Progressive Feeding Behaviors of Pullets with or without Beak Trimming

Thumbnail Image
Date
2003-07-01
Authors
Xin, Hongwei
Nettleton, Daniel
Gates, Richard
Major Professor
Advisor
Committee Member
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Authors
Person
Person
Xin, Hongwei
Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Organizational Unit
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

Since 1905, the Department of Agricultural Engineering, now the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE), has been a leader in providing engineering solutions to agricultural problems in the United States and the world. The department’s original mission was to mechanize agriculture. That mission has evolved to encompass a global view of the entire food production system–the wise management of natural resources in the production, processing, storage, handling, and use of food fiber and other biological products.

History
In 1905 Agricultural Engineering was recognized as a subdivision of the Department of Agronomy, and in 1907 it was recognized as a unique department. It was renamed the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering in 1990. The department merged with the Department of Industrial Education and Technology in 2004.

Dates of Existence
1905–present

Historical Names

  • Department of Agricultural Engineering (1907–1990)

Related Units

Journal Issue
Is Version Of
Versions
Series
Department
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Abstract

This study quantifies feeding behavior of W-98 White Leghorn pullets (1-3 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. Beak trimmed (BT) pullets and non-trimmed (NT) pullets exhibited significantly different eating behavior over the ages of 8 to 21 days with regard to meal size and meal duration. Beak-trimmed birds tended to eat larger and longer meals, although the differences between the BT and NT birds were not constant with age (significant interaction between beak type and age, P<0.05). No significant differences across beak types or ages were detected for ingestion rate or interval between meals. The BT and NT pullets had similar amount of daily feeding time (1.1 - 1.2 hr/day). However, the number of meals per day differed, 28 meals/day for the BT pullets vs. 35 meals/day for the NT pullets. Baseline feeding behavior information of this nature may help better quantify and ensure welfare of the animals through exercising proper engineering design or management considerations.

Comments

This is an ASAE Meeting Presentation, Paper No. 034005.

Description
Keywords
Citation
DOI
Source
Copyright
Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 UTC 2003