Broiler Litter Management and Foot Welfare

Litter quality in broiler housing directly affects foot pad dermatitis prevalence, a key welfare indicator that affects millions of birds in UK production.

Key Facts

Foot pad dermatitis (FPD) affects an estimated 50-80% of UK broilers to varying severity
FPD ranges from mild discolouration to deep ulceration causing chronic pain and lameness
Wet litter from water spillage, high stocking density and poor ventilation drives FPD development
Drinker management is the single most effective intervention for litter quality improvement
EU monitoring requires FPD scoring at slaughter as a welfare indicator under the Broiler Directive
High FPD scores trigger farm investigations and potential action under UK welfare legislation
Litter conditioning including turning and replenishment reduces moisture and ammonia buildup
Fast-growing breeds have higher FPD prevalence than slower-growing alternatives

Welfare Considerations

Foot pad dermatitis causes chronic pain in affected broilers. Severe FPD involves deep tissue ulceration that makes walking painful and reduces access to feed and water. The welfare significance is compounded by the scale - billions of chickens globally experience some degree of FPD. Improvements in litter management through better drinker systems, adequate ventilation, appropriate stocking density and regular litter monitoring can dramatically reduce FPD prevalence. Slaughterhouse monitoring provides the data to identify and improve farms with poor litter welfare.

What You Can Do

Choose chicken certified by schemes that track and require low FPD scores
Support the RSPCA Assured scheme's FPD monitoring requirements for broiler farms
Advocate for mandatory publication of slaughterhouse FPD data linked to farm identifiers
Support breed reform to slower-growing varieties with inherently lower FPD risk
Engage with retailers about requiring FPD data from their chicken suppliers