Farm Animals

Broiler Litter Quality and Footpad Dermatitis

Litter quality is a primary determinant of footpad dermatitis prevalence in broiler chickens.

Key Facts

Footpad dermatitis (FPD) causes lesions on the plantar surface of broiler feet
Wet, ammonia-saturated litter is the primary risk factor for FPD development
Litter quality is affected by stocking density, ventilation, drinker design and bird health status
Swedish FPD monitoring at slaughter has reduced national FPD prevalence substantially
EU welfare legislation requires FPD scoring at slaughter as a production measure indicator

Welfare Considerations

FPD causes pain and lameness, affecting millions of broilers in intensive systems. The lesions range from mild discoloration to deep necrotic ulcers that cause chronic suffering. Maintaining good litter quality through ventilation management, appropriate drinker design and reduced stocking density prevents most FPD cases.

What You Can Do

Support broiler welfare certification that includes FPD scoring and reporting
Choose higher welfare chicken products from schemes monitoring FPD outcomes
Advocate for mandatory FPD slaughter monitoring in all broiler-producing countries
Learn about litter quality management from AHDB poultry resources