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Stockbreeding : Journal of Animal Improvement, Vol. 63 No. 2, 2009.

Conference paper

WELFARE OF TURKEYS IN INTENSIVE PRODUCTION

M. Ostović orcid id orcid.org/0000-0002-0253-0000 ; Zavod za animalnu higijenu, okoliš i etologiju, Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Heinzelova 55, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Ž. Pavičić ; Zavod za animalnu higijenu, okoliš i etologiju, Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Alenka Tofant ; Zavod za animalnu higijenu, okoliš i etologiju, Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
T. Balenović ; Zavod za stočarstvo, Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Anamaria Ekert Kabalin ; Zavod za stočarstvo, Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
S. Menčik ; Zavod za stočarstvo, Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska

Full text: croatian doc 129 Kb

page 113-119

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Abstract

Within the conditions of intensive rearing, of which the main goal is high productivity, certain turkeys' needs, important in the welfare context, cannot be satisfied. Genetic selection for rapid growth and higher body weight has resulted in many health problems, for instance problems of the locomotory system, and has also made natural mating in turkeys impossible. Besides, a high stocking density per housing space unit in farm rearing causes poor air quality, cannibalism as well as lower possibility of animal inspection. Furthermore, routine procedures like catching, transportation and slaughtering represent major welfare problems for turkeys. With the aim to prevent cannibalism, turkeys are raised at low light intensity or/and beak trimming is conducted, which also raises questions about animal welfare. Poor welfare of breeding birds is also manifested in restrictive feeding programs, with the purpose of forced molting and controlling of their body weight. The above mentioned reasons of poor welfare in intensive turkey production prove the need of modification of certain production practices as well as of environmental enrichment.

Keywords

turkeys; welfare; intensive production

Hrčak ID:

41289

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/41289

Publication date:

15.8.2009.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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