Wet litter in broilers

摘要

Wet litter is a syndrome that has been known for decades in poultry production. As a rule it occurs episodically and without any identifiable cause. Tile consequences are well known: infections of the toes (pododermatitis), frequent breast blisters with consequent downgrading at slaughter; multiplication of coccidia and microbes in the litter and increasing ammonia levels in the air of the poultry house. As ammonia is known to facilitate respiratory tract infections, this means an increased health risk. All in all, wet litter decreases the profitability of broiler production. There is a great deal of uncertainty about the causes, with much conjecture based on observations.