Effects of Laser Beak Trimming on the Development of Brown Layer Pullets

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.

Performance and well-being of laying hens subjected to various beak trimming methods and rearing systems

“…Our results conflict with those of a previous report, in which the infrared beak trimming method led to higher body weight and higher feed efficiency than did hot blade beak trimming (Dennis and Cheng, 2010). On the other hand, our results were similar to those of Marchant-Forde et al Research, Society and Development, v. 9, n. 7, e570974509, 2020(CC BY 4.0) | ISSN 2525-3409 | DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v9i7.4509 (2008 and Petrolli et al (2017), who suggested that the two methods of beak trimming affected production in similar ways.…”

Beak Trimming by Infrared Radiation of Layers

“…Results were due to the influence of beak-trimming method on the immune system and, consequently, on layer performance, as reported by Xie et al (2013). Evaluating laser and HB beak-trimming methods, Petrolli et al (2017) stated that, although both methods allow similar oviduct development, the higher body weight of laser-trimmed layers suggest that they may sustain egg production longer than hot blade-trimmed layers. Table 4 shows the results of egg specific gravity (g mL -1 ), eggshell strength (kg), Haugh units (%) and yolk (%).…”

“…The results of the present experiment agree with the findings of Dennis et al (2009), who compared IR with HB beak trimming and reported an increase in cannibalism in1to 30-week-old laying hens beak-trimmed using HB. Petrolli et al (2017) observed that pullets submitted to laser beak trimming presented higher body weight at all evaluated ages relative to hot-blade beak trimming. Short-beaked birds had a higher body weight than those with long beaks, as reported by Henderson et al (2009) in broiler breeders, differently from the present experiment, where birds submitted to the second beak trimming showed shorter beak and lower body weight.…”

Upaya Menekan Perilaku Mematuk Bulu yang Memicu Perilaku Kanibalisme pada Peternakan Ayam

“…Pemotongan paruh merupakan metode yang paling umum diterapkan dalam mencegah perilaku mematuk bulu dan kanibalisme pada industri perunggasan (Cloutier et al, 2000). Terdapat beberapa metode pemotongan paruh yaitu dengan cara mekanik (menggunakan alat pisau dan gunting sederhana), menggunakan pisau panas, menggunakan arus listrik dan menggunakan inframerah (laser), dimana teknik pemotongan paruh menggunakan pisau panas menjadi metode yang paling umum digunakan selama ini (Petrolli et al, 2017). Hasil studi Marchant-Forde et al, (2008) mengungkapkan bahwa pendekatan pemotongan paruh secara tradisional (mekanik atau menggunakan alat pisau dan gunting sederhana) memberikan rasa sakit yang akut bagi ternak ayam, sehingga dipermasalahkan dari aspek kesejahteraan hewan (Animal welfare).…”