Investigation of the Formal Pathogenesis of Green Liver Discoloration in Organically Reared Female Bronze Turkeys ().

Green liver discoloration (GL) in fattening turkeys is suspected to be a multifactorial disease complex with a compromised immune system as the key factor. This study aimed to identify the formal pathogenesis of GL and to investigate possible nutritional influences. A total of 360 Bronze turkey hens out of 10 flocks from 5 fattening farms were necropsied for detection of GL during 2 consecutive trials on 2 examination dates each (70th to 75th and 120th to 127th day of fattening, respectively).

An Explorative Study of the Causal Pathogenesis of Green Liver Discoloration in Organically Reared Female Bronze Turkeys () Considering the Infectious Risk Factors.

A recent study revealed that organically raised Bronze turkeys showed a high prevalence of green liver discoloration. This alteration is commonly associated with the Turkey Osteomyelitis Complex and potentially caused by opportunistic bacteria. Therefore, 360 organically fattened Bronze turkeys were examined post-mortem throughout two fattening trials with two examinations each to determine possible infectious risk factors and reduce disease prevalence.

[Aspects to improve animal welfare in fattening turkeys: structure and occupational material - a literature review].

Conventional turkey husbandries frequently fail to provide any structural elements or occupational material apart from the feeding and drinking systems. However, these may carry numerous advantages for animal welfare (spatial separation to exercise natural behavior, retreat options, stimulation of locomotion). Hence these are increasingly discussed in conventional turkey husbandry, especially against the background of minimizing injurious pecking.