129. The Council accepts that it is not possible for the stockman to look at each bird individually during routine inspection but a good indication of flock health must be gained. The stockman should pass close enough to all the birds to enable them to be seen clearly and for them to be disturbed and move. This will facilitate identification of the majority of sick, weak and dead birds which should be removed from the flock. During inspection the lighting levels should be sufficient to ensure that all birds are clearly visible and encouraged to move.
130. We note that the Welfare of Livestock Regulations 1994 require that livestock in intensive systems shall be inspected at least once each day. We believe that once a day is the absolute minimum and that systematic and routine inspections of all flocks should be carried out twice each day. These Regulations also require inspection and testing of automatic equipment (see paragraph 29) and this we endorse.
131. During inspection, lighting levels should be sufficient to ensure that all the turkeys are visible to the stockman and are encouraged to move.
132. Turkey flocks should be effectively inspected at least twice each day.