Litter quality in turkey housing is a critical welfare determinant, with wet or ammonia-rich litter causing contact dermatitis, respiratory disease, and behavioral problems.
Turkey litter welfare is tractable - the relationship between litter quality, contact dermatitis, and bird welfare is well established, and effective management interventions are available. The challenge is implementation at scale, where litter management requires consistent attention throughout the flock cycle and investment in ventilation infrastructure. Welfare scoring of footpad dermatitis at slaughter provides a reliable retrospective welfare indicator that allows comparison across farms and over time. Retailers and certification bodies that require FPD scoring data and set maximum acceptable prevalence targets create meaningful accountability for litter quality welfare.