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Article
Feeding Behaviors of Laying Hens With or Without Beak Trimming
Transactions of the ASAE
  • Kelly E. Persyn, Iowa State University
  • Hongwei Xin, Iowa State University
  • Dan Nettleton, Iowa State University
  • Atsuo Ikeguchi, National Agricultural Research Organization
  • Richard S. Gates, University of Kentucky
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
1-1-2004
Abstract

This study quantifies feeding behavior of W-36 White Leghorn laying hens (77 to 80 weeks old) as influenced by the management practice of beak trimming. The feeding behavior was characterized using a newly developed measurement system and computational algorithm. Non-trimmed (NT) and beak-trimmed (BT) hens showed similar daily feed intake and meal size. However, the BT hens tended to spend longer time feeding (3.3 vs. 2.0 h/d, P < 0.01), which coincided with their slower ingestion rate of 0.43 g/min-kg0.75 vs. 0.79 g/min-kg0.75 for the NT counterparts (P < 0.05). The BT hens had shorter time intervals between meals (101 s vs. 151 s, P < 0.01). Selective feeding, as demonstrated by larger feed particles apparent in the leftover feed, was noted for the BT hens. The leftover feed had a lower crude protein/adjusted crude protein content for the BT birds than that for the NT birds (16.7% vs. 18.7%, P < 0.05). In addition, the leftover feed of the BT birds had lower contents in phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and manganese (P < 0.05), although no significant differences were detected in calcium, sodium, or metabolic energy content. Baseline feeding behavior data of this nature may help quantify and ensure the welfare of animals through exercising proper engineering design and/or management considerations.

Comments

This article is from Transactions of the ASAE 47, no. 2 (2004): 591–596.

Access
Open
Copyright Owner
American Society of Agricultural Engineers
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Kelly E. Persyn, Hongwei Xin, Dan Nettleton, Atsuo Ikeguchi, et al.. "Feeding Behaviors of Laying Hens With or Without Beak Trimming" Transactions of the ASAE Vol. 47 Iss. 2 (2004) p. 591 - 596
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/dan-nettleton/112/