Infrared beak trimming protocols as an alternative to hot blade in commercial laying hens

ABSTRACT This study aimed to compare hot blade with infrared beak trimming with different protocols on performance, beak length, digestive system organ biometry, intestinal histomorphometry, and egg quality in white laying hens. One hundred and twenty chicks were distributed in a completely randomized design in three beak trimming methods/protocols with five repetitions. Hot blade (HB) trimming was carried out at day 7, and infrared beak trimming was carried out at day 1, using light (LIR: 26/23 protection plate and 38 nm intensity) and moderate (MIR: 24/23 protection plate and 40 nm intensity) protocols. The birds were assessed up to 33 weeks. Up to 18 weeks, weight gain (WG), feed intake (FI), feed conversion (FC), breeding viability (BV), uniformity (UN), beak length (BL), digestive system biometry, and intestinal histomorphometry were evaluated. Between 18 and 33 weeks, age at sexual maturity, egg production, and quality were assessed. Hot blade trimming worsened initial performance with a reduction in FI, WG, and UN (P<0.05). On the other hand, lower BV was observed with the MIR beak treatment (P = 0.026). Beak length was shorter with the HB method (P<0.001). Hot blade trimming resulted in greater gizzard weight (P = 0.004) with no effect on intestinal histomorphometry (P>0.05). During the laying phase, there was no effect of beak trimming on age at sexual maturity, egg production, and egg quality (P>0.05), except eggshell thickness, which was lower with HB trimming (P = 0.025). Beak treatment using the light infrared radiation protocol could be a viable alternative to the hot blade.