Hoof Rot (Foot Rot)
By Keith Smith
The first sign of hoof rot is usually lameness; the goat is limping or holding the hoof off of the ground while standing. Many time more than one hoof on an animal will be infected. Inspection of the hoof will show separation of the horny portions of the hoof from the soft tissue. When the horny surface is trimmed away you will notice a foul-smelling paste in the area.
Hoof rot is expensive in the form of increased labor and in money. Animals that cannot walk correctly because of hoof rot will not grow as well as their herd mates and have a decreased value to you as a breeder and to prospective meat market buyers. Such animals will also have a hard time escaping predators. Does will have difficulty standing to be bred and bucks may not be able to mount the doe if a rear hoof is badly infected.