Enrichment materials in turkey farming
Practical experience in turkey rearing as part of the MuD Animal Welfare Project #Pute@Praxis
Improving animal welfare, harnessing positive effects, coordinating measures, developing concepts and putting scientific findings into practice – these are the goals that the MuD animal welfare project #Pute@Praxis has set itself. It aims to contribute to phasing out beak trimming in turkeys in the future by adapting the rearing environment to the animals’ needs. In this project, funded under the Federal Livestock Farming Programme, various enrichment materials and options for housing design are being used to prevent behavioural issues such as feather pecking and cannibalism. Turkey fattening is no exception. For farm managers, untrimmed hens mean new approaches to rearing these animals and the associated new challenges. The Beckmann farm, a partner in the #Pute@Praxis project, has conducted extensive research into various enrichment materials and presents some of them in this video.