The broiler chicken industry has grown rapidly in Indonesia. Broiler cages can be easily found in various production centers. West Java is the province with the largest broiler population in Indonesia, followed by Central Java and East Java. The broiler population in Indonesia reached 3,114,028,000 in 2022, an increase compared to 2,899,208,000 in 2021.
The broiler industry has been able to boost the Indonesian economy, from upstream industries, breeding farms, hatcheries, feed mills, all the way to the dinner table. Broilers have been able to provide the community with sufficient protein because they can be produced and harvested in a short time, approximately one month.
The rapid growth of the broiler industry has also boosted the culinary business using broiler chicken. Furthermore, chicken feet are also highly sought after. Feet are often used as a complement to culinary dishes. This part also plays a vital economic role.
Beyond its culinary value, chicken feet are a vital organ for mobility during life. They function as a means of locomotion and support body weight. Chickens need healthy feet to reach food and water sources, perform activities, and so on.
Erosion and Infection of the Soles of the Feet
Broilers can experience erosion and infection of the soles of their feet due to various factors. This condition is called pododermatitis, foot pad pododermatitis (FPD), bumblefoot, or bubulan. It results in lameness when walking, reluctance to walk, and often occurs sitting on the coop floor unwilling to move, often with reduced body weight.
If a chicken with this condition is observed, its feet will show edema, swelling of the soles, erosion of the soles, and ulcerations or wounds on the surface of the soles.
Severe cases of ulceration of the soles of the feet vary from mild to severe. In mild cases, the pads of the feet will appear swollen and reddish, progressing to blackish dots. In severe cases, widespread foot pad injuries can lead to infection by pathogenic bacteria.
Pododermatitis is economically detrimental to farmers because the chickens' body weight can decrease unrelated to their age. This condition is understandable because broilers become reluctant to move due to pain in the soles of their feet, which results in suboptimal feed consumption. They are also reluctant to reach the watering bowl. The food conversion ratio (FCR) in chickens experiencing pododermatitis also increased, which will affect the increase in the FCR of the population.
