Litter quality in poultry houses directly affects foot health, respiratory welfare, and behavioural opportunity, making litter management a key welfare intervention.
Litter quality mediates multiple welfare outcomes simultaneously. Wet, compacted litter causes foot pad dermatitis pain, elevated ammonia causes respiratory irritation, and barren litter prevents natural foraging. Maintaining good litter through appropriate stocking density, ventilation, drinker management, and litter amendment is the highest-impact welfare management intervention in poultry housing.