BEAK TRIMMING BENEFITS VARY AMONG EGG-STRAIN PULLETS OF DIFFERENT GENETIC STOCKS

The current study examined the effects of three beak treatments and three genetic stocks of White Leghorn pullets on part-year egg production and losses from cannibalistic pecking. Special attention was directed towards the consistency of beak treatment effects over genetic stock. Both beak treatment and genetic stock influenced losses from cannibalistic pecking, and beak treatment by genetic stock interactions were found for several traits. When beaks were intact, two stocks had relatively minor incidences of cannibalism but the third had heavy losses; mean percentages of pullets lost were .7,2.8, and 18.1, respectively. When beak trimming was carried out once or twice during the rearing period, death losses to 44 wk were so infrequent among all stocks that chi-square analyses were not justified. Inconsistent effects of beak treatment on egg production traits were detected among the three stocks. One stock was not influenced by beak treatment, another benefited somewhat erratically, and the third stock benefited substantially in terms of hen-housed production.