Litter quality in broiler houses directly affects foot health, respiratory welfare, and disease risk — a fundamental but overlooked welfare variable.
Poultry litter quality is a welfare lever of extraordinary practical importance that is often overlooked in public discourse about broiler welfare. Foot pad dermatitis — painful lesions on the underside of feet from prolonged contact with wet, caustic litter — is one of the most prevalent and preventable welfare conditions in commercial poultry. It is entirely preventable through good litter management: dry absorbent substrate, appropriate stocking density, properly functioning and leak-free drinkers, and adequate ventilation. The EU use of slaughterhouse foot pad scoring as a feedback mechanism to inform on-farm management demonstrates how this welfare indicator can drive real improvement when connected to regulatory consequence.