Review of the physiological and pathological welfare indicators applied in turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo)

Abstract

Concern on animal welfare has become an important issue in Europe for a decade now. In commercial poultry husbandry, there are many trials to standardize the production in order to reduce the economic loss caused by poor welfare at marketing age. As it known, factors such as density, group size, space availability, maturation, lighting, feeding, and transportation can have effects on welfare of turkeys. However, to ensure a better quality of live for the birds as well as the industry as good performance, reducing the mortality and condemnations it is important to have another point of view as different kind of indicators. This paper reviews the available scientific literature related to the turkeys? welfare according to the main relevant physiopathology indicators by taking into a count whether they are feasible or not for being used. We addressed foot pad dermatitis and breast skin lesions as being the most relevant indicators so far. They may be relevant to improve the welfare assessment indicators of turkeys. However, measurements of corticosterone, enzyme activities, cytokines, and hematological profile seemed to be flourishing indicators to be applied more often. In this way associating the indicators that were previously studied to these new ones, it is assumed that animal, producer, industry and consumer may have a suitable bond between them (poultry chain) according to their different interests.Pitanje dobrobiti zivotinja je preko jedne decenije jedno od vaznijih pitanja u Evropi. U komercijalnom zivinarstvu, bilo je mnogo pokusaja da se standardizuje proizvodnja u cilju smanjenja ekonomskih gubitaka izazvanih losom dobrobiti u uzrastu kada se zivina plasira na trziste. Kao sto je poznato, faktori kao sto su gustina naseljenosti, velicina grupe, dostupnost prostora, sazrevanje, osvetljenje, ishrana i prevoz, mogu imati uticaj na dobrobit curki. Medjutim, da bi se obezbedio bolji kvalitet zivota za ptice, kao i za industriju dobre performanse, smanjenje smrtnosti i gubitaka, vazno je imati jos jednu tacku gledista kao razlicite vrste indikatora. Ovaj rad razmatra raspolozivu naucnu literaturu koja se odnosi na dobrobit curki "u skladu sa glavnim relevantnim fizicko-patoloskim pokazateljima uzimajuci u obzir da li su oni izvodljivi ili ne. U radu je paznja usmerena na dermatitis nogu i lezije koze grudi kao najrelevantnije indikatori do sada. Oni mogu biti od znacaja za poboljsanje indikatora ocenjivanja dobrobiti curki. Medjutim, merenja kortikosterona, aktivnosti enzima, citokina i hematoloski profil su indikatori za koje se cini da ce se u buducnosti cesce primenjivati. Na ovaj nacin, povezivanjem indikatora koji su ranije ispitivani sa novim, pretpostavlja se da ce postojati odgovarajucu vezu izmedju zivotinja, odgajivaca, industrije i potrosaca (lanac proizvodnje zivine) u skladu sa njihovim razlicitim interesima.