Litter quality in broiler houses profoundly affects bird welfare through its impact on footpad health, respiratory condition and overall cleanliness of the production environment.
Litter management is a welfare intervention with immediate, measurable impacts on broiler health. Footpad dermatitis causes genuine pain that affects gait, activity level and time at feeders. The link between litter quality and footpad health is well-established, making poor litter management a preventable source of suffering. Mandatory footpad scoring at slaughter in the EU has created accountability by requiring producers to address high lesion rates that would previously go unnoticed.