Abstract
Beak trimming is used worldwide as a method of reducing the damage to feathers and skin caused by injurious pecking in laying hens. However, beak trimming also causes some welfare issues as trimming the beak results in pain and sensory loss. Due to this dilemma, there is an ongoing discussion in several European countries about whether to ban beak trimming. In this study, we investigated the welfare consequences of keeping layers with intact beaks and examined for links between injurious pecking damage and keel bone damage on an individual level. A study was conducted on 10 commercial farms housing laying hens in the barn system. Each farm participated with a flock of beak-trimmed hens (T) and a flock of non-trimmed (NT) hens that were visited around 32 and 62 weeks of age. During visits, the condition of plumage, skin, feet, and keel bone of 100 hens was assessed. Mortality was recorded by the producers. NT flocks had a lower prevalence of hens with good plumage condition around 32 weeks of age (94.1 vs. 99.6%, P < 0.001) and a higher prevalence of hens with poor plumage condition at 62 weeks of age (63.6 vs. 15.2%, P < 0.001) compared with T flocks. The prevalence of hens with keel bone deviations, with both keel bone fractures and deviations and with body wounds, was higher in NT flocks compared with T flocks at both ages (P < 0.001). Accumulated mortality from placement to end of production tended to be higher in NT flocks compared with T flocks (14.2 vs. 8.6%; P = 0.06). The prevalence of keel bone damage was higher among hens with poor plumage condition than hens with moderate/good plumage condition (31.5 vs. 22.2%; P < 0.001). Thus, omitting beak trimming had negative consequences for the condition of plumage, skin, and keel bone, and tended to increase mortality, highlighting the risk of reduced welfare when keeping layers with intact beaks. In addition, injurious pecking damage was found to be positively linked to keel bone damage. The causal relation is unknown, but we propose that fearfulness is an important factor.
Highlights
Beak trimming is used worldwide as a method of reducing the damage caused by injurious pecking in laying hens
At 32 weeks of age, NT flocks had a higher prevalence of hens with moderate plumage condition and a lower prevalence of hens with good plumage condition compared with T flocks
At 62 weeks of age, NT flocks had a higher prevalence of hens with poor plumage condition and a lower prevalence of hens with good plumage condition compared with T flocks
Summary
Beak trimming is used worldwide as a method of reducing the damage caused by injurious pecking in laying hens. I.e., damaging pecking at feathers and skin, has been associated with poor welfare in terms of pain [1] and increased fear [2, 3]. Beak trimming is performed with the purpose of avoiding these welfare problems, it causes welfare issues itself. The beak of a laying hen is well innervated and contains nociceptors. Welfare of Beak Intact Barn Layers (sensation of pain), thermoreceptors (sensation of temperature), and mechanoreceptors (sensation of pressure and texture) [6]. Beak trimming results in pain and sensory loss [7, 8]. As the beak is a sensitive tool used during grasping of food, preening, nest building, etc., beak trimming is considered problematic as it causes a reduction in the bird’s ability to manipulate items as observed during infestations of ectoparasites [9,10,11]
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