Farm Animals

Broiler Chicken Footpad Dermatitis Scoring

Footpad dermatitis (FPD) is a welfare indicator in broilers. Systematic scoring at slaughter provides valuable data on flock welfare during rearing.

Key Facts

FPD is caused by wet litter contacting foot pads, causing inflammation and lesions
EU regulations require slaughterhouse scoring of footpads
High FPD scores indicate poor litter management in the rearing barn
Scoring data should trigger farm-level improvements
Prevalence varies from near zero in well-managed flocks to over 90% in poorly managed ones

Welfare Considerations

Footpad dermatitis causes pain and altered gait in affected broilers. Severe lesions are associated with reduced movement and compromised welfare. Slaughterhouse scoring provides a retrospective welfare indicator, but on-farm litter monitoring during the growing period allows earlier intervention.

What You Can Do

Support retailers requiring and publishing FPD score data from suppliers
Advocate for mandatory FPD scoring linked to farm improvement plans
Choose chicken from producers with documented low FPD prevalence