Farm Animal Welfare

Broiler Welfare: Footpad Dermatitis Prevention

Footpad dermatitis is a painful ulcerative condition in broiler chickens caused by poor litter quality and is a key welfare and production indicator.

Key Facts

Footpad dermatitis affects up to 80% of birds in poorly managed houses
Wet, ammonia-saturated litter is the primary cause of foot lesions
Scoring systems allow monitoring and early intervention on farms
Good litter management through ventilation and stocking density reduces incidence
Footpad scores are used in some retail and certification schemes as a welfare indicator

Welfare Considerations

Severe footpad dermatitis causes significant pain and lameness, reducing birds' ability to access food and water. Prevention through litter quality management is cost-effective and represents a major opportunity to improve broiler welfare at scale.

What You Can Do

Look for chicken welfare certifications that monitor footpad health
Support retailers with footpad scoring requirements in their supply chains
Advocate for mandatory footpad monitoring in national standards