Turkey keeping in Germany is animal-friendly
Berlin, November 3, 2017. "Turkey husbandry in Germany is animal-friendly, is in line with the Animal Welfare Act and has been proven to have some of the highest standards in the world." This is emphasized by Thomas Storck, Chairman of the Association of German Turkey Producers (VDP) and Vice President of the Central Association of the German Poultry Industry e. V. (ZDG), in response to the class action lawsuit brought by the Albert Schweitzer Foundation in Baden-Württemberg against the keeping of turkeys. Storck criticizes what the turkey industry sees as the substance and baseless lawsuit as an "air number". Thomas Storck emphasizes that there can be no question of "systematic violations of the Animal Welfare Act", as denounced by the animal rights activists in an obvious show trial: "It is precisely the turkey farmers who, with their voluntary commitment to the uniform federal benchmarks for a voluntary agreement on keeping turkeys for fattening, in agreement with science, authorities and animal welfare, have significantly raised the standards in German turkey keeping and have demonstrably improved animal welfare.” Compliance with the specifications of the benchmarks is checked by the responsible authorities; the benchmarks are thus of a quasi-legal character and are binding for German turkey farmers.
"Health control program proves the pioneering role of the turkey industry"
A unique feature is the health control program as the core of the uniform federal benchmarks. Animal-based indicators are used to draw conclusions about the health status and well-being of the turkeys, the turkey farmer receives direct feedback and, if necessary, the development and implementation of a health plan is initiated in cooperation with the attending veterinarian. "This innovative concept, geared towards animal welfare, demonstrates the pioneering role of the turkey industry and is also exemplary for other areas of livestock farming," emphasizes VDP Chairman Storck. The underlying concept was developed with representatives from federal, state and district authorities, the turkey industry, veterinarians and animal welfare with intensive scientific support.
The fact that turkey farming is geared towards the well-being of the animals applies both to the area of turkey husbandry and to the upstream sector of breeding. Modern poultry farming is one of the decisive factors in continuously increasing the efficiency and sustainability of poultry meat production. Above all, however, poultry farming has made a significant contribution to improving animal welfare in recent years. A balanced selection takes into account both the economy and the well-being of the animals. "Welfare criteria" make up around 35 percent of the breeding goals in modern breeding programs and are therefore given just as much weight in every selection as the efficiency criteria. Improvements in terms of the well-being and fitness of the animals are thus continuously achieved.
About the ZDG
The Central Association of the German Poultry Industry e. V., as a professional umbrella and umbrella organization, represents the interests of the German poultry industry at federal and EU level vis-à-vis political, official and professional organisations, the public and abroad. The approximately 8.000 members are organized in federal and state associations. The turkey keepers are organized in the Association of German Turkey Producers e. V. (VDP), which in turn is a member of the ZDG.
