Abstract
ABSTRACT Laser beak trimming is a promising alternative to conventional hot-blade beak trimming as it is less painful and provides better beak uniformity and better animal welfare. In this study, laser vs. hot-blade beak trimming were compared in 400 Hy-line Brown pullets between 2-16 weeks of age. At 7 days of age, birds were distributed according to a completely randomized design into two treatments, with 10 replicates (pens) of 20 birds each. Birds and feed offer and residues were weekly weighed to determine weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio. In weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks, one bird per experimental unit was sacrificed to measure the development of the heart development, liver, proventriculus, gizzard, small intestine, and bursa. And of the oviduct in week 16. Pullers submitted to laser beak trimming presented higher weight gain and weekly feed intake, and better feed conversion ratio during the evaluated period. There was no influence of beak trimming methods on the development of the digestive organs, bursa or oviduct. Laser beak trimming can be used as an alternative to hot-blade beak trimming of commercial brown layers.
Highlights
Despite the undeniable technological advances achieved in the poultry industry, many of the current management practices have been applied for decades and need to be revaluated
This result is consistent with the findings of Dennis & Cheng (2010), who reported lower body weight in 5- to 35-wk-old layers submitted to hotblade compared with laser beak trimming
Higher weekly feed intake (p
Summary
Despite the undeniable technological advances achieved in the poultry industry, many of the current management practices have been applied for decades and need to be revaluated. One of such practices is beak trimming of layers, which consists in cutting and cauterizing the beak to prevent aggressive behavior (feather pecking) and cannibalism, feed selection and waste, resulting in better flock uniformity (Campos, 1993). The beak is essentially a touch organ, with extensive nervous supply It is used for food apprehension, preening, defense, and for the establishment of social hierarchy. Beak trimming is the most common method applied in commercial egg production to prevent cannibalism
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