§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has concerning the extent of pododermatitis in turkeys; and what advice his Department gives for the eradication of this ailment.
§ Mr. MacleanAs pododermatitis is not a notifiable disease, there is no comprehensive information on its prevalence in turkeys. Pododermatitis is the result of a complex interaction of factors such as water spillage, ventilation, insulation, diet, litter quality and depth and stocking density. Advice on these factors is available in the Government's welfare code on turkeys. Ministry sponsored research has made a substantial contribution to the understanding of the condition and technical advice to overcome the problem is available from the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service.