Footpad dermatitis in broiler chickens — painful lesions caused by wet litter — is one of the most prevalent welfare problems in the industry, yet largely preventable through litter management.
Footpad dermatitis represents a preventable welfare failure that affects the majority of broiler chickens raised in intensive systems. The lesions, ranging from surface discolouration to deep ulceration reaching bone, cause chronic pain that affects gait, behaviour, and overall welfare throughout the growth period. The primary cause — wet litter — is controllable through management interventions that add cost but are not technically difficult. The EU post-mortem monitoring system, which attributes FPD scores to farms, creates an accountability mechanism that could drive litter management improvements. Where implemented with consequences — withdrawal of higher stocking density permissions for farms with poor FPD scores — the system has been shown to drive real improvement.