One of the most important things turkey producers can do to reduce the risk of clostridial dermatitis (CDT) in their flocks is to properly manage their composting activities.
Dr. Steven Clark, veterinary technical service manager for Huvepharma’s turkey portfolio, highlighted that importance during his talk, “The ABCs of CDT: Clostridial Dermatitis in Turkeys,” at the Midwest Poultry Federation (MPF) Convention in Minneapolis, on March 22, 2022.
While Clark went through the entire alphabet during his presentation, he frequently returned the discussion to the letter C, which stood for compost management.
When turkey producers opt to compost their dead birds, one mistake he sees all too often is that the compost pile is too close to the barns where the turkeys are housed.
“The number one rule is don’t compost within 200 feet of the barn,” Clark said.
And if you do your composting within 200 feet of the barn, the odds of a CDT infection are greatly increased, he said.
Another common mistake Clark has seen is when the composting procedures are not done correctly. Specifically, he said, the compost needs to be turned frequently to allow oxygen to get in. When turning of the compost is neglected, bacteria is increased. He said that turkey growers could even have their risk of CDT incidence tripled if the compost is not turned regularly.
Also, when bacteria and wet spots are prevalent, insects can further spread the spores that are harmful for turkeys, he added, and it is imperative to keep the spore count down.
Clark also noted that if other options of dead bird disposal are used, it could even further reduce the risk of CDT incidence. He recommended that the barns should be checked often for mortalities, and dead birds should be removed from the barn two or three times daily.
