Footpad lesions are a key indicator for animal welfare. Causes for footpad lesions can be related to barn climate, a problem with the feed composition or other animal health problems. The Foot Health Program was introduced in Sweden in 1994 and is mandatory to be allowed the
maximum stocking density of 36 kg/m 2.
The program was developed by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences . Since the implementation, every broiler flock is scored at slaughter according to a standard and interventions are put in place if the footpad scores are too high. By these means, a painful health and welfare problem was successfully reduced all over Sweden.