Pros and cons of Hot Blade Trimming and Infra Red Beak Treatment

Beak-trimming is a husbandry practiced performed early in the life of commercial poultry to decrease injuries caused by the behavioural vices of cannibalism, bullying and feather and vent pecking and to avoid feed wastage. Birds naturally peck at each other and their environment; this behaviour can become a problem in commercial situations. Farm managers have their flocks’ beak-trimmed to blunt the beaks enough so that pecking cannot do any great damage. Without a correct beak-trimming program, the egg producer risks heavy losses of chickens and pullets from cannibalism and in the laying stage from protrusion and vent pick outs.

The majority of birds worldwide are trimmed either with a hot blade (partial removal of the upper and lower beak using an electrically heated blade) or by using the infrared method which directs a strong source of heat into the inner tissue of the beak. After a few weeks the tip of the upper and lower beak dies and drops off and the beak becomes shorter with blunt tips.

Re-trimming with a hot blade is carried out to avoid or correct pecking problems due to beak regrowth. Some farm managers will re-trim routinely as part of their bird management while others will only re-trim to improve poor or incorrect trimming previously carried out. Some will also re-trim according to veterinarian advice.

There are bird welfare issues with the use of both methods of beak trimming. These include the removal of sensory receptors, reduction in pecking efficiency, loss of temperature and touch responses in the beak and the potential for persistent pain.

The infrared method of beak trimming is performed on chickens soon after hatch. If farmers do not want to have their birds trimmed in the hatchery or wish to retrim birds they will need to use the hot blade method.

Hot Blade Trimming

Pros of hot blade trimming

• All strains of bird can be trimmed or re-trimmed successfully at any age with the hot blade using the specification outlined in the hot blade beak trimming accreditation documentation referred to in the Australian Model Code of Practice for Domestic Poultry. Light trims can be done to rectify genetic beak defects.
• Hot blade beak trimming by accredited trained operators enables the birds to perform to their genetic potential and control feather pecking and cannibalism.

Cons of hot blade trimming

• Physical damage to the bird if handled roughly.
• Results in an exposed wound.
• Poor equipment set up and operator error can result in bleeding from the beak if it is not cauterised properly or if the blade is too hot or cold.
• Excessive beak trimming results in chronic pain from neuroma formation, beak impaction, restricted ability to drink and eat, loss of flock uniformity and lower egg production.
• Trimming of insufficient amounts of beak results in beak regrowth and potential for pecking and cannibalism and the need to re-trim birds.

Infrared beak treatment

Pros of Infrared beak treatment

• Beak treatment settings for strain and size can be adjusted by qualified personnel on main computer in USA or on the control panel in the hatchery.
• The infrared method treats a minimal and precise amount of beak in a biosecure environment and eliminates human errors associated with the hot blade method.
• When the optimum settings are used to treat the beaks, birds achieve maximum egg production and minimal feather pecking and cannibalism.
• Beak condition is better, beak regrowth is less and flock mortality lower in infra red treated birds.

Cons of Infrared beak treatment

• Head holders need regular maintenance to give consistent results.
• Birds are immobilised in a head restraint for about 15 sec on a circular carousel.
• Trials are required to determine optimal settings for each strain.
• If the bird retracts its head during treatment or if insufficient energy is used the bird will be untreated and the potential for outbreaks of pecking and cannibalism.
• Dark pigmentation in the beak results in inconsistent penetration of infrared energy leading to split beaks.

Advantages and Disadvantages of IRBT and Hot Blade Beak Trimming Table

	Hot blade beak trimming		Infrared beak treatment
	Advantages	Disadvantage	Advantages	Disadvantages
Biosecurity	–	Beak trimmers move from farm to farm-potential biosecurity issues with personal hygiene and equipment cleanliness.	Equipment located in clean hatchery. Staff maintain high levels of biosecurity.	–
Bird catching	–	Birds can be stressed from catching and restraint on farm.	–	–
Equipment set up	Different set up for equipment when beak trimming different ages of bird, shed type or location.	Equipment located in hatchery.	Settings adjusted easily using key pad on processor	-
Trimming	Experienced operators can judge amount of beak to remove.Accurate beak trimming minimises problems later in bird’s life.	Physical damage to the birds while being handled for beak-trimming. Exposed cauterised wound. Potential for bleeding from beak. Excessive beak trimming can impair beak function. Insufficient beak trimming results in beak regrowth.	A predetermined amount of beak tissue is exposed to a defined amount of infrared energy. The exposed tissues remains intact and there are no open wounds or blood loss.	Restrained by head on automated carousel for 15 secs. Excessive energy can damage soft tissues and impair beak function. Insufficient beak treatment results in beak regrowth and the need to re-trim. Dark pigmentation in the beak can lead to split beaks.
Retrimming	Birds can be re-trimmed at any age with the hot blade.	–	–	Re-trimming can only be performed with hot blade.
Quality of beak trimming	Quality assurance checks on beaks have been documented in an accreditation program referred to in Australian Code of practice for Domestic Poultry.	-	In-house quality assurance programme developed.	Quality assurance program needs inclusion in Australian Code of Practice for Domestic Poultry.
Records	Records kept on beak trimming quality and bird performance.	–	Records kept on beak trimming quality and bird performance.	–
Evaluation	Beak trimmers and farmers evaluate performance of birds after trimming.	–	In house records of beak treatment and bird performance.	–
Summary	Open wound, re-trimming commonly practiced to control pecking.		No open wounds; more reliable treatment, beak condition superior. If beaks regrow re-trimming required with hot blade to avert cannibalism.

Conclusion

The infrared method treats a minimal and precise amount of beak in a biosecure environment and avoids the human errors associated with the hot blade method. There are no exposed wounds on the beak and behaviour, production and growth of flocks is unaffected making the infrared method suitable for controlling feather pecking and cannibalism.

By Dr Phil Glatz

See Also

• Anatomy of the Chicken Learning Resource
• Cannibalism (or aggressive pecking)
• Minimising cannibalism using innovative beak trimming methods
• Alternatives to Beak trimming
• Research: Beak Trimming Handbook
• Research: Alternatives to beak trimming
• Research: Laser beak-trimming and cannibalism
• Poultry behaviour
• The principles of poultry husbandry