This Opinion is supported by a separate Technical Report ‘Turkeys’ (Meleagris gallopavo gallopavo) housing systems and management practices’ which provides an overview of the main husbandry systems and common management practices currently used in the EU for turkeys across the different stages of production.

OVERVIEW OF TURKEY PRODUCTION IN THE EU

Statistics on turkey farming in the EU

In 2023, the EU had about 5,000 turkey fattening farms, producing over 171 million turkeys as well as 43 turkey hatcheries and 270 turkey parent-breeder farms. In Europe, grandparent‑level (and above) breeder farms were concentrated in two countries: France: (14 farms) and the UK (20 farms). The two main breeding companies Aviagen™ Turkeys and Hendrix Genetics™ produce heavy and medium genotypes of turkeys. Average daily weight gain differs between genotypes (Heavy: toms - 149 g/day, hens - 97 g/day; Medium: toms - 136 g/day, hens - 88 g/day).

Overview of production for fattening turkeys

Around 1-3 days after hatching, turkey poults reared for meat are transported to the fattening farm and housed in single-sex groups. Most farms use all‑in‑all‑out (brood‑to‑finish) systems, meaning the birds stay in the same barn from arrival until slaughter. Some farms use brood‑and‑move systems, where poults are kept in a brooding barn for the first 5–6 weeks and then moved to another facility for the growing/finishing phase.

Key features of production systems in the EU for growing turkeys

Housing: Most commonly barren indoor floor systems are used for both brooding and growing. A small number of farms provide access to a covered veranda (from 4 - 10 weeks) and/or an outdoor range (from 6 - 8 weeks).
Stocking density: Limits vary across EU countries, ranging from 40 to 65 kg/m² fattening turkeys.
Litter: Litter is always present, but depth varies widely by country and season: from 3 - 5 cm up to 15 - 25 cm. Common materials are wood shavings and chopped straw.
Enrichment: Not always provided. When it is, farms mostly offer straw bales, plastic objects, pecking blocks. Platforms and perches are rare.
Lighting: Few farms use natural light. More farms provide higher light intensities (> 30 lux) during brooding than in the growing phase. A continuous dark phase of 6 - 8 hours is provided.

Key features of production systems in the EU for turkey parent stock

Housing: Kept indoors on litter with minimal enrichment and no platforms or perches. Hens and toms are reared in separate rooms with hens making up 90% of the total animals.
Lighting (Toms): Start with continuous bright light (80-100 lux), then darkness is increased daily to achieve a 14‑hour light/10‑hour dark schedule at 4 - 7 days of age. From weeks 2 - 22, light intensity is reduced to 50 lux, and increased again to 100 lux from 23 weeks to stimulate sexual maturity.
Lighting (Hens): Start with continuous bright light (80 lux) until day 5, then the light period and intensity are decreased progressively to achieve a 14‑hour light (at 25-50 lux)/10‑hour dark schedule by 13 weeks. The light period is further gradually reduced to 7-8 hours until 19 weeks and maintained until 29 weeks when it is then increased to 14 -16 hours to stimulate sexual maturity. The light intensity during production is reported to be high.
Stocking density: Maximum stocking density for medium and heavy genotype toms is 30 kg/m2 during rearing, and 25 kg/m2 and 23 kg/m2, respectively during production. Maximum stocking density for medium genotype hens is 25 kg/m2 during rearing and production, while heavy genotype hens are stocked up to 49 kg/m2 during rearing and 40 kg/m2 during production.

Common practices in the EU

Mutilations: Poults are typically subjected to mutilations such as beak trimming, toe trimming, and de-snooding (toms only) at the hatchery.
Thinning: Some farms thin 10 - 50% of the flock between 10–18 weeks.
Feed restriction of breeders: Parent breeder hens are subjected to a qualitative feed restriction in almost all EU countries, while practices for toms differ across member states with ad libitum feeding, and both qualitative and quantitative restrictions being practiced.
Semen collection and artificial insemination for breeders: Semen is collected from toms two times a week, while hens are artificially inseminated weekly

MAIN WELFARE HAZARDS IDENTIFIED

The scientific opinion identified and assessed a number of welfare hazards for each production phase, as well as the direct and indirect consequences of genetic selection and breeding strategies, as critical factors influencing turkey welfare.

Hatchery: Inadequate conditions, and the practice of the mutilations.
On farm (production and breeding phases): unsuitable, insufficient or wet litter, insufficient enrichment and lack of perching surfaces, low space allowance, poor environmental conditions (inappropriate temperature and lighting including the absence of daylight/UV-A, poor air quality), group size, and practices such as thinning.
Additional hazards for breeder flocks: insufficient and inadequate nests, feed restriction, and handling during artificial insemination and semen collection.
Genetic selection and breeding strategies: Overemphasis on selection for productivity traits.

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

EFSA's recommendations include:

Maintaining dry and friable litter for fattening turkeys and breeders.
Provide elevated structures with ramps for perching and sufficient edible exploration and foraging materials, visual barriers, and suitable dust bathing substrate.
Provide a covered veranda (minimum 20% additional space) from 5 weeks of age.
Provide daytime access to an outdoor range from 6 - 9 weeks of age.
Provide a space allowance based on the sex and target body weight of the turkey:
- Hens: from 14.4 kg/m2 for a 7 kg bird to 26.2 kg/m2 for a 16 kg bird
- Toms: from 21.4 kg/m2 for a 16 kg bird to 30.4 kg/m2 for birds over 25 kg
Ensure comfortable environmental conditions including ammonia < 10 ppm and carbon dioxide < 2000 ppm, and monitor signs of heat stress and cold stress.
Include daylight or artificial lighting that includes UV-A, and gradual transitions between photoperiods with a minimum light intensity of 10 lux.
Avoid non-segregated flock thinning.
Phase out mutilations beak trimming, desnooding, and toe trimming.
Place more emphasis on welfare traits (e.g. leg health) and less emphasis on the production traits in the breeding goals.
Monitor animal-based welfare outcomes on farm (footpad dermatitis, total mortality) and at slaughter (plumage damage, wounds, breast blisters and carcass condemnation).

EFSA publishes new opinion on the welfare of farmed turkeys