A two-cohort feasibility study was conducted to investigate the potential role of homeopathic therapy in reducing antimicrobial use in turkeys. The objective of the analysis presented here was to describe the complex characteristics of the study farms. For analysis of heterogeneity, data of 25 turkey farms (7 homeopathy (H); 18 conventional (C)) were analyzed. Farms in cohort H had significantly higher numbers of poultry farms nearby and included outdoor husbandry, while those in cohort C included neither organic nor biodynamic husbandry types. During raising, a combination of straw and wood shavings was more frequent, while during fattening, only one type of litter was predominant. Very few additional significant differences were identified at farm level, while at production batch level, several further differences existed. When comparing the study cohort characteristics with national statistics, both cohorts seemed to perform better than the national average. The incidence of antibiotic treatment days was lower in cohort H compared to cohort C (C 0.14, H 0.01, p < 0.001), while production period-related mortality (C 3.7%, H 3.7%) was comparable. Our detailed collection of data, previously unavailable, provides a relevant insight and will enable the analysis of multivariable aspects linked to antimicrobial usage in turkey production.
