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

尽管越来越多的证据表明，红外线喙处理(IRBT)比更传统的喙修剪(即热刀片)对产蛋禽类的福利危害更小，但任何形式的喙处理仍然存在社会关注。事实上，许多国家已经禁止任何鸟喙疗法，包括IR。**这造成了一个不同的经济和福利问题，因为鸟喙疗法仍然是控制同类相食的最有效手段。因此，重要的是，我们要了解当使用红外线喙治疗时，鸟类是否会发生变化以及发生了什么变化。虽然以前的研究已经比较了IR处理对小母鸡和母鸡生产和行为的影响，但很少有人帮助理解IRBT导致的喙组织脱落对小鸡饮水、啄食能力和整体行为的影响。因此，这项工作的目标是重点研究IRBT对最初在笼子或地圈中饲养的棕色和白色小鸡的影响。这项研究将研究IR设备的不同设置如何影响幼崽的行为活动。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。我们还将详细研究治疗后喙组织是如何脱落的，以及这对觅食行为有什么影响。最后，我们想要了解的是，这一过程是否会引起鸟类的疼痛或感觉，从而改变它使用喙(啄)的能力，因为它专注于进食的动机和使用新的啄食力盘。整个产蛋期也将监测生产和行为，因为这告诉我们这种鸟的完整生活。这项工作的结果将包括关于IRBT对蛋鸡生产的影响的宝贵和详细的信息，从而改进管理实践，并在家禽管理和福利方面培训1名HQP，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缓解消费者对这一程序的担忧，最后对鸟类福利很重要，因为它可能导致更多有效但更有利于福利的工具的使用。

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.**