Acknowledgements Book of abstracts - Publicaties - Vlaanderen.be

Maria Krautwald-Junghanns presents Poster 93 during the poster sessions in the Aula.
Session theme 8: Application of welfare assessment protocols
165
Poster 93
RESEARCH CONCERNING THE ANIMAL WELFARE OF TURKEYS
(MELEAGRIS GALLOPAVO F. DOM.) UNDER VARIOUS HUSBANDRY
CONDITIONS
R. Ellerich, K. Cramer, T. Bartels, M.-E. Krautwald-Junghanns
Clinic for Birds and Reptiles, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Germany
Twenty commercial turkey farms with varying housing conditions were examined under field
conditions to determine the welfare of turkeys (B.U.T. Big 6). In each farm 60 female or male
turkeys were systematically examined (especially plumage condition, alterations of integument and
locomotory system) and weighed during fattening at approximately 6, 11 and 16 weeks of age using
a standardized protocol. Data were analysed by use of SPSS- 15. The Spearman correlation
coefficient was determined.
Preliminary results show that foot and breast health represent a current animal welfare problem
affecting each of the 20 flocks. In particular the severity and prevalence of pododermatitis is largely
homogenous within single flocks; considerable differences are, however, observed when comparing
various farms at a given phase of fattening.
There are no differences in the prevalence of pododermatitis between the two sexes (r=0.059,
p