The role of the environment in transmission of Dichelobacter nodosus between ewes and their lambs.

•Lambs’ feet were D. nodosus-negative at birth.•However D. nodosus was detected on lambs’ feet within 5–13h of birth.•Multiple pgrA and MLVA alleles were detected on the feet of ewes and lambs.•D. nodosus on lambs’ feet originated from sources other than just their mother's feet.•The environment plays a key role in D. nodosus transmission between ewes and lambs.