title: Effect of litter moisture on the development of footpad dermatitis in broiler chickens.
abstract: Broiler chicks were reared on either wet litter or dry litter to compare the development of footpad dermatitis (FPD). Broilers reared on wet litter first developed FPD at 14 days of age. Their FPD scores increased sharply after 21 days of age, reaching 2.92 at 42 days. In broilers reared on dry litter, FPD was first observed at 28 days of age, and the FPD score was only 0.70 at 42 days. When 21- or 28-day-old broilers that had been reared on wet litter and had developed FPD were moved to dry litter, the progression of FPD was suppressed or delayed. These results suggest that reducing litter moisture is effective in preventing FPD and suppressing disease progression.
authors.affiliation: Japan Farm Co., Ltd., 651 Masumaru, Osaki-cho, So-gun, Kagoshima 899-7303, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuyo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taira
authors.forename: Toshimune
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Obi
authors.forename: Kozo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takase
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D017453:Dermatitis, Irritant / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings / Q000592:standards; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D006799:Housing, Animal; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water