Agricultural husbandry practices that have become
standard operations in most facilities worldwide have
recently come under close scrutiny for their welfare implications
for animals. Beak trimming with the HB procedure
has become one of the most controversial among
animal welfare advocates. Such agencies have demanded
that the poultry industry and scientists provide a better
means of reducing cannibalism in their birds. Unfortunately,
reliable methods to control feather pecking
and cannibalism are severely lacking. The problems of
cannibalism and feather pecking have been researched
for decades with no clear solution, and there is “no sign
that breeders will be able to guarantee the ‘non-peck’
layer in time” (British Free Range Egg Producers Association,
2006). To face the welfare battle, an obvious
solution is to work actively on developing an alternative
method of beak trimming that minimizes pain and
stress, yet safeguards bird well-being, and that is highly
accepted by the public. This study provides an initial
look into the effects of this procedure in an industry
setting. Although more research has yet to be done to
determine the full extent of the effects of IR trimming
on production and welfare, our data provide exciting
new evidence that IR trimming may have a promising
future as a more welfare-friendly beak-trimming procedure.
Agricultural husbandry practices that have becomestandard operations in most facilities worldwide haverecently come under close scrutiny for their welfare implicationsfor animals. Beak trimming with the HB procedurehas become one of the most controversial amonganimal welfare advocates. Such agencies have demandedthat the poultry industry and scientists provide a bettermeans of reducing cannibalism in their birds. Unfortunately,reliable methods to control feather peckingand cannibalism are severely lacking. The problems ofcannibalism and feather pecking have been researchedfor decades with no clear solution, and there is “no signthat breeders will be able to guarantee the ‘non-peck’layer in time” (British Free Range Egg Producers Association,2006). To face the welfare battle, an obvioussolution is to work actively on developing an alternativemethod of beak trimming that minimizes pain andstress, yet safeguards bird well-being, and that is highlyaccepted by the public. This study provides an initiallook into the effects of this procedure in an industrysetting. Although more research has yet to be done todetermine the full extent of the effects of IR trimmingon production and welfare, our data provide excitingnew evidence that IR trimming may have a promisingfuture as a more welfare-friendly beak-trimming procedure.
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