21 December 2023

1 minute read

By: Global Ag Media

In October 2023, the European Commission sent a mandate to European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to deliver a scientific opinion on the welfare of turkeys on farm.

EFSA hosted a stakeholder meeting that took place in Brussels on the 8th of November 2023 to offer stakeholders the opportunity to learn about EFSA’s work on animal welfare and to engage in a technical discussion on the available data and data sources that would inform EFSA's scientific advice on the welfare of turkeys on farm. 

As a next step, EFSA is hereby launching a call for evidence to collect information/data to support the risk assessment of the welfare of turkeys on farm. 

Stakeholders are invited to share the evidence indicated below until 31 January 2024. 

The call for data focuses on eight topics of interest for turkeys on farm were identified and include: 

1. Husbandry systems of turkey breeders, hatchery conditions, turkey poults and turkeys kept for meat production
2. Breeding turkeys and impact on welfare
3. Stocking density (kg/m2 and animal/m2) in different husbandry systems
4. Environmental conditions and environmental enrichment
5. The practice of mutilations in turkeys
6. Separation of turkey toms and turkey hens in the barn
7. The practice of thinning in turkeys kept for meat production
8. Welfare assessments in turkey farming