Litter quality in poultry houses directly affects foot health, respiratory welfare, and behavioral expression for billions of chickens and turkeys annually.
Litter quality is a foundational welfare determinant in poultry production that is often inadequately managed in commercial systems. The cascade from poor litter management to FPD, respiratory disease, and behavioral suppression affects the welfare of the entire flock, not just individual vulnerable animals. Litter quality monitoring — measuring moisture, ammonia levels, and caking — enables early intervention before welfare problems become widespread. EU FPD monitoring programs that link litter quality data to welfare enforcement represent an evidence-based regulatory approach worth adopting in other jurisdictions.