FOOTPAD DERMATITIS IN BROILERS IN ALGERIA: CURRENT SITUATION AND FUTURE CHALLENGES

Poultry production is one of the most intensive system of animal production where the poultry houses are crowded and the animals are confined to reduced and small areas. Poultry houses crowdedness results in high relative gas emission and rise of humidity and lead to fast deterioration of the litter and consequently to many poultry skin disorders like footpad contact dermatitis and breast burns. The present study was conducted on broiler chickens in the East of Algeria to investigate the rearing and environmental conditions prevailing in broiler farms and to evaluate the prevalence and extent of footpad dermatitis. It was started with visits of broiler houses and followed later with periodic visits of slaughterhouses with careful clinical examination of broiler legs followed by classification of the observed macroscopic lesions according to recent score. This recent work revealed poor rearing and environmental conditions and high prevalence of footpad dermatitis of 80,5%, in our broiler flocks and only 19,5% doesn�t showed any kind of footpad lesions. Footpad dermatitis, observed in this study, was usually ranged from slight skin inflammation to severe ulcers that far exceed the half of the footpad surface area. Footpad dermatitis lesions showed irregular geometric shapes and the exact surface areas were evaluated with a recent image processing and analysis program. Footpads of broilers represent an incredible mirror reflecting the rearing conditions in broiler farms and remain a potential indicator for assessment of poultry welfare. Footpad dermatitis scores are valuable tools for classification of footpad lesions and best when combined to recent technological advances for getting best and more accurate results.