REARING CONDITIONS AND FOOT-PAD DERMATITIS IN SWEDISH BROILER-CHICKENS

A method of classification of broiler foot-health status was developed to estimate the prevalence of foot-pad dermatitis in Swedish broilers . Data on foot health were collected from 101 commercial broiler flock s at slaughter. The producers were asked to fill in a questionnaire on rearing conditions and equipment for every flock. Lesions were common ly observed; only 62% of the birds were classified as being without le sions, 32% had mild lesions only (discoloration, erosions) and 6% had severe lesions (ulcers). Flocks feared in houses equipped with small w ater cups had significantly (P < 0.05) higher prevalences of foot-pad dermatitis than flocks reared with water nipples. Thick layers of Litt er, regardless of litter material, also resulted in significantly (P<0 .05) higher prevalences of foot-pad dermatitis than litter layers thin ner than 5 cm. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.