Effect of Wet Litter and Supplemental Biotin and/or Whey on the Production of Foot Pad Dermatitis in Broilers

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine whether increasing the moisture content of the litter would increase foot pad dermatitis in broilers, and to determine whether supplemental biotin or dried whey would affect this condition. Broilers grown on wet litter had significantly increased incidence of foot pad dermatitis. The addition of 3% of partially delactosed whey to the diet resulted in increasing the foot pad dermatis. The addition of biotin decreased foot pad dermatis. Examination of foot pad tissue indicated that the birds receiving the control diet were deficient in biotin.