Status: 04/17/2023 4:51 p.m
By law, turkeys should be given significantly more space in German stables. In fact, there are massive problems with industrial keeping. But does it help the animals if the business goes abroad?
2.6 animals per square meter – the large turkey cocks don’t have much space in the barn of farmer Phillip W. from North Rhine-Westphalia. He doesn’t want to go public with his full name for fear of militant animal rights activists.
On a little over 1200 square meters he fattens 3200 animals. According to the plans of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, he should only fatten around 2,300 animals there in the future – 900 fewer than before. “We live from turkey fattening,” says the farmer. “And if what the government demands happens, then I believe that it will mean the end for our company. Because the product will then no longer be in demand on the market because it will be too expensive.”
First legal regulation on turkey husbandry
The ministry wants to enforce more animal welfare and recently Cornerstones for stricter minimum requirements formulated for keeping fattening turkeys. One specification in it: the so-called stocking density, i.e. how many animals may be kept per square meter. So far, 58 kilograms live weight per square meter has been the norm for turkeys – on the basis of a voluntary commitment. Now, regulated by law for the first time, it could only be 40 kilograms per square meter in the future.
“If this were to come into force in this form, it would mean the end of turkey farming in Germany,” says Wolfgang Schreiber, Managing Director of the Central Association of the German Poultry Industry.
Millions of animals have bed sores
A spokeswoman for the Federal Ministry of Agriculture justifies the planned changes with the fact that the previous husbandry conditions are associated with a high risk of diseases, injuries and behavioral disorders for the animals. This can cause significant pain, suffering and harm to affected animals.
Research by the SWR for the ARD-Documentary “The Hidden World of Turboputen”, which for the first time shows exclusive insights into industrialized turkey production: In 2022, around 7 million turkeys suffered from painful changes in the breast skin because they had bedsores in the fattening stall. About 1.2 million animals had severe foot sores because the litter was too wet with faeces and urine.
In addition, almost all turkey chicks have their beaks amputated, although this is actually forbidden. This is made possible by an exception: the amputation is intended to prevent greater suffering, because the animals with uncut sharp beaks can seriously injure each other.
Turkey chicks at a machine that trims their beaks.
Image: SWR
“Stocking density alone is never decisive”
Mandatory legal requirements for keeping turkeys make sense, says Professor Nicole Kemper, a renowned animal welfare expert from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Hanover. However, she is critical of the ministry’s target stocking density of 40 or 35 kilograms per square meter (for cocks/hens): “The stocking density alone is never decisive. Various factors come together for animal welfare, such as employment, group size, genetics and exercise. ”
If this low stocking density were to be implemented, there would be a risk that many German turkey farmers would give up and turkey farming would migrate abroad. Then Germany would import turkey meat from countries where the requirements are not so strict – and there would no longer be any influence on the implementation of animal welfare, according to Kemper.
There is a lack of Europe-wide rules
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture is also aware of this danger. An EU-wide regulation has been called for several times, but it is not foreseeable when such requirements will be defined at EU level, according to a spokeswoman for the ministry. The ministry is aware that the situation for the poultry industry is difficult. There will be appropriate transition periods. Since this is an ongoing work process, no further details can be given at this time.
Turkey farmer Philip W. remains pessimistic: Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir says that you can sit down and find a solution that suits both sides – but in the end you just do your thing anyway. With this assessment, he is likely to hit the mood of many farmers at the moment.
The ARD documentary “The Hidden World of Turboputen” runs tonight at 10:50 p.m. on the first.