1. This paper reviews literature on the effects of stocking density on behaviour, health, and production in intensively housed fattening turkeys. 2. Worldwide, there are various regulations and recommendations on the maximum stocking density. While stocking density can be determined based on the...

This book contains 17 chapters that discuss commercial poultry production systems and their main welfare challenges; the effects of hatchery practices on the welfare of poultry; rearing young birds for adaptability; electrical stunning of poultry; gas and low atmospheric pressure stunning; welfare...

The occurrence of feather pecking and cannibalism is a challenge in turkey husbandry in regard to animal welfare, especially as the triggers of these behavioural disorders have not been finally clarified. Genetics, lightning, feeding, flock size, stocking density and poor environmental complexity...

Poultry, particularly broilers, have become a barometer for least cost production, and can be purchased in many supermarkets for less money per kg than some fruits and vegetables. This production philosophy places very significant pressure on chicken farmers, and on chickens - one inevitable result ...

Stocking density is one of the important issues in turkey meat production which is enjoyed by consumers as a source of animal protein. This issue is examined in terms of both animal welfare and efficiency in this research. The commercial hybrid white broiler turkey line Hybrid Converter poults were ...

The main impetus for 'modern' intensive animal production occurred after the Second World War, when Western governments developed policies to increase the availability of cheap, safe food for their populations. Livestock benefit under intensive husbandry by protection from environmental extremes...

This study was to investigate the effect of stocking density on growth performance, footpad dermatitis score, and dressing percentage of meat-type tom turkeys. Eighty B.U.T. 6 male birds were purchased from a commercial hatchery at 10 days of age. They were randomly allotted into 8 pens. After 68...

Nicholas Select hens (n = 3,550 poults in each of 2 experimental trials) were randomly placed in 1 of 4 stocking density (SD) treatments of 30, 40, 50, or 60 kg/m² until 11 wk. Birds were housed in open rooms (67.5 m²) with 4 replications per treatment. Ventilation was adjusted in each room...

A 10-week biological experiment was undertaken to evaluate the response of Beltsvilie Small White turkey poults to different floor space (0.6, 0.8, and 1.0 ft²/bird) and dietary protein levels (22%, 24% and 26% with similar dietary energy) in terms of growth performance, immune response, and serum...

High stocking densities in turkey husbandry have been suggested as being one potential trigger for the occurrence of behavioural disorders like feather pecking and cannibalism. For this reason, more and more scientific and social debates are focusing on this topic. The purpose of this study was to...