COMMERCIAL TURKEY MODULE

Are poults placed into a pre-heated shed as soon as possible and their behavior closely monitored on arrival at the rearing site?

Where required, due to climatic conditions or due to the individual brooding system, day old poults shall be placed in a location that is suitable to meet their temperature requirements. For example, warming lamps according to the number of turkey chicks shall be installed. 

Is the floor surface made of concrete or asphalt and is it above the outside ground level?

Defined in the Control Point.

Do the floor, the roof, the ceiling and the walls have sealed joints?

Defined in the Control Point and should be confirmed by visual
assessment.
 

Are the key points relating to welfare recorded and reviewed regularly (annually) by the farmer and attending veterinary surgeon or technical expert for all accommodation and are they displayed at or near the
entrance to each building?

The key points shall be displayed at or near the entrance to each
building and include the following:
1. Total floor area available to the birds
2. Number of birds in relation to weight allowed in each house shall
comply with the maximum permitted stocking density
3. Numbers of birds in relation to the feeding space and drinker provision
4. Operating temperature (including alarm ranges)
5. Feed type and bin identification
6. Daily lighting regime.

Does all poultry accommodation provide sufficient space to allow
unrestricted access to stock persons for the purposes of inspection and removal of sick or injured birds?

Visual assessment and written stocking density calculations for each building shall assure compliance.

DO all birds have sufficient space to enable the following?

Visual assessment shall ensure that birds have sufficient space to do the
following:
1. Move freely
2. Stand normally
3. Turn around
4. Stretch their wings
5. Sit without interface with other birds
 

Is a recording system present for each poultry house that demonstrates compliance with the maximum stocking density? Does the system enable farmers to identify and take appropriate preventive measures in those
poultry houses for which growth rates indicate the maximum stocking density will be exceeded?

Written (hard or soft copy) records of stocking density that monitor maximum stocking densities at the end of the growing period shall be
available.

Are the temperature and rate of ventilation of the accommodation
appropriate to the geographic location of the housing system and to the age, weight and physiological state of the birds?

A visual assessment and worker awareness of the requirements shall ensure compliance.

Does each site have a written policy for the recognition of and procedures to be followed in the event of heat or cold stress? Are all stock persons familiar with and apply the contents of this policy?

Written policy (soft or hard copy) shall be available in VHP and workers shall demonstrate how to apply the policy (alarm plan, weather forecast available in time to allow the planning for extreme temperatures, etc.).

Is lighting uniform within the same poultry house?

Defined in Control Point.
 

Is the lighting system capable of providing 100 lux for cleaning purposes?

Visual evidence on inspection.
 

Do the following requirements apply to the litter in use?
1. Litter is of a suitable material and particle size
2. Litter is maintained in a dry, friable condition
3. Litter is of a sufficient depth for dilution of feces (minimum 5 cms)
4. Litter enables birds to dust bathe
5. Litter is topped up daily, if necessary, with fresh litter

Defined in Control Point.

Is litter removed from de-populated housing promptly and disposed of in an appropriate way? Are records of housing cleaning and disposal of litter retained?

Records of housing cleaning or disposal shall be retained to be verified.

Are all stock people familiar with the proper management of turkey litter?

Workers shall demonstrate knowledge of proper litter management.
 

Is the following true for the outdoors in free-range systems?
1. They are designed and managed in ways that ensure the area around each house does not become poached
2. They consist of pasture mainly covered by vegetation

Defined in Control Point.

Do birds with access to range have access to well-drained areas for resting whilst outside the building?

Defined in Control Point.
 

Does the stocking density take factors such as soil type, drainage and frequency of flock rotation into account?

Defined in Control Point.

Do birds kept in free-range systems have access to range for a minimum of eight hours each day except when the natural daylight period is less?
Are all popholes normally open for this time, except when this is precluded by inclement weather conditions?

Workers shall demonstrate knowledge of requirement.

For free range systems in summer conditions, is a shaded area accessible, which has sufficient space so that the turkeys do not have to crowd together (thereby risking further heat stress)?

Shaded area for 10 percent of the flock shall be provided. Written calculation shall ensure compliance.

Records of the daily checking of all automatic equipment shall be
available. Evidence of prompt repair of defects or other appropriate measures shall be at hand. “Automatic equipment” defines automated or
mechanical equipment, the failure of which will cause the livestock to suffer unnecessary distress unless the failure is rectified or other provisions are made for the care of livestock. Where a defect is found in the automatic equipment (whether on inspection of the equipment in accordance with this paragraph or at any other time): 1. The defect shall be rectified forthwith, or

2. If this is impracticable, such measures shall be taken and maintained until the defect is rectified as are required to safeguard the birds from suffering unnecessary pain or unnecessary distress as a result of the defect. .

Alarm systems shall cover the mains supply, ventilation and
minimum/maximum temperature. Are the alarm systems checked
routinely, at least once per week, to ensure that in case of emergency the alarm is passed on to the responsible persons?

Records of routinely performed checks shall be presented.

Has the producer made provisions for an emergency power supply?

The producer shall have the possibility to generate power in the case of mains failure.
 

Are the electric installation and its devices checked by an approved and experienced electrician every two years to ensure conformity with national electric requirements?

Report of the routine check as performed by the electrician should be available.

s there a drug-reducing statement in the VHP? Does the producer have a statement in the VHP regarding the appropriate use of antibiotics known to be important for the treatment of critical infections in humans?

Visual control of VHP to ensure compliance.

Are farm cats, dogs or other domestic pets excluded from all turkey accommodation?

Exclusion of cats and dogs shall be visually assessed.

Does the production site have a written policy for the control of visitors, vehicles and materials entering or to be used on the production site?

The written policy shall cover the following:
1. Provision of protective clothing and footwear for visitors
2. Records of all visitors, vehicles and material supplies entering the site
3. Provision of disinfectant and other precautions to prevent the
introduction of diseases
4. Clearly designated and visibly marked restricted areas and points of danger
5. The procedures required to be followed by persons having had
contact with other poultry units within the last 48 hours before the production site may be entered
6.Veterinary health risk assessment covering the entry onto the production site by people, by vehicles, by other equipment and the supply of feed, bedding and other materials to be used on the production site and the advice of appropriate precautions within the context of the VHP
7. Appropriate management of hygiene at the point of exit of birds from the production

Is the handling of the birds by the farm personnel carried out according to the needs of turkeys and performed in an appropriate manner?

Visual assessment and indication of awareness shall ensure compliance.

In the case of sickness of turkeys and if the workers are not able to take effective action, is a specialist veterinary surgeon´s or other expert´s advice obtained as soon as possible?

Workers shall demonstrate knowledge of the correct process of obtaining specialist veterinary surgeon´s or expert´s advice and under which circumstances.

Are birds and the facilities on which birds depend, inspected a minimum of twice daily? At least one of these inspections shall be sufficiently thorough to identify any bird that has died or is showing signs of sickness or injury. 
The inspection shall be as accurate as possible – without stress for the animals. Do records of fallen stock show that checking is done twice daily?

Records of inspection shall be presented and workers knowledge be demonstrated to ensure compliance.

Is a separation area provided for turkeys having difficulties in walking or showing signs of sickness?

Visual assessment of presence of separation area or of facilities
available to allow a separation area to be set up once required shall ensure compliance.

Is an action plan defined in the VHP in case the Maximum Residue Level (MRL) is exceeded?

Results that exceed the MRLs shall be communicated back to the farmer and shall be acted upon according to an action plan laid down in the VHP.

Is the emergency power supply source for the emergency ventilation system and the alert system tested monthly and are records kept of these tests?

Records of monthly tests shall be available to the auditor. Equipment
shall be in working order.

Are workers who are normally responsible for the inspection of turkeys on daily basis trained to recognize lame turkeys?

Records of training shall ensure compliance.

If automatic equipment is installed that could affect animal welfare, are
stock persons able to do the following?
1. Demonstrate the ability to operate the equipment
2. Demonstrate the ability to carry out routine maintenance
3. Recognize common signs of malfunction

Workers knowledge shall be demonstrated on interview or by trainingrecords.

Are workers who are responsible for the management of the production establishment, for the compliance with the requirements of food safety, animal welfare and product wholesomeness identified in the standard?

Records of appointed persons shall be available.

When culling is necessary in order to prevent further suffering, is it carried out promptly and humanely by a competent person?

Workers shall demonstrate competence in the humane culling method by practical demonstration.

Are all turkeys that on inspection are not able to reach feed and water culled humanely and immediately?

Awareness shall be demonstrated and humane culling be explained.

Is a room or container for storing dead turkeys outside the barn available?
Can the room or container be easily cleaned and disinfected?

Method of disposal shall meet the requirements and workers shall be
able to demonstrate awareness. Room/container shall be located outside the barn, preferably at the farm´s gate. If room or container is located within fenced and restricted area of the site and is not accessible from outside, it is not obligatory to be lockable. Cross check with L.8.2

Is the place where the carcasses are stored for pick-up located and
constructed as follows?
1. Located at edge of farm and not downwind of the main wind direction
2. Located in such a way that access for pick-up of carcasses can be easily done without entering the main area of the site
3. With an easily cleanable and disinfectable surface on which the
container is placed or surface of the lockable room
4. With a container or lockable room that can be cooled

Visual control of location as defined in the Control Point shall ensure
compliance.

Are dead birds stored properly away from barns and are the carcasses rendered/collected regularly?

Visual inspection of storage area and check of confirmation of dispatch dates to rendering plant vehicle shall ensure compliance.

Are turkeys dispatched from the production establishment in a calm, clean and rested condition?

Observation of workers’ knowledge and actions shall confirm
compliance.

Have all workers involved in the catching and transportation of birds been trained and received instructions of their duties?

Records of training and instructions of the workers in the catching and
transportation shall be available to ensure competence of workers.

Is a nominated member of the catching team responsible for supervising the loading of birds into the transport vehicle?

Records of nominated supervisor shall be available.

Are the records of catching injuries, monitored in the slaughterhouse,
made available to the farmer for review and feedback to the catching team?

Feedback mechanism shall be demonstrated based on protocols.

Is no bird deprived of feed for more than twelve hours and water for more than one hour prior to loading for transport to slaughter?

Workers’ knowledge shall be demonstrated.

Are birds that are unfit for transport or dead sorted out and not
transported? Is prompt euthanasia performed on unfit birds?

Birds that are obviously unfit for transport (e.g. injured legs, abnormal behavior) shall be sorted out and humanely killed prior to transport. This also applies for birds that are detected during loading. Workers' knowledge shall be demonstrated.

Are birds not lifted or carried by a single leg or single wing?

Turkeys shall not be lifted by a single leg or single wing only. When carried, this shall be done individually, using techniques appropriate to the size and weight of the birds. Small birds shall either be held by both legs or be supported between the catcher’s arm and body. Larger birds
shall be carried by one leg and the diagonally opposite wing. They shall be carried with their heads upwards except for short periods whilst they are picked up. The turkeys shall not be swung or dropped into containers.

Is an appropriate area available for the loading and unloading of poults
and turkeys? Is it clean, tidy, hygienically managed and easy to be disinfected?

Visual control of loading area as defined in CP shall ensure compliance.