Can alternative kinds of litter reduce foot pad lesions in female turkeys?

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of different types of litter on the development of foot pad dermatitis and on growth performance of female turkeys. In total, 2,040 turkeys of strain B.U.T. Big 6 were allocated to 12 groups of 85 birds in 2 time-separated replicates. Turkeys were distributed into 12 compartments (each 18m2). Six groups were reared on wood shavings and six on cellulose up to six weeks of age. After this time litter was combined in different ways. Feeding, light program, health care and fattening time corresponded with farming condition. All turkeys were scored for foot pad dermatitis (FPD) weekly from week 2 to 6 and furthermore in week 9, 12 and 15. FPD appeared at a very early age (week 2) and from then on increased. The incidence of FPD was lower in turkeys kept on cellulose during rearing period, respectively over the whole time period. The treatment combinations with wood shavings showed a higher incidence and severity of FPD at an earlier time. No significant effect of litter treatment on leg posture, gait score or mortality was found. Body weight was higher in birds kept on cellulose. In conclusion, cellulose seems to have a positive influence on the evidence and severity of lesions in female turkeys. However, a higher proportion of dust was recorded in these compartments and it seems necessary to develop a variant with a lower dust emission for practical use.