Commercial broilers have high growth rates and are raised in total confinement systems. Birds spend more time lying down predisposing them to skin lesions from moist litter. This study aimed to determine whether the free-range production system (FRPS) for broiler birds would reduce footpad lesions and the risk of bacterial infection using four treatments. Treatments A, B and C, where the birds were under FRPS at 2, 3 and 4 weeks of age, respectively, and the conventional complete confinement, treatment D (control). The broilers were weighed and their footpad lesions evaluated at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of age. Broiler liver samples were collected at 8 weeks of age and processed for culture and sensitivity. Relative risk analysis (RR) was used to determine the association between confinement as a risk factor and bacterial infection. Birds in the FRPS had lower body weights and therefore less pressure on their skeleton. Birds in treatment D had the highest pressure. Treatment D birds had severe footpad lesions (P < 0.05) compared to the other treatments at weeks 6, 7 and 8 and the severity decreased with increasing duration of FRPS. Complete confinement treatment was significantly associated with bacterial infection (RR = 3) at week 8. These results show that broilers in FRPS significantly lower body weight pressure on their skeleton and fewer footpad lesions, reducing bacterial infection and antibiotic use. Reduced antibiotic residues and pathogens in meat suggest improved meat quality. The free-range broiler production system would be a better production system to improve the welfare and quality of the meat produced.

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