Methods of beak trimming in layer hens

• Grant number: 13/00663-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: June 01, 2013
• End date: May 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Production
• Principal Investigator: Edivaldo Antônio Garcia
• Grantee: Edivaldo Antônio Garcia
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This study will evaluate the performance of infrared radiation beak trimming in layer hens compared to conventional method of using hot blade beak trimming. In a completely randomized design, 800 chicks will be used during the growing period (0-5 weeks) shared into eight treatments and five replicates with 21 birds / each. In the growing phase (7-16 weeks), will be used 676 birds distributed in 16 treatments and six replications with six birds / each. In these phases will be evaluated weight gain, feed consumption, uniformity, frequency of cannibalism, feasibility and length of beak. In the production phase (17-26 weeks), will be used 576 layers distributed in eight treatments and eight replications with 10 birds / each, with assessments of weight gain, feed intake, frequency of cannibalism, viability, length of beak, old the first egg and egg production. The trimming treatments by infrared radiation match (T1, T2 and T3), being characterized by moderate trimming interface board measuring 27/23 mm (T4, T5, T6) trimming severe 25/23 mm, which define the area to be treated, using three intensities infrared light: low (42 nm), intermediate (46 nm) and high (52 nm) respectively. The treatments T7 and T8 correspond to moderate beak trimming (4.5 mm from the nostril) and severe (2 mm from the nostril) by the conventional method using hot blade, in the sixth day of life. In the 10th week half of the birds of each treatment will be submitted to the second pecking (4 mm from the nostril). The values obtained for each feature will be subjected to analysis of variance for completely randomized experiments in factorial (2x3) + 2 compared with peer averages performed by the Tukey test at 5% probability. Additionally there will be the Dunnett test for comparison of mean factor to controls. The variables that do not show normal distribution will be transformed [(x + 0.5) ^ 0.5] for application analysis. (AU)