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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Poultry Science

Higher placement stocking density is associated with increased antibiotic use and footpad lesions in conventional broiler production

  • Y. Slegers1
  • M.G.R. Matthijs1
  • J.J. de Wit1,2
  • M. Hostens3
  • J.A. Stegeman1
  1. 1Farm Animal Health, Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, PO Box 80.151, Utrecht, 3508 TD, The Netherlands
  2. 2Royal GD, PO box 9, Deventer, 7400 AA, The Netherlands
  3. 3Department of Animal Science, Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853-4801, USA
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Abstract

High stocking densities in broiler production have been linked to reduced air and litter quality, which can negatively affect broiler welfare. This study assessed the association between placement stocking density and three key health and welfare indicators in conventional broilers: antibiotic treatments, mortality, and footpad lesion (FPL) scores. Data from 29,542 Dutch broiler flocks (2017-2021) were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models. Placement stocking density was not associated with antibiotic treatment during the first week of production but was positively associated with the probability of treatment after the first week (odds ratio 1.08; 95% CI [1.05, 1.11]; p < 0.001). No association was observed with mortality until thinning. Higher placement stocking density was also associated with higher FPL scores (score ratio 1.09; 95% CI [1.08, 1.10]; p < 0.001). Excluding farms with poor historic FPL scores provided similar results. Together, these findings suggest that higher placement stocking density may increase the occurrence or transmission of infectious diseases, leading to increased antibiotic use, while also adversely affecting footpad health. Reducing stocking density may therefore improve broiler health and welfare in conventional production systems.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{slegers2026higher,
  title = {{Higher placement stocking density is associated with increased antibiotic use and footpad lesions in conventional broiler production}},
  author = {Y. Slegers and M.G.R. Matthijs and J.J. de Wit and M. Hostens and J.A. Stegeman},
  journal = {Poultry Science},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1016/j.psj.2026.108042},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2026.108042},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Higher placement stocking density is associated with increased antibiotic use and footpad lesions in conventional broiler production
AU  - Y. Slegers
AU  - M.G.R. Matthijs
AU  - J.J. de Wit
AU  - M. Hostens
AU  - J.A. Stegeman
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/24
JO  - Poultry Science
DO  - 10.1016/j.psj.2026.108042
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2026.108042
AB  - High stocking densities in broiler production have been linked to reduced air and litter quality, which can negatively affect broiler welfare. This study assessed the association between placement stocking density and three key health and welfare indicators in conventional broilers: antibiotic treatments, mortality, and footpad lesion (FPL) scores. Data from 29,542 Dutch broiler flocks (2017-2021) were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models. Placement stocking density was not associated with antibiotic treatment during the first week of production but was positively associated with the probability of treatment after the first week (odds ratio 1.08; 95% CI [1.05, 1.11]; p < 0.001). No association was observed with mortality until thinning. Higher placement stocking density was also associated with higher FPL scores (score ratio 1.09; 95% CI [1.08, 1.10]; p < 0.001). Excluding farms with poor historic FPL scores provided similar results. Together, these findings suggest that higher placement stocking density may increase the occurrence or transmission of infectious diseases, leading to increased antibiotic use, while also adversely affecting footpad health. Reducing stocking density may therefore improve broiler health and welfare in conventional production systems.
SN  - 0032-5791
SN  - 1525-3171
ER  -