In modern farms, chicks undergo a seemingly simple but meaningful operation - beak cutting. This step is not only related to the health of the chicks, but also closely related to the efficiency of breeding. When the workers skillfully grab the chicks, aim their mouths at the high-temperature heating gate, and press them gently, the sharp beaks of the chicks fall in response, this process seems cruel, but in fact contains the wisdom and consideration of the breeding industry.
Why do you want to cut off the beak of a chick? This is mainly due to the high-density environment in which the hens are raised. In a confined space, chickens often fight for food and territory, especially pecking at their mates. This behavior can not only cause injury to the chicks, but can also lead to infection and even death. And beak cutting is precisely to prevent this tragedy from happening.
After the beak is broken, the sharpness of the mouth is greatly reduced, and it can no longer easily peck at its companions. Not only does this change reduce fights and injuries, but it also has another benefit: the chicks are able to feed more easily. Chicks before beak cutting off often need a lot of force to peck at the feed, and it is easy to spill the feed all over the floor. After the beak is broken, the chicks' mouths are more suitable for eating, and they are able to use their mouths to scoop up the feed and put it in their mouths more accurately. As a result, feed waste is greatly reduced and the chicks are fed more efficiently.
Of course, beak cutting is not an easy task. Workers need to make sure that the temperature of the gate is just right to quickly cut off the beaks of the chicks without causing them too much damage. This requires workers to have a lot of experience and skilled operating skills. At the same time, in order to alleviate the pain and stress response of the chicks, beak amputation is usually performed when the chicks are young, with appropriate anesthesia and nursing measures.
It is worth mentioning that in stark contrast to the broken beak of chicks is the treatment of the beak part of the eagle by raptor breeders. Unlike chicks, the beak of an eagle wears out and becomes dull over a long period of use, affecting its ability to hunt. For this reason, the keeper regularly sharpens the beak of the eagle to maintain its sharpness. Although this practice is different from the purpose of beak cutting off of chickens, it reflects the concern and intervention of human beings in the living conditions of animals.
Balancing animal welfare and farming efficiency has always been an important issue in the aquaculture industry. As one of the measures, the beak of chicks is cut off, although the natural state of chicks is sacrificed to a certain extent, but it effectively reduces fights and injuries, and improves feed utilization and breeding efficiency. Of course, with the continuous progress of science and technology and the improvement of people's awareness of animal welfare, the aquaculture industry is also constantly exploring more humane and sustainable breeding methods. In the future, we look forward to seeing more innovations that can both ensure animal welfare and improve the efficiency of farming.