The Effects of Pasture Characteristics and Seasonal Differences on Sheep Foot Diseases: A Field Study on the Kars and Igdir Regions - Turkey

With this study, in which the incidences of diseases seen in sheep feet raised in the Kars and Igdir regions were evaluated clinically and radiologically according to two different seasons, a total of 8.000 sheep were examined in the pasture (n=4230) and pen/stall (n=3770) seasons; problems were detected in 1.080 (25.51%) of them in the pasture season and 520 (13.76%) of them in the pen/stall season. It was determined that the herd in general suffered primarily from horn and hoof deformations in the pasture season with 17.70% and in the pen/stall season with 11.78%. Osteophyte formations and rotation were detected in the phalangeal bones of 20 of the sheep, and osteolysis was detected in the third phalanx of 8 of the sheep. In the aforementioned seasons, the rate of foot rot was 2.83% and 0.82% respectively. It was detected that according to the breed of sheep, 54.69% of the foot problems were seen in Akkaraman, 39.81% in Morkaraman, 1.43% in Tujin, and 4.07% in other sheep breeds (Merino, Kivircik). In addition, it was concluded that animal owners do not have sufficient knowledge concerning foot and hoof care, or do not care much about this issue. In conclusion, it was determined that the most important foot problem for sheep raised in the Kars and Igdir regions is hoof deformation, and it was concluded that this could largely be avoided with simple precautions.