Broiler litter quality is a major determinant of foot pad dermatitis (FPD) prevalence, one of the most significant and measurable welfare problems in broiler production. Managing litter to prevent wet, compacted conditions is a primary welfare priority.
FPD is a painful condition causing gait abnormalities and chronic discomfort that affects the majority of individual birds in poorly managed houses. The connection between litter quality and FPD provides a direct welfare improvement lever: investing in ventilation, appropriate stocking density, and litter management demonstrably reduces FPD prevalence. Slaughterhouse monitoring of FPD scores and feedback to producers creates a closed-loop welfare management system. FPD reduction is one of the most achievable and measurable welfare improvements available in commercial broiler production.