R. Bras. Zootec.26/Aug/2025;54:e20240140.
Beak trimming using infrared, hot blade straight cut, and hot blade V-cut on laying hen production
Hitalo José Santos Barbosa
, Jeniffer Godinho Ferreira Pimenta
, Anna Rosa Chagas Abreu
, Mariana Masseo Saldanha
, Marcela Viana Triginelli
, Bruno Teixeira Antunes Costa
, Henrique Carneiro Lobato
, Simone Koprowski Garcia
, Itallo Conrado Sousa Araújo
, Leonardo José Camargos Lara
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the effects of different beak trimming methods on the development, hematological parameters, cloacal temperature, beak length, egg quality, and laying performance of laying hens from 1 to 31 weeks of age. Nine hundred Lohmann White LSL-Lite laying hens were randomly assigned to three treatments based on beak trimming methods: infrared radiation, hot blade straight cut, and hot blade V-cut. Laying hens subjected to the hot blade V-cut method had lower feed intake, body weight gain, laying percentage, and egg mass compared with those subjected to the infrared method (P≤0.05), with no significant differences observed when compared to the hot blade straight cut method (P>0.05). Additionally, hens subjected to the hot blade V-cut method produced eggs with lower specific gravity and Haugh unit (P≤0.05). Furthermore, the hot blade V-cut method was associated with higher mortality rates between one and six weeks of age. No significant treatment effects were observed on the weight of lymphoid organs or cloacal temperature (P>0.05). Birds subjected to the hot blade V-cut method also exhibited shorter beaks at 31 weeks of age (P≤0.05). The hot blade V-cut method negatively affects birds’ performance and increases early mortality, likely due to its aggressiveness, which may compromise the overall laying production performance.
Keywords: cannibalism; laying management; stress
