Evaluation of footpad health and live weights in two lines of turkey hens kept under organic husbandry conditions in Germany

Abstract

Within the frame of this project, footpad health and live weights of 15 British United Turkeys 6 (B.U.T.6) and eleven Kelly Broad Breasted Bronze (Kelly BBB) flocks, kept under organic husbandry conditions in Germany were assessed. Data collection was carried out on 50 turkey hens each within two farm visits, in the first eight weeks of life and during the late fattening period. An additional 200 pairs of feet per flock were collected at the slaughterhouse if possible. Within the 14th to 17th week the mean ± SD footpad score calculated for the B.U.T.6 flocks (2.64 ± 0.436) was significantly higher (P 0.05) between the 16th and 18th week of life. While none of the B.U.T.6 flocks reached the goal weights given by the breeding company under commercial conditions, most of the Kelly BBB flocks even exceeded the performance objectives until the end of the fattening period. The results indicate other factors than the body weight as the main cause of differences in footpad health among the organically kept Kelly BBB and B.U.T.6 flocks examined in the present study.