Overview
- The Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig ruled Thursday that a Baden‑Württemberg turkey operation violated Germany’s Animal Welfare Act.
- Judges found herds of more than 5,000 birds with only a few straw bales and no raised resting areas did not allow normal rest or social behavior.
- The court refused a total shutdown of the farm and instead directed the local veterinary authority to order workable improvements.
- The judges said the poultry industry’s 2013 voluntary “turkey guidelines” are not reliable proof of proper care, so officials may require stricter measures.
- With no national standards for turkey housing, local orders now set the terms, as animal groups press for federal rules and producers warn tighter German-only rules could push production abroad.