Subsequently, a variance analysis was performed, in which the effects of the rearing system, the beak trimming method and the respective interactions were tested.
There was no interaction for any of the variables (Table 1) and the beak trimming methods did not influence the variables evaluated (P>0.05).
The amplitudes of the confidence intervals indicated similarity of the DM values of orts and feed provided in the cage system and when hot blade beak trimming method was used (Table 1).
Infrared laser was compared to conventional
beak trimming, and the results are promising.
It appears that the beak trimming standard followed by CHRH is based on what is left of the beak after trimming, not on what is actually trimmed.
Organic producers often perform beak trimming and sometimes use 'humane' forced molting.
Animal Welfare Minister Elliot Morley praised the industry for making significant strides in improving poultry welfare and stressed he wanted to see the abolition of beak trimming as a routine practice within the industry.
``We will be working closely with the industry to ensure that when the ban on beak trimming comes in, it will neither affect the welfare of the birds nor the economics of the industry,'' he said.
To date, animal welfare research has provided some behavioural and neurological evidence to inform the debate on the acceptability of routine beak trimming within the industry (see Cheng, 2006 for a recent review).
Four groups of twenty chickens had been subjected to one of 4 beak trimming methods as follows: 1) hot-blade trimming at 1 day of age, 2) infra-red beak trimming at 1 day of age, 3) hot-blade beak trimming at 10 weeks of age and 4) intact beaks.
Beak trimming is performed early in the life of commercial hens to decrease injuries caused by cannibalism, bullying and feather and vent pecking (Savory, 1995).
To study the pain associated with beak trimming and neuroma-induced changes, pain thresholds can be measured and used as an indication of neural activity.
