Influence of toe-clipping and stocking density on laying hen performance

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Poultry Husbandry
• Animal Welfare

Background:

• Toe-clipping is a common practice in poultry production.
• Understanding its impact on laying hen performance is crucial for welfare and productivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of toe-clipping and bird density on laying hen performance.
• To analyze interactions between toe-clipping and stocking density.

Main Methods:

• Three experiments involving toe-clipped (TC) and intact (IN) pullets housed at different densities (4 or 5 hens/cage).
• Performance metrics including body weight, feed consumption, feed conversion, egg production, and mortality were recorded.
• Experiment 3 also included analysis based on body weight groups.

Main Results:

• Increased bird density significantly reduced feed intake and body weight gain.
• Intact hens were heavier and consumed more feed than TC hens.
• Toe-clipping by bird density interaction affected hen-day egg production, with TC hens benefiting from crowding while IN hens did not.
• Crowding increased egg weight in one experiment and mortality in another.

Conclusions:

• Bird density significantly impacts laying hen performance, generally negatively affecting feed intake and body weight.
• Toe-clipping's effect on performance is influenced by stocking density, with potential benefits for TC hens under crowded conditions.
• Body weight influences feed intake and egg weight, with heavier hens consuming more and laying heavier eggs, albeit with lower feed conversion efficiency.