Poultry Litter Quality: Welfare Impact and Management

Litter quality in broiler and turkey houses directly affects foot health, respiratory welfare, and overall bird welfare - management practices make a measurable difference.

Key Facts

Wet litter causes footpad dermatitis affecting up to 80% of birds in poorly managed flocks
Footpad dermatitis causes pain affecting walking, feeding, and social behaviour
Litter moisture is driven by ventilation, stocking density, drinker management, and feed composition
Scoring footpad dermatitis at slaughter provides feedback on in-house litter welfare status
In-house caking and wet patches can be removed mid-cycle to reduce cumulative welfare impact

Welfare Considerations

Litter quality is a foundational welfare determinant in poultry housing. Wet, ammonia-rich litter causes direct physical harm through footpad lesions and respiratory irritation while also being aversive through discomfort. The management inputs that maintain good litter - effective ventilation, appropriate stocking density, controlled drinkers, suitable substrate materials - all require investment and skill. Producers who manage litter quality well have better animal welfare, lower mortality, and often better economic outcomes through reduced downgrade rates and mortality.

What You Can Do

Choose poultry products from producers with low footpad dermatitis rates in monitoring data
Support welfare certification schemes that include litter quality monitoring requirements
Advocate for footpad dermatitis scoring data to be publicly reported
Learn about how litter quality affects poultry welfare throughout the production cycle