Nielsen, Søren SaxmoseÁlvarez Sánchez, JulioBoklund, AnetteDippel, SabineDorea, FernandaFiguerola, JordiHerskin, Mette S.Michel, VirginieMiranda Chueca, Miguel AngelNannoni, EleonoraNonno, RomoloStahl, KarlBerk, JuttaMarchewka, Joannavan Staaveren, NienkeBalmos, Oana MariaFabris, ChiaraMosbach‐Schulz, OlafVan der Stede, YvesVitali, MarikaRojo Gimeno, CristinaVelarde, AntonioRiber, Anja Brinch2026-02-242026-02-242026EFSA Panel Animal Health and Animal Welfare (AHAW), Nielsen, S. S., Alvarez, J., Boklund, A., Dippel, S., Dorea, F., Figuerola, J., Herskin, M. S., Michel, V., Miranda Chueca, M. A., Nannoni, E., Nonno, R., Stahl, K., Berk, J., Marchewka, J., van Staaveren, N., Balmos, O. M., Fabris, C., Mosbach-Schulz, O., Van der Stede, Y., … Riber, A. B. (2026). Welfare assessment of turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo gallopavo) on farm. EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority, 24(2), e9851. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.985110.2903/j.efsa.2026.9851https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/133114ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS EFSA wishes to thank the following for the support provided to this scientific output: Nedra Abdelli that provided preparatory work under Specific agreement no 5 of the Framework Partnership Agreement No GP/EFSA/ALPHA/2021/10, Karen Schwean Lardner who provided preparatory work through contract EOI/EFSA/2022/01‐ CT 37 BIOHAW and Martina Zappaterra who provided preparatory work through contract EOI/EFSA/2022/01‐ CT 25 BIOHAW. EFSA wishes to thank EFSA trainees Giulia Cecchinatto and Julia Kondrashova for their support with the references. EFSA wishes to thank Tim Burnside, John Ralph and Ana Granados Chapatte for their participation in the technical hearing and Gerard Leveque for his inputs. EFSA wishes to thank Julia Ribalta and Mieria Campoy for the provision of data. EFSA wishes to acknowledge all European competent institutions, Member State bodies and other organisations that provided data through the Public call for evidence for this scientific outputThis Scientific Opinion assesses the welfare of turkeys of all ages (Meleagris gallopavo gallopavo) on farm in relation to the type and condition of the litter, type and availability of enrichment (including covered veranda and outdoor range), space allowance, concentrations of ammonia and carbon dioxide, effective environmental temperature, group size, nest conditions, lighting conditions and hatchery conditions, by using 19 welfare consequences and associated animal-based measures (ABMs) for their assessment. In addition, the risks posed by the practices of flock thinning and removal of hens, mutilations (i.e. beak trimming, desnooding and toe trimming), artificial insemination (including semen collection) and feed restriction are assessed, with the latter two practices only in turkey breeders. The welfare consequences of breeding is assessed. Recommendations to prevent and/or mitigate relevant welfare consequences in fattening and breeder turkeys include increasing space allowance compared to the currently provided space, avoiding feed and water deprivation of newly-hatched poults for more than 48 h, and providing enrichment such as elevated platforms, straw-bales and a covered veranda. It is recommended to maintain dry litter conditions, i.e. below a threshold of 35%-40% humidity. Beak trimming, desnooding and toe trimming as well as the associated welfare consequences can be avoided if the recommended housing and management practices are implemented, e.g. increasing space allowance and providing suitable enrichment. It is recommended to discontinue flock thinning and avoid quantitative feed restriction, the latter currently practised in breeder toms. Also, it is recommended to place more emphasis on leg health and less on weight gain in genetic selection. The selected ABMs to monitor relevant welfare consequences at the slaughterhouse are total mortality, plumage damage, carcass condemnation, wounds, breast blisters and footpad dermatitisengAttribution-NonCommercial 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/journal article1831-4732https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.985141640975https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41640975/open access636.5Animal‐based measuresMutilationRisk assessmentSpace allowanceTurkeysWelfareAvicultura3104.09 Avicultura