A foot pad dermatitis and hock burn lesion is a common problem associated with poor litter management. Broilers suffering from pain by contact dermatitis will have a negative impact on animal performance. This condition indicates a serious problem in animal welfare and can lead to food safety concerns. Damaged feet and legs, carcass condemnation and downgrades, will finally cause a loss of business opportunities and a huge impact on profits.

Reduction, and ultimately, the ban of antibiotics from animal feed, does not come without its challenges. An overall approach, including non-antibiotic in-feed specialties, can help cope with these challenges.