[Effects of the housing climate on the foot pad health of fattening turkeys of British United Turkeys 6 origin during the early rearing phase]. 
The climate in the stables during the turkeys' first weeks of life is a crucial factor for a successful rearing and the following fattening period.  The present study has examined the influence of climate parameters on the foot pad health status of 2681 fattened turkeys from twelve farms during the early rearing phase.  In addition to wide-ranging collections of data concerning livestock husbandry and management an examination of the foot pads of 60 animals has been carried out respectively on day 3-5, as well as on day 22-35, shortly before relocation into another stable.  For assessing the foot pads a scheme of five categories has been used (ranging from category 0 = no alteration to category 4 = deep lesion).  Solely beak trimmed turkeys of the British United Turkeys (BUT) 6 strain, male and female, were examined.  In twelve farms air temperature and humidity have been recorded continuously, ammonia and dust concentration were registered on each day of the examination.  When assessing the foot pads, the first alterations could already be noted at the age of 3-5 days.  On the second period of exzmination 55.6% of the turkeys showed category 2 or category 3.  Examinations of the climate parameters showed strong differences concerning temperature, humidity and ammonia concentration among all farms.  Using the Fisher's Exact Test, significant dependency of foot pad health on starting temperature (p < 0.001), on temperature measured one week before the second examination (p = 0.004), on humidity (p < 0.001), and on air ammonia concentration (p < 0.001) could be indicated.