• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.199-210
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• 2020

Footpad dermatitis (plantar surface footpad lesions) is an increasing problem in the global poultry industry, affecting foot quality, overall welfare, and production performance. The growing consumer demand for chicken feet in Asian markets has given poultry companies interest in reducing footpad dermatitis. The lesions are multiply associated with various factors affecting the moisture content of litter such as nutrition, drinker type and management, environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, relative humidity, ammonia levels, ventilation rate), and flock health. This review addresses footpad dermatitis characteristics, causes, and the assessment system to provide a guide for future research.

• KOREAN POULTRY JOURNAL
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.142-145
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• 2023

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.125-132
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• 2023

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of moisture absorbent (MA) application timing for litter management on broiler performance, blood cell characteristics, litter moisture content, incidence of footpad dermatitis (FPD), and economics analysis. Treatment include untreated control (NC), 3-week-old litter treatment (PC), 0-week-old (W1), 0 and 3-week-old (W2), 3-week-old (W3) application of moisture absorbent. Six hundred eighty broilers (1-day-old, 42.0±0.24 g) were divided into 5 treatments (4 replications per treatment, 34 birds per replication) and raised for 5 weeks in a floor (2 m² per pen). There was no significant difference among treatments in performance, blood cell characteristics, and H/L ratio according to the application period of litter and moisture absorbent. The litter moisture content and the FPD score were significantly decreased in the litter and moisture absorbent treatments at the age of 5 weeks (P<0.05). The FPD score of broilers was lowest in PC treatment compared to NC treatment (P<0.05). The incidence of FPD was lower in PC and W3 treatments compared to other treatments, and that was the highest in NC treatment. As a result of analyzing the economic feasibility, the highest expenditure occurred in PC treatment, and the lowest expenditure occurred in W3 treatment. Income was the highest in W3 treatment, and lowest in NC treatment. The profit was 185,859 won (1,367 won/unit), the highest in the W3 treatment. In conclusion, when MA was applied to the litter of broiler house at the age of 3 weeks, the litter moisture content and FPD were improved.

• KOREAN POULTRY JOURNAL
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.159-161
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• 2020

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.199-210
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• 2022

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the type and number of enrichments on growth performance, blood characteristics, footpad dermatitis (FPD) incidence, and litter moisture in broilers. A total of 1,140 1-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were assigned to a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement based on the type of enrichment (cabbage, alfalfa block, and angle sawdust) and the number of enrichments (one or two per 38 broilers). The growth performance, blood characteristics, FPD incidence, and litter moisture of the broilers were evaluated. Body weight and feed conversion rate were significantly improved (P<0.05) in the alfalfa block and sawdust group compared to the cabbage group, but there was no interaction effect between the type and number of enrichments. The heterophil/lymphocyte ratio, a stress index, was significantly decreased (P<0.05) in the alfalfa block and sawdust groups compared with the cabbage group. The incidence of FPD was significantly decreased in the order of cabbage (3.78), alfalfa block (3.06), and sawdust (1.43) groups at 5 weeks of age. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in the incidence of FPD (P<0.05) in the one-enrichment group compared with the two-enrichment group. Litter moisture at 5 weeks of age was significantly reduced in the sawdust group compared to the cabbage and alfalfa groups, but there was no significant difference in the interaction between the type and number of enrichments. It was concluded that sawdust enrichment positively influenced both growth performance and the animal welfare of broilers. In addition, it is expected that sawdust can be used to regulate litter moisture.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.227-238
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• 2021

This study investigates the effect of perch type and height on the growth performance, footpad dermatitis (FPD), blood parameters, behavioral characteristics, and meat quality of broilers. A total of 912 one-day-old male Ross 308 broilers (48.23±0.264 g) were subjected to a three x two factorial design of three types of perch (wood, steel, plastic) and two levels of perch height (10→30 cm change, 10 cm fixed) over a five-week experiment. Growth performance, perch availability, litter quality, FPD incidence, serum biochemical parameters, and meat quality of the broilers were evaluated. There were no significant differences in the body weight, feed conversion ratio, and biochemical parameters (except for aspartate aminotransferase), pH, color, and water holding capacity. The incidence of FPD was significantly higher in the plastic perch group than in the wood and steel perch groups (P<0.05) at five weeks of age. Perch use was high in the order of wood, steel, and plastic groups in the daytime and nighttime at one, three, and five weeks of age (P<0.05). Perch use was higher in the 10 cm fixed group than the 10→30 cm group (P<0.05). The shear force of the breast significantly increased in the order of wood, steel, and plastic groups (P<0.05). In conclusion, the group with a fixed perch height of 10 cm had high perch usage. Additionally, the use of wooden perches was higher than that of other materials, and it lowered the incidence of FPD in broilers.