title: Impact of Selected Factors on the Occurrence of Contact Dermatitis in Turkeys on Commercial Farms in Germany.
abstract: In a long term research project in Germany the influence of husbandry on the health of fattening turkeys (Study 1) as well as the influence of practiced rearing conditions on the health of turkey poults (Study 2) was examined in 24 farms and at the meat processing plant. In all examined rearing farms, litter samples for the determination of litter moisture were taken. This paper summarizes the results obtained by our working group from 2007 until 2012. The results elucidate the universal problem of foot pad dermatitis (FPD). Nearly 100% of the observed turkeys showed a clinically apparent FPD at the meat processing plant. Furthermore, skin lesions of the breast, especially breast buttons were diagnosed, particularly at the slaughterhouse. FPD was detected in the first week of the rearing phase. Prevalence and degree showed a progressive development up to the age of 22-35 days, whereas 63.3% of the poults had foot pad alterations. As even mild alterations in the foot pad condition can be indicators for suboptimal design of the rearing environment, especially high litter moisture, it is important to focus on the early rearing phase.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Birds and Reptiles, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 17, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany. krautwald@vogelklinik.uni-leipzig.de.
authors.forename: Maria-Elisabeth
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Krautwald-Junghanns
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, Chair of Animal Welfare, Ethology, Animal Hygiene and Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Veterinärstr. 13/R, D-80539 Munich, Germany. s.bergmann@lmu.de.
authors.forename: Shana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bergmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, Chair of Animal Welfare, Ethology, Animal Hygiene and Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Veterinärstr. 13/R, D-80539 Munich, Germany. m.erhard@tierhyg.vetmed.uni-muenchen.de.
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Erhard
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany. fehlhaber@vetmed.uni-leipzig.de.
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fehlhaber
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Birds and Reptiles, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 17, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany. huebel@vogelklinik.uni-leipzig.de.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hübel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany. mludewig@vetmed.uni-leipzig.de.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ludewig
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany. mitterer-istyagin@vetmed.uni-leipzig.de.
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mitterer-Istyagin
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, Chair of Animal Welfare, Ethology, Animal Hygiene and Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Veterinärstr. 13/R, D-80539 Munich, Germany. nina.maedl@gmx.de.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ziegler
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Birds and Reptiles, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 17, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany. bartels@vogelklinik.uni-leipzig.de.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bartels
keywords: Meleagris gallopavo; animal welfare; fattening turkey; foot pad dermatitis; litter moisture