Farm Animals

Poultry Litter Quality and Welfare Outcomes

Litter quality in broiler houses is directly linked to welfare outcomes including footpad dermatitis, breast burns and respiratory health.

Key Facts

Wet litter is the primary cause of contact dermatitis in broilers
Footpad dermatitis affects up to 80% of commercial broilers on poor litter
Litter management requires regular monitoring and amendment with fresh material
Ventilation failures are the most common cause of litter quality collapse
Welfare scoring of footpads is now used as a farm performance indicator

Welfare Considerations

Litter quality is a controllable welfare determinant with industry-wide importance. Chronic wet litter causes painful contact lesions affecting millions of birds. Mandatory footpad scoring linked to farm performance incentives has demonstrated effectiveness in several countries.

What You Can Do

Support footpad dermatitis scoring as a welfare performance indicator
Advocate for ventilation standards in poultry housing
Choose certified poultry products from farms with litter quality monitoring