Litter quality in broiler houses is a critical determinant of foot and hock health, with wet, compacted litter causing painful footpad dermatitis that affects millions of birds and is a key welfare indicator in audit schemes.
Footpad dermatitis represents chronic pain in millions of birds simultaneously. Severe FPD lesions are ulcerative — exposing sensitive tissue to ammonia and bacteria in contaminated litter. Birds with severe lesions alter their gait and spend more time resting, reducing access to feeders and drinkers. Hock burns indicate that birds are spending extended periods lying in wet litter — a sign that their overall mobility and activity is compromised. The EU slaughter-scoring system creates a feedback loop between farm management and welfare outcomes, incentivising litter management through commercial penalties. This represents a model for welfare regulation that links animal-based outcomes to producer accountability.