Evaluation of Welfare in Commercial Turkey Flocks of Both Sexes Using the Transect Walk Method
Nina Mlakar Hrženjak,
Hristo Hristov,
Alenka Dovč,
Jana Bergoč Martinjak,
Manja Zupan Šemrov,
Zoran Žlabravec,
Jožko Račnik,
Uroš Krapež,
Brigita Slavec,
Olga Zorman Rojs
Affiliations
Nina Mlakar Hrženjak
Institute of Poultry, Birds, Small Mammals and Reptiles, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva Ulica 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Hristo Hristov
Nutrition Institute, Tržaška Cesta 40, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Alenka Dovč
Institute of Poultry, Birds, Small Mammals and Reptiles, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva Ulica 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Department of Animal Science, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Groblje 3, 1230 Domžale, Slovenia
Zoran Žlabravec
Institute of Poultry, Birds, Small Mammals and Reptiles, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva Ulica 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Jožko Račnik
Institute of Poultry, Birds, Small Mammals and Reptiles, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva Ulica 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Uroš Krapež
Institute of Poultry, Birds, Small Mammals and Reptiles, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva Ulica 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Brigita Slavec
Institute of Poultry, Birds, Small Mammals and Reptiles, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva Ulica 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Olga Zorman Rojs
Institute of Poultry, Birds, Small Mammals and Reptiles, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva Ulica 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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, NH3 and CO2 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 p p p p p p 2 (3000 and 4433 ppm) and NH3 (40 and 27.6 ppm) values were noted only at the first assessment in two facilities. Further analyses showed that slightly elevated NH3 and CO2 levels did not influence the occurrence of welfare indicators. This study is the first description of the welfare of commercial turkey flocks in Slovenia.
