title: [Examination of the prevalence of skin injuries in debeaked fattened turkeys].
abstract: Within the framework of a cooperative research project, turkey health as well as numerous aspects of animal welfare were examined in various intensive commercial farms with varying rearing forms. The present study demonstrates the prevalence of skin injuries concerning living animals as well as carcasses of slaughtered turkeys of both sexes. Although all turkeys were debeaked, prevalences of skin injuries at a value of 12.8% with male turkeys and 13.8% with female turkeys could be found at the age of 16 weeks. Within the scope of medically inspections skin injuries were mainly established in the head region, especially the snood as well as in the region of the back. By means of their clinical picture pecking wounds and scratch injuries could be distinguished. Skin lesion produced primary as a result of scratching the skin surface, could be enlarged by the animal itself or by conspecifics by beak pecking, especially after bleeding, in spite of debeaked upper beak. Injuries in the head region, especially of the snood, could be explained mainly as a result of pecking by conspecifics by reason of their clinical picture and were found mainly in male turkeys. Skin injuries in the region of the back, especially at the coxal tuberosity, were identified primarily as scratch marks. They were found mainly in female turkeys. A statistically significant correlation of the injury prevalence to particular husbandry parameters discussed in the literature as "predisposing" or "limiting" factors (e.g., population density, light regime or offer of employment material) could not be established in this study. At the meat inspection fresh scratching injuries at the chest and the hind legs were diagnosed most often. Especially fresh injuries of the carcass point to a misguided behaviour of the staff concerning animal handling during loading and transport which is not conform to animal welfare.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Vögel und Reptilien, Veterinärmedizinische Fakultät, Universität Leipzig' Institut für Lebensmittelhygiene, Veterinärmedizinische Fakultät, Universität Leipzig. krautwald@vmf.uni-leipzig.de
authors.forename: Maria-Elisabeth
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Krautwald-Junghanns
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ellerich
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mitterer-Istyagin
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ludewig
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fehlhaber
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.forename: Jutta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berk
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dressel
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Petermann
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kruse
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Noack
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bartels
mesh_terms: D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D001415:Back; D001502:Beak / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006257:Head; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D014422:Turkeys / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary