Sheep grazing.

Clickychick was doing one of her "Couch to 5K" runs so I went out on the bike along her route looking for a blip.  These sheep caught my eye thinking I might get a lamb blip.  Then the caught my eye for the wrong reasons.  It is time somebody "leuked t'stock!"   

You will notice the sheep look as if they are just in the process of standing up.  Well they aren't, they are grazing with their front legs bent (on their knees) because their feet are sore.  It is a classic sign of Foot Rot.

Foot rot is a bacterial infection in sheep.  The bacteria get into cracks on the hoof and form pockets of foul smelling discharge and swelling.  It is infectious and common on wet land which this is.  When the farmer next "leuks t'stock" (goes and checks the stock) he will catch them pare the hooves back and spray a purple spray from an aerosol.  They may need more than one treatment but probably not.  I am not sure what is in the aerosol these days but it used to be Gentian Violet and an antibiotic.