Research Note: Beak morphology of infrared beak–treated laying hens and its impact on production and welfare
Despite previous research on the impacts of beak treatment on laying hens, little information exists regarding how variation in beak morphology that can occur following beak treatment affects production, behavior, and welfare. Following infrared beak treatment (IRBT), variations in beak shape, such...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2020-03-01
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| Series: | Poultry Science |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579119577902 |
| _version_ | 1818313958561415168 |
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| author | C. Hughes S. Struthers T. Shynkaruk S. Gomis A. Gupta K. Schwean-Lardner |
| author_facet | C. Hughes S. Struthers T. Shynkaruk S. Gomis A. Gupta K. Schwean-Lardner |
| author_sort | C. Hughes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite previous research on the impacts of beak treatment on laying hens, little information exists regarding how variation in beak morphology that can occur following beak treatment affects production, behavior, and welfare. Following infrared beak treatment (IRBT), variations in beak shape, such as a shovel beak (bottom beak longer than top), cracks (Cr), or bubbles (B) may occur if the IRBT equipment is damaged or if a quality control program is not followed at the hatchery. This study aimed to determine if variations in beak morphology post-IRBT impacted laying hen production or welfare. Infrared beak-treated Lohmann LSL-Lite hens (n = 80) were selected from a 56-wk-old flock and randomly assigned into 1 of 8 treatments: flush beak (control), shovel beak extending 0–1 mm (SB0-1), 1–2 mm (SB1-2), 2–3 mm (SB2-3), 3–4 mm (SB3-4), or >4 mm (SB > 4), Cr, or B. Hens were housed in individual cages for 4 wk and production (body weight, feed intake, egg production, and egg quality), and welfare (behavior and histology) parameters were evaluated. Consumption of different particle sizes was assessed by measuring feed particle size of refused feed. Data were analyzed as a one-way ANOVA, in a completely randomized design using PROC GLM (SAS 9.4). The results indicated that the beak morphologies examined had minimal effects on the production or welfare of the hens. Histological assessment did not show the presence of neuromas in the beak tissue, suggesting that the hens were not experiencing chronic pain from the IRBT procedure. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T08:42:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6bb8198414974b8b9b315923fb96da43 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0032-5791 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T08:42:01Z |
| publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Poultry Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-6bb8198414974b8b9b315923fb96da432022-12-21T23:53:30ZengElsevierPoultry Science0032-57912020-03-0199313951399Research Note: Beak morphology of infrared beak–treated laying hens and its impact on production and welfareC. Hughes0S. Struthers1T. Shynkaruk2S. Gomis3A. Gupta4K. Schwean-Lardner5Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, CanadaDepartment of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, CanadaDepartment of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, CanadaDepartment of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, CanadaDepartment of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, CanadaDepartment of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, Canada; Corresponding author:Despite previous research on the impacts of beak treatment on laying hens, little information exists regarding how variation in beak morphology that can occur following beak treatment affects production, behavior, and welfare. Following infrared beak treatment (IRBT), variations in beak shape, such as a shovel beak (bottom beak longer than top), cracks (Cr), or bubbles (B) may occur if the IRBT equipment is damaged or if a quality control program is not followed at the hatchery. This study aimed to determine if variations in beak morphology post-IRBT impacted laying hen production or welfare. Infrared beak-treated Lohmann LSL-Lite hens (n = 80) were selected from a 56-wk-old flock and randomly assigned into 1 of 8 treatments: flush beak (control), shovel beak extending 0–1 mm (SB0-1), 1–2 mm (SB1-2), 2–3 mm (SB2-3), 3–4 mm (SB3-4), or >4 mm (SB > 4), Cr, or B. Hens were housed in individual cages for 4 wk and production (body weight, feed intake, egg production, and egg quality), and welfare (behavior and histology) parameters were evaluated. Consumption of different particle sizes was assessed by measuring feed particle size of refused feed. Data were analyzed as a one-way ANOVA, in a completely randomized design using PROC GLM (SAS 9.4). The results indicated that the beak morphologies examined had minimal effects on the production or welfare of the hens. Histological assessment did not show the presence of neuromas in the beak tissue, suggesting that the hens were not experiencing chronic pain from the IRBT procedure.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579119577902beak treatmentbehaviorbeak shapebody weightshovel beak |
| spellingShingle | C. Hughes S. Struthers T. Shynkaruk S. Gomis A. Gupta K. Schwean-Lardner Research Note: Beak morphology of infrared beak–treated laying hens and its impact on production and welfare Poultry Science beak treatment behavior beak shape body weight shovel beak |
| title | Research Note: Beak morphology of infrared beak–treated laying hens and its impact on production and welfare |
| title_full | Research Note: Beak morphology of infrared beak–treated laying hens and its impact on production and welfare |
| title_fullStr | Research Note: Beak morphology of infrared beak–treated laying hens and its impact on production and welfare |
| title_full_unstemmed | Research Note: Beak morphology of infrared beak–treated laying hens and its impact on production and welfare |
| title_short | Research Note: Beak morphology of infrared beak–treated laying hens and its impact on production and welfare |
| title_sort | research note beak morphology of infrared beak treated laying hens and its impact on production and welfare |
| topic | beak treatment behavior beak shape body weight shovel beak |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579119577902 |
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