Litter quality in broiler production directly affects footpad health, respiratory welfare, and behavioral opportunities. Evidence-based litter management is a cornerstone of broiler welfare improvement.
Broiler litter welfare is a convergence point for multiple welfare concerns simultaneously. Wet, ammonia-producing litter damages footpads causing chronic pain from chemical burns, damages eyes causing conjunctivitis and blindness risk, irritates respiratory tracts contributing to disease, and prevents natural dustbathing and scratching because the material is too wet and compacted. Good litter management — maintaining 20-25% moisture content with appropriate particle size — addresses all these welfare harms simultaneously. Litter quality is affected by stocking density (more birds create more waste and moisture), water system management (spillage from drinkers is a major contributor), ventilation, and litter material selection. Welfare-certified systems require litter quality monitoring as part of their standards.