Poultry litter quality directly determines the welfare of chickens and turkeys in commercial production, with wet or contaminated litter causing painful foot lesions, breast blisters, and respiratory disease.
Litter quality is a fundamental welfare variable in poultry production with direct, measurable effects on bird health and comfort. The existence of effective litter management practices means that poor litter quality is largely preventable — it reflects management choices rather than inherent production constraints. Regulatory use of slaughter-line foot pad scoring as a welfare indicator demonstrates how outcome-based measures can create meaningful incentives for welfare improvement throughout the supply chain.