Litter quality in turkey production facilities directly affects the health and welfare of millions of birds. Poor litter conditions cause painful foot pad lesions, breast blisters, and respiratory problems.
Litter quality is one of the highest-leverage welfare factors in commercial turkey production because it affects every bird in the flock simultaneously. Foot pad dermatitis and breast blisters are painful conditions that impair movement and resting — behaviors essential to turkey welfare — and they are largely preventable through competent litter management. The fact that litter quality improvements also improve product quality creates commercial alignment with welfare goals, making this a practical target for welfare interventions. Industry standards and welfare audits that assess lesion prevalence as an outcome measure create accountability and incentivize the management practices that prevent suffering at scale.