Turkey mast: Dry feet are healthy feet

Footpad dermatitis (FBD) is a ubiquitous problem in turkey fattening that causes significant economic losses. Scientists from the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover have come a good deal closer to effective prevention. Their findings were recently published in the Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition.

In a four-week study it was to be determined to what extent the disease can be controlled by feed supplements. The effects of biotin, zinc and manan-oligosaccharides (MOS) were investigated. Biotin and zinc improve wound healing, MOS as a prebiotic improves the general condition of the animals and the immune system. Half of each group worked full time on dry litter from wood shavings. The other animals were kept on a litter with a constant moisture content of 27 percent eight hours a day.

It turned out that the litter's moisture was the real problem: the observed symptoms in the turkeys that got their feet wet once a day were considerably more severe in the control group than in the birds kept dry all the time. Dietary supplements had practically no effect on damp soil. If the birds were dry all day, all three food supplements initially caused a faster weight gain and a higher final weight. Biotin and zinc significantly alleviated the symptoms of footpad dermatitis: Both preparations halved the severity of the disease compared to the control group.

In order to reduce the ball size of dermatitis, turkey fatteners should first optimize the moisture content of their bedding. Only then can feed supplements work.

Source: Bonn [Dr. Margit Ritzka - www.aid.de]