Relationship of Several Environmental Factors to the Incidence of Breast Blisters in Large Type Male Market Turkeys ,

SEVERAL workers have investigated the effect of various environmental factors on the occurrence of breast blisters in chicken broilers and roasters, but few in turkeys. The causes of blisters may be closely related in both species of poultry. The studies have emphasized various management conditions that might cause sufficient mechanical irritation to the bird’s breast tissue to result in subsequent breast blister development. In studies with chickens, Hodgson and Gutteridge (1941), Shoffner and Canfield (1957), and Koonz et al. (1963) observed that wire covered floors increased the incidence of breast blisters. Rasplicka (1962) reported that wire covered range roosts had a similar effect on turkeys. He also noted that roost type had a greater influence than roost height among several strains of turkeys. Dobson (1964) observed that incidence of blisters was higher among turkeys with access to range shelters with roosts. Size of roosts, however, had no effect on blister …