Reduction of Enterococcus-Associated Lameness in Broilers via Water Acidification

Lameness in broilers caused by Enterococcus infections is a persistent issue affecting animal welfare and farm profitability. This good practice prevents intestinal colonization by the pathogen through acidifying drinking water with a butyric acid-based product during the first 10 days post-hatch. Administered at 0.3 L per 1,000 L of water, the intervention has successfully eliminated lameness incidence (previously 2–4%) across multiple production cycles on a single farm. The solution is effective, consistent, and now standard across all cycles, with no link to feed, facilities, or management practices. Figure 1 shows a chicken affected by Enterococcal lameness. Source: SDPV.