Evaluation of Welfare in Commercial Turkey Flocks of Both Sexes Using the Transect Walk Method
The study was conducted between March and September 2019 in six meat-type turkey flocks with similar management standard procedures using the transect walk method. The concept of the method is based on visual observation of the birds while slowly walking across the entire farm in predetermined trans...
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2021
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oai:doaj.org-article:ee4c041404bb43af8a1019b7f7ace2ae2021-11-25T16:19:53ZEvaluation of Welfare in Commercial Turkey Flocks of Both Sexes Using the Transect Walk Method10.3390/ani111132532076-2615https://doaj.org/article/ee4c041404bb43af8a1019b7f7ace2ae2021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/11/3253https://doaj.org/toc/2076-2615The study was conducted between March and September 2019 in six meat-type turkey flocks with similar management standard procedures using the transect walk method. The concept of the method is based on visual observation of the birds while slowly walking across the entire farm in predetermined transects. Each flock was evaluated at three different times during the fattening cycle: at 3 to 4, 12 to 13, and 19 to 20 weeks of age, and total number of males and females that were immobile or lame, had visible head, vent, or back wounds, were small, featherless, dirty, or sick, had pendulous crop, or showed aggression toward birds or humans were recorded. At each visit, NH<sub>3</sub> and CO<sub>2</sub> were measured within the facilities. In the first assessment, the most frequently observed welfare indicators were small size (0.87%) and immobility (0.08%). Males showed a significantly higher prevalence of small size (<i>p</i> < 0.01), sickness (<i>p</i> < 0.05), and dirtiness (<i>p</i> < 0.1) compared to females. In the second assessment, the most common findings in both sexes were dirtiness (1.65%) and poor feather condition (1.06%), followed by immobility (0.28%). Males were significantly dirtier (<i>p</i> < 0.001), had more immobile birds (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and birds with vent wounds (<i>p</i> < 0.1), but had fewer sick birds (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In the last assessment, an increase in immobile, lame, sick, and dead birds was recorded, indicating an increase in health problems. Higher CO<sub>2</sub> (3000 and 4433 ppm) and NH<sub>3</sub> (40 and 27.6 ppm) values were noted only at the first assessment in two facilities. Further analyses showed that slightly elevated NH<sub>3</sub> and CO<sub>2</sub> levels did not influence the occurrence of welfare indicators. This study is the first description of the welfare of commercial turkey flocks in Slovenia.Nina Mlakar HrženjakHristo HristovAlenka DovčJana Bergoč MartinjakManja Zupan ŠemrovZoran ŽlabravecJožko RačnikUroš KrapežBrigita SlavecOlga Zorman RojsMDPI AGarticlewelfaremixed commercial turkey flockson-farm assessmentVeterinary medicineSF600-1100ZoologyQL1-991ENAnimals, Vol 11, Iss 3253, p 3253 (2021) |
| institution |
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| collection |
DOAJ |
| language |
EN |
| topic |
welfare mixed commercial turkey flocks on-farm assessment Veterinary medicine SF600-1100 Zoology QL1-991 |
| spellingShingle |
welfare mixed commercial turkey flocks on-farm assessment Veterinary medicine SF600-1100 Zoology QL1-991 Nina Mlakar Hrženjak Hristo Hristov Alenka Dovč Jana Bergoč Martinjak Manja Zupan Šemrov Zoran Žlabravec Jožko Račnik Uroš Krapež Brigita Slavec Olga Zorman Rojs Evaluation of Welfare in Commercial Turkey Flocks of Both Sexes Using the Transect Walk Method |
| description |
The study was conducted between March and September 2019 in six meat-type turkey flocks with similar management standard procedures using the transect walk method. The concept of the method is based on visual observation of the birds while slowly walking across the entire farm in predetermined transects. Each flock was evaluated at three different times during the fattening cycle: at 3 to 4, 12 to 13, and 19 to 20 weeks of age, and total number of males and females that were immobile or lame, had visible head, vent, or back wounds, were small, featherless, dirty, or sick, had pendulous crop, or showed aggression toward birds or humans were recorded. At each visit, NH<sub>3</sub> and CO<sub>2</sub> were measured within the facilities. In the first assessment, the most frequently observed welfare indicators were small size (0.87%) and immobility (0.08%). Males showed a significantly higher prevalence of small size (<i>p</i> < 0.01), sickness (<i>p</i> < 0.05), and dirtiness (<i>p</i> < 0.1) compared to females. In the second assessment, the most common findings in both sexes were dirtiness (1.65%) and poor feather condition (1.06%), followed by immobility (0.28%). Males were significantly dirtier (<i>p</i> < 0.001), had more immobile birds (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and birds with vent wounds (<i>p</i> < 0.1), but had fewer sick birds (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In the last assessment, an increase in immobile, lame, sick, and dead birds was recorded, indicating an increase in health problems. Higher CO<sub>2</sub> (3000 and 4433 ppm) and NH<sub>3</sub> (40 and 27.6 ppm) values were noted only at the first assessment in two facilities. Further analyses showed that slightly elevated NH<sub>3</sub> and CO<sub>2</sub> levels did not influence the occurrence of welfare indicators. This study is the first description of the welfare of commercial turkey flocks in Slovenia. |
| format |
article |
| author |
Nina Mlakar Hrženjak Hristo Hristov Alenka Dovč Jana Bergoč Martinjak Manja Zupan Šemrov Zoran Žlabravec Jožko Račnik Uroš Krapež Brigita Slavec Olga Zorman Rojs |
| author_facet |
Nina Mlakar Hrženjak Hristo Hristov Alenka Dovč Jana Bergoč Martinjak Manja Zupan Šemrov Zoran Žlabravec Jožko Račnik Uroš Krapež Brigita Slavec Olga Zorman Rojs |
| author_sort |
Nina Mlakar Hrženjak |
| title |
Evaluation of Welfare in Commercial Turkey Flocks of Both Sexes Using the Transect Walk Method |
| title_short |
Evaluation of Welfare in Commercial Turkey Flocks of Both Sexes Using the Transect Walk Method |
| title_full |
Evaluation of Welfare in Commercial Turkey Flocks of Both Sexes Using the Transect Walk Method |
| title_fullStr |
Evaluation of Welfare in Commercial Turkey Flocks of Both Sexes Using the Transect Walk Method |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Evaluation of Welfare in Commercial Turkey Flocks of Both Sexes Using the Transect Walk Method |
| title_sort |
evaluation of welfare in commercial turkey flocks of both sexes using the transect walk method |
| publisher |
MDPI AG |
| publishDate |
2021 |
| url |
https://doaj.org/article/ee4c041404bb43af8a1019b7f7ace2ae |
| work_keys_str_mv |
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