The declaration also contains details of activities in the 12 months prior to sale regarding stock introduced onto the property, recent footbathing or antibiotics given to sheep or goats and results of laboratory testing for footrot. Buyers should isolate the purchased sheep and look for signs of footrot. If virulent footrot is found within 14 days of the stock leaving the property, the vendor is required to remove the stock from the purchaser's property within seven days, pay all transport costs and accept that the sale is null and void. The footrot vendor declaration does not guarantee freedom of disease. It provides useful information which helps buyers to make informed decisions when purchasing stock.
Vendors can obtain declaration forms from most livestock selling agents .
Agents cannot make the declaration on behalf of clients. The declaration must be filled in completely, signed and dated by the vendor of the stock. Preventing benign footrot Some farmers may wish to stay free of benign footrot, because of the difficulties of selling infected sheep. To avoid introducing the disease, purchase stock with a footrot vendor declaration which indicates that benign footrot is not considered to exist in the flock. Check all purchased sheep prior to sale for signs of benign footrot.