Beak-trimming methods and their effect on the performance of japanese quail pullets (Coturnix japonica)

Abstract

This study aimed at verifying if beak-trimming methods in Japanese quail pullets could optimize production by decreasing stress caused by cannibalism. A total number of 816 day-old Japanese quails was distributed in a completely randomized experimental design in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement, with two beak-trimming ages (14 and 21 days of age) and three beak-trimming sizes (not trimmed, 1/3 trimmed, or 1/2 trimmed), and 4 replicates of 34 birds per replicate. Birds were submitted to the same management and feeding conditions. Weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and mortality were evaluated. There was no significant effect of age at beak trimming on the evaluated parameters (P>0.05), as well as no significant interaction between age at beak trimming, and beak-trimming method. There was a significant effect (P<0.01) of trimming size on performance, with the best performance observed in birds not submitted to beak trimming or had 1/2 of the beak trimmed. When the beak was more aggressively trimmed (1/2), parameters were worse. According to the obtained results, it is recommended to trim 1/3 of the beaks, which can be performed either at 14 or 21 days of age

Beak trimming in japanese quails at initial phase is an alternative to reduce the negative effects of feather pecking

“…In this study, similarly to Araújo et al (2000) and Marchant-Forde et al (2010), injuries resulting from feather pecking were not sufficient to demonstrate any detrimental effect on food intake, body weight and viability of quails during the days following the procedure (Table 2). In studies involving Japanese quails, carried out by Leandro et al (2005), Pizzolante et al (2006) and Laganá et al (2011), treatments consisting of severe beak trimming at 18 days (2/3 cut); regardless of age (14 or 21 days) with 1/2 of the beak trimmed; and beak trimming at 21 days by cauterization with 1/3 of the beak trimmed, respectively, it was observed a reduction in feed intake and body weight of the beak-trimmed birds in relation to those not trimmed. These results were not observed in the present study (Tables 2 and 3), possibly because less invasive methods of beak trimming were used, which, consequently, were less traumatic than those applied by the abovementioned authors.…”

“…In South America, Brazil leads the production, followed by Venezuela, Peru, Colombia and Bolivia (Bertechini, 2013). In these countries, there was a great progress in commercial exploitation due to advantages of Japanese quail farming (small size, precocity, high productivity, for example) and also because of favorable climatic conditions that these countries have, attributing encouraging economic results to this segment (Faitarone et al, 2005;Pizzolante et al, 2006).…”

Welfare of ducks, geese and quail on farm

“…In the EU, routine bill trimming occurs in Muscovy and Mule ducks only, and not in the other species; references to trimming in Domestic ducks (Mohammed et al., 2022) and Japanese quail (Pizzolante et al., 2006; Abdelfattah, 2018; Cruvinel et al., 2022) from outside the EU have been found, whereas there are no references of bill trimming in geese. This indicates that injurious pecking may be less common in Domestic ducks, Domestic geese and in Japanese quail than in Muscovy and Mule ducks, when kept in husbandry systems used in the EU.…”

Impact of beak manipulation on egg production, some hematological and physiological parameters of Japanese quail raised under Upper Egypt climatic conditions

“…The poultry industry specialists that the phenomenon of predation caused large economic losses, and resulting in reducing the productive e cacy of quails. It was, therefore, necessary to nd solutions to overcome this problem and the consequent losses, and these suggestions were followed by cutting the beak to the birds at an early age (Pizzolante et al, 2006;Bennett et al, 2016). In general, raising Japanese quail under high intensity, especially during the breeding period, there are aggressive reactions among birds such as cannibalism and embossed feathers (Cloutier et al, 2000).…”