Does infrared beak treatment impact young pullets - behaviour, water consumption and ability to peck?

尽管有越来越多的证据表明，红外喙处理（IRBT）比更传统的喙修剪形式（即热刀）对产蛋鸟类的福利危害更小，但社会对任何形式的喙操作仍然存在担忧。事实上，许多国家已经禁止任何喙处理，包括IR。这造成了一个不同的经济和福利问题，因为喙治疗仍然是控制同类相食的最有效手段。因此，重要的是，我们要了解当使用IR喙治疗时，鸟是否会发生变化以及发生什么变化。虽然之前的研究比较了IR处理对小母鸡和母鸡生产和行为的影响，但几乎没有做过什么来帮助理解IRBT发生的喙组织脱落对小母鸡饮水、啄食和整体行为能力的影响。因此，这项工作的目标是集中在影响的IRBT对棕色和白色母鸡最初饲养在笼子里或地板围栏。本研究将探讨红外设备的各种设置如何影响年轻母鸡的行为活动。我们将评估治疗是否会影响鸟类的进食和饮水方式，以及这是否会影响幼鸟的生存能力。我们还将详细研究处理后喙组织如何脱落，以及这对进食行为有什么影响。最后，我们想了解这个过程是否会导致鸟类的疼痛或感觉，从而改变其使用喙（啄）的能力，方法是关注进食的动机和使用新型啄力板。在整个产蛋期间，生产和行为也将受到监测，因为这告诉我们有关鸟类的完整生命。这项工作的成果将包括IRBT对产蛋雏鸡的影响的宝贵和详细的信息，导致管理实践的改进，并在家禽管理和福利方面对1名HQP进行培训，为加拿大家禽业创造宝贵的未来资产。这项工作可能有助于减轻消费者对该程序的担忧，最后对鸟类福利很重要，因为它可能导致更多使用有效但更福利友好的工具。

Despite mounting evidence that infrared beak treatment (IRBT) is less detrimental to the welfare of egg production birds than more traditional forms of beak trimming (i.e. hot-blade), societal concern still exist for any form of beak manipulation. In fact, a number of countries have banned any beak treatments, including IR.**This creates a different economic and welfare concern, as beak treatment remains arguably the most effective means of controlling cannibalism. It is important, then, that we understand if and what changes occur in the bird when IR beak treatment is used. While research has previously compared the impact of IR treatment on pullet and hen production and behaviour, little has been done to aid in understanding of the impact that sloughing of the beak tissue that occurs with IRBT has on ability of the pullet to drink, peck and their overall behaviour. Therefore, the objectives of this work are to focus on the impact of IRBT on brown and white pullets reared initially in cages or floor pens. This research will examine how various settings of the IR equipment impact behavioural activities of young pullets. We will assess if treatment affects how birds feed and drink, and whether that has an impact on liveability of the young birds. We will also study in detail how the beak tissue is sloughed after treatment, and again, what impact this has on feeding behaviour. Finally, we want to understand if the procedure causes pain or sensation for the bird that alters its ability to use the beak (peck) by focusing on motivation to feed and the use of a novel pecking force plate. Production and behaviour will be monitored throughout the egg production period as well, as this tells us about the complete life of the bird. The outcomes of this work will include valuable and detailed information on the impact that IRBT have on egg production pullets, leading to improvements in management practices, and the training of 1 HQP in aspects of poultry management and welfare, creating a valuable future asset in the Canadian poultry industry. The work may help to alleviate consumer concerns with regards to the procedure, and finally is important for bird welfare, as it could lead to increased use of tools which are effective yet more welfare friendly.**