Reducing the occurrence of pododermatitis in broiler flocks with citrus extract

Understanding the causes of

Pododermatitis

Pododermatitis, often referred to as footpad dermatitis, is a common challenge in poultry farms, characterized by inflammation and lesions on the footpads. The primary causes are typically linked to poor litter quality, high moisture levels, and inadequate farm management practices. Excessive moisture in the litter can soften the footpads, making them more susceptible to abrasions and bacterial infections. This moisture buildup can stem from factors such as high humidity, water spills, insufficient ventilation, or overcrowding, which prevent litter from drying effectively.

The importance of gut health management to reduce

Occurrence of pododermatitis

According to scientific literature, good gut health management could be an interesting tool to decrease the prevalence of Pododermatitis in broiler chicken flock. Indeed, A healthy gut fosters efficient nutrient absorption and maintains an optimal balance of beneficial bacteria, which can prevent gastrointestinal issues that may lead to higher litter moisture. Furthermore, maintaining a balanced gut microbiome helps prevent harmful pathogens from proliferating, reducing the risk of infections that could exacerbate skin lesions. Gut health can be improved thank to citrus extract. Many evidences show beneficial effect of using them to manage gut health. Nor-Feed carried out a study to evaluate the use of Care® range solutions based on Citrus extract to reduce the occurrence of pododermatitis inside poultry farms.

Reducing pododermatitis prevalence, thanks to a natural

Citrus Extract-based solution

The trial was conducted on 27 flocks of 880 000 broilers (Ross 308), from 27 different farms within the same integration. Birds were divided in two groups The CONTROL group, fed a standard diet from day 0 to day 35. The CARE group fed the same diet and supplemented 1ml of Care start per litre of drinking water from D0 to D7, and then 0.5ml of Care boost per litre of drinking water from D8 to D21.

The results showed an important reduction in pododermatitis occurrence when broiler chickens were supplemented with the Care solutions. Furthermore, the usage of antibiotic was also drastically reduced, thanks to the Care solutions, without any negative impact on growth performances. The results obtained from this study showed that Care program can be an efficient tool to reduce the occurrence of pododermatitis in broiler flocks and use of antibiotics, without altering mortality.