Reducing footpad dermatitis in broilers

Summary

Foot health of poultry has both economic and animal welfare impacts on broiler production. Chicken feet (paws) are a major export product for the poultry industry. As a matter of fact, there has been some times where paw prices were so good, that they were the third most economically important part of the chicken behind the breast and wings. The majority of the losses in paw production are due to footpad dermatitis. Footpad dermatitis is a condition where lesions form on the bottom of the feet. Moisture of the bedding material is a major factor in incidence and severity of footpad dermatitis. Current work has shown that proper management of drinkers, ventilation and bird distribution throughout the broiler house can reduce the incidence of footpad dermatitis by as much as 40%. The depth of litter is also a factor that can impact footpad dermatitis. Increased depth of the bedding material (3 inches or more) handles the moisture load in a typical broiler house than more shallow depths. Together these management practices can provide environments that are conducive to better feet health in broilers.

Situation

In the past few years, chicken paw prices have skyrocketed due to export demand for high quality paws, turning paws into the third most economically important part of the chicken behind the breast and wings. In 2009, the US exported 421,000 tons (928,000,000 lbs) of chicken paws to China alone, worth about $280,000,000. The state of Georgia exported nearly $75,000,000 worth of paws. However, this is roughly only 40-50% of the paws that actually come into processing plants. It has been estimated that the USA poultry industry loses roughly $250-300 million and the Georgia poultry industry loses roughly $75-100 million annually from this product loss. Paws are condemned for a variety of reasons, but most commonly from footpad dermatitis (FPD). Roughly 99% of the downgraded and condemned paws are a result of FPD lesions. The lesions attributed to FPD are a concern to the poultry industry as a source of product downgrades and food safety, but are also an animal welfare issue. Paw quality is used as an indicator of bird welfare and has now become part of voluntary audits in the US. Improving foot health not only provides opportunity for increased profit from more exportable chicken paws, but also ensures that the poultry industry continues to meet animal welfare standards.

Response

A two year study of FPD in broilers was initiated in an effort to better understand the problem and to examine management issues that could be utilized to reduce the incidence of lesions associated with this disorder. Histology of the lesions was examined to determine what changes in the foot were occurring during the onset of footpad dermatitis. The histology results indicated that the footpad lesions were not the result of a trauma to the foot but were due to gradual changes in the keratin layers of the tissue covering the foot. Bedding material moisture content was found to be a key component to the formation of the lesions as the keratin layers became soft and were basically eroded over time. Various bedding materials were evaluated in relation to the incidence of FPD. While some bedding materials were associated with higher incidence of FPD, the disorder appeared more related to the moisture holding capacity of the bedding material than the physical characteristics of the material itself. It was found that bedding materials need to be placed at a depth of at least 3-4 inches in order to handle the moisture load in the house and reduce or prevent footpad dermatitis. Smaller particle sizes of the bedding material not only improved moisture hold capacity but also increased the surface area making it easier for normal ventilation procedures to dry the material. In controlling moisture levels in the house through proper bedding material depth and good management practices, reductions in footpad dermatitis up to 40% were observed.

Impact

Extension specialists, county agents and broiler companies are extending this information to growers in order to make sure enough bedding material is placed in the house to get a minimum depth of 3 inches or more. In addition broiler producers are being reminded of the importance to maintaining proper bird distribution throughout the house, using good drinker management and adequate ventilation to control moisture levels in the bedding material to reduce the incidence of footpad dermatitis.

State Issue

Agricultural Profitability and Sustainability

Details

• Year: 2010
• Geographic Scope: State
• County: Clarke
• Program Areas:
  • Agriculture & Natural Resources