus on genetic selection for resistance, foot management, and the importance of biosecurity, and will work with sheep farmers to collect foot management results and genetic markers for resistance. As a result, 150 producers will reduce losses in their sheep operation due to footrot by at least $210,000, representing a 70 percent reduction in the disease, and will have a defined plan to develop a footrot-free flock.
