Beak Trimming and Sex Effects on Behavior and Performance Traits of Large White Turkeys

Abstract

The effects of beak trimming at day old on performance and behavioral activities of male and female Large White turkeys were evaluated. One hundred and twenty poults of each sex were evenly assigned to 20 treatment pens and evaluated for body weight, feed usage, and livability characteristics to 18 wk of age. Behavioral observations were conducted for feeding, drinking, sleeping, huddling, resting, and agonistic activities.Beak trimming affected body weight and feed usage levels for the sexes differently. From 6 wk, trimmed males were significantly heavier than untrimmed males, whereas untrimmed females were heavier than trimmed females from 12 wk. Similar to body weights, feed usage levels from 13 to 18 wk were higher for trimmed males compared with untrimmed males and lower for trimmed females compared with untrimmed females. Feed conversion ratios after 12 wk and survival to 18 wk were not affected by trimming treatment. Livability rates, however, were lowest for untrimmed males and highest for untrimmed females.Effects on behavioral activities were confined primarily to the brooding and early rearing phases. Beak trimming reduced feeding activity of females and drinking activity of both males and females during the first 2 wk. Sleeping, huddling, and resting activities were increased by beak trimming for both sexes during brooding. Agonistic acts were reduced by beak trimming main effect at 3 and 6 wk. Trimmed males committed fewer agonistic acts at 6 wk than untrimmed males.