Litter quality is a critical determinant of respiratory and footpad health in farmed turkeys. Poor litter management creates welfare problems that affect millions of birds in UK and European production annually.
Turkey litter management illustrates how environmental conditions translate directly into welfare outcomes for individual animals. Ammonia irritation from wet litter is not an abstract production concern but a chronic welfare burden - birds breathing irritating gases, developing respiratory disease, and standing on wet substrate that damages their feet. These conditions are preventable through good husbandry but require active management rather than passive housing. Welfare auditing that measures ammonia levels and footpad dermatitis scores provides the accountability needed to ensure litter management standards are consistently applied throughout growing cycles.