izpis_h1_title_alt

Evaluation of welfare in commercial turkey flocks of both sexes using the transect walk method
ID Mlakar, Nina (Author), ID Hristov, Hristo (Author), ID Dovč, Alenka (Author), ID Bergoč Martinjak, Jana (Author), ID Zupan Šemrov, Manja (Author), ID Žlabravec, Zoran (Author), ID Račnik, Joško (Author), ID Krapež, Uroš (Author), ID Slavec, Brigita (Author), ID Zorman-Rojs, Olga (Author)

.pdfPDF - Presentation file, Download (454,21 KB)
MD5: 8DB5A1CB5226F54B9956C8A64B8D17D8
URLURL - Source URL, Visit https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/11/3253 This link opens in a new window

Abstract
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$_3$ and CO$_2$ 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 (p < 0.01), sickness (p < 0.05), and dirtiness (p < 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 (p < 0.001), had more immobile birds (p < 0.01) and birds with vent wounds (p < 0.1), but had fewer sick birds (p < 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$_2$ (3000 and 4433 ppm) and NH$_3$ (40 and 27.6 ppm) values were noted only at the first assessment in two facilities. Further analyses showed that slightly elevated NH$_3$ and CO$_2$ levels did not influence the occurrence of welfare indicators. This study is the first description of the welfare of commercial turkey flocks in Slovenia.

Language:English
Keywords:welfare, mixed commercial turkey flocks, on-farm assessment, animal welfare, turkeys
Work type:Article
Typology:1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:VF - Veterinary Faculty
BF - Biotechnical Faculty
Publication status:Published
Publication version:Version of Record
Year:2021
Number of pages:12 str.
Numbering:Vol. 11, iss. 11, art. 3253
PID:20.500.12556/RUL-133253 This link opens in a new window
UDC:636.09
ISSN on article:2076-2615
DOI:10.3390/ani11113253 This link opens in a new window
COBISS.SI-ID:84990211 This link opens in a new window
Publication date in RUL:18.11.2021
Views:1147
Downloads:176
Metadata:XML DC-XML DC-RDF
:
Copy citation
Share:Bookmark and Share

Record is a part of a journal

Title:Animals
Shortened title:Animals
Publisher:MDPI AG
ISSN:2076-2615
COBISS.SI-ID:519120409 This link opens in a new window

Licences

License:CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Link:http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Description:This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
Licensing start date:13.11.2021

Projects

Funder:Other - Other funder or multiple funders
Funding programme:Slovenia, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Food

Funder:ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
Project number:V4-1817
Name:Tehnološke rešitve za izboljšanje dobrega počutja rejnih živali v perutninarstvu in prašičereji

Funder:ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
Project number:P4-0092
Name:Zdravje živali, okolje in varna hrana

Similar documents

Similar works from RUL:
Similar works from other Slovenian collections:

Back