Our studies and other studies have estimated that between 35% and 53% of farms in the UK have CODD in their sheep with an average of 2% of sheep in these flocks affected (range 0-50%). Our on farms studies have shown that disease is more common in larger flocks and in the late summer/early autumn.  We also found that sheep kept on lowland pasture, lush pasture and poached pasture were more likely to have CODD. Interestingly we found a strong link between footrot and CODD - sheep that had footrot were also much more likely to have CODD. We are not sure what the relationship between the two diseases is yet, but the link has important implications for control (see section and The University of Warwick.

'Poached pasture associated with a mineral lick

Heavily poached pasture

More details can be found in the following published papers:

Angell, J.W., Duncan, J.S., Carter, S.D., and Grove-White, D.H., (2014). Farmer reported prevalence and factors associated with contagious ovine digital dermatitis in Wales: A questionnaire of 511 sheep farmers. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 113(1): 132-138

Angell, J.W., Grove-White, D.H. and Duncan, J.S., (2015). Sheep and farm level factors associated with contagious ovine digital dermatitis: A longitudinal repeated cross-sectional study of sheep on six farms. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 122(1-2): 107-120<

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