Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Be sure that sheep have water elsewhere and are not thirsty, so they are not
tempted to drink any of the footbath.
Feet should be trimmed before the footbath, not just to allow better pen-
etration but because the footbath chemicals harden the hooves and make
them more diffi cult to trim. Remember to disinfect the knife after every hoof
so you do not needlessly spread germs.
Zinc sulfate has become the solution of choice for footbaths. It has at least
a tenfold greater benefi t if the animals are allowed to stand in the solution
for 1 hour on two occasions, spaced about a week apart. Do not use another
chemical in the footbath, such as formalin or copper sulfate, because you
could severely burn or “pickle” the sheep's feet.
Trim nonlimping sheep fi rst, put them in the footbath, and then turn
them into clean pasture: that is, pasture that hasn't been grazed for at least a
week. Next, bathe the feet of limping sheep and keep these animals in a dry
16'
¾"
×
24" exterior
plywood
6'
6"
4" strap
hinges
CUTTING LIST
ITEM
2
×
4
NO.
DESCRIPTION
1
×
8
×
16'
A
1
2 × 12 × 16'
2
×
12
×
16'
B
2
2 × 6 × 11½"
6'
C
6
2 × 4 × 3'7"
SECTION
D
6
2 × 4 × 3'3"
E
2
1 × 8 × 16'
F
3
2 × 4 × 6'
A footbath trough is useful if hoof
problems develop and the footbath is
combined with proper trimming. Shiplap
or 1
×
6s can be used in place of
plywood. A gate is needed at the exit to
keep sheep standing in the bath for the
required time.
(Midwest Plan Ser vice)
G
12
2 × 4 × 4"
H
2
¾" × 24" exterior
plywood
I
2
1 × 6 × 16'
J
6
4" strap hinges
K
12
3
⁄
8
" × 3½" bolts
