Research note: effects of beak trimming and genetic stock on rate of mash consumption and feeding-related behavior in egg-strain pullets.

Pullets whose beaks were trimmed once (at 9 days) and twice (at 9 days and 9 wk) were able to ingest feed, in the form of mash, more rapidly under competitive feeding conditions and at least as rapidly in the absence of competition as pullets with intact beaks. Tests of feeding rate, when pullets fed in groups, were carried out after a feed deprivation period of 7 h at ages of 10 through 16 wk. Similar tests were done at 18 wk, when pullets fed without competition. Genetic stock and age had significant effects on frequency of agonistic acts at the feeder and displacements from the feeder during 5-min tests under competitive feeding conditions. Age influenced the number of pullets feeding simultaneously and amount of feed eaten per pullet during the same feeding tests. No interactions were detected among beak treatment, stock, and age for feeding-related behaviors or rate of feed consumption during competitive feeding. In noncompetitive feeding tests, genetic stock affected feeding rate but no stock by beak treatment interaction was present.