ABSTRACT Infrared beak trimming provides an alternative
to conventional trimming, purporting to provide
a welfare-friendly means of trimming. The infrared system
can be adjusted to use multiple plate and power
settings. In the present study, we used 2 different plate
sizes (27/23C, less severe; 25/23C, more severe) with
each of 3 power settings: high (52), moderate (48),
and low (44). These birds, along with conventionally
(hot blade; HB) trimmed birds were maintained in an
industry egg-laying facility. Physiological and behavioral
measures were taken at 5, 10, 20, and 30 wk. All
birds followed a similar growth curve; birds from the
27/23C (48) protocol were the heaviest across all ages
and 25/23C (44) birds were the lightest. Upper and
lower beak growth curves showed birds trimmed with
25/23C protocols had shorter upper and lower beaks
compared with 27/23C protocols or HB. Birds trimmed
using 27/23 (44) and (48) had consistently longer upper
and lower mandibles. Amount of feed wasted was greatest
in HB and 27/23C birds and tended to be reduced
in 27/23 (48) and 25/23 (48) and (52) birds (P < 0.10).
Beak-related behaviors (eating, drinking, and pecking)
were measured to observe the effects of trimming protocol
on beak usage, which could indicate beak pain or
morphological changes that inhibit normal behaviors.
Walking behavior was also measured to assess overall
activity. Behavior analysis revealed that compared with
HB-trimmed birds, those of 27/23C protocols walked
and drank more at a young age. At 5 and 10 wk of
age, a test feather was attached to the cage and pecking
at as well as the damage score of the feather were
determined. Birds from 27/23C (44) and (48) protocols
pecked significantly more at the feather than HB,
whereas HB and 25/23C (52) birds had the highest
damage score. The results from the study suggest that
infrared protocols can be optimized for superior productivity
as well as animal well-being.
ABSTRACT Infrared beak trimming provides an alternativeto conventional trimming, purporting to providea welfare-friendly means of trimming. The infrared systemcan be adjusted to use multiple plate and powersettings. In the present study, we used 2 different platesizes (27/23C, less severe; 25/23C, more severe) witheach of 3 power settings: high (52), moderate (48),and low (44). These birds, along with conventionally(hot blade; HB) trimmed birds were maintained in anindustry egg-laying facility. Physiological and behavioralmeasures were taken at 5, 10, 20, and 30 wk. Allbirds followed a similar growth curve; birds from the27/23C (48) protocol were the heaviest across all agesand 25/23C (44) birds were the lightest. Upper andlower beak growth curves showed birds trimmed with25/23C protocols had shorter upper and lower beakscompared with 27/23C protocols or HB. Birds trimmedusing 27/23 (44) and (48) had consistently longer upperand lower mandibles. Amount of feed wasted was greatestin HB and 27/23C birds and tended to be reducedin 27/23 (48) and 25/23 (48) and (52) birds (P < 0.10).Beak-related behaviors (eating, drinking, and pecking)were measured to observe the effects of trimming protocolon beak usage, which could indicate beak pain ormorphological changes that inhibit normal behaviors.Walking behavior was also measured to assess overallactivity. Behavior analysis revealed that compared withHB-trimmed birds, those of 27/23C protocols walkedand drank more at a young age. At 5 and 10 wk ofage, a test feather was attached to the cage and peckingat as well as the damage score of the feather weredetermined. Birds from 27/23C (44) and (48) protocolspecked significantly more at the feather than HB,whereas HB and 25/23C (52) birds had the highestdamage score. The results from the study suggest thatinfrared protocols can be optimized for superior productivityas well as animal well-being.
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