Fournier J, Schwean-Lardner K, Knezacek T D, Gomis S, Classen H L
Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, S7N 5A8.
Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, S7N 5B4.
Poult Sci. 2014 Sep;93(9):2370-4. doi: 10.3382/ps.2014-04044. Epub 2014 Jul 7.
Trimming the 3 anterior toes on both feet at day of hatch to remove the claws, reduce bird scratching, and improve carcass grades is a common practice in the turkey industry. Changes in the method of trimming and the growth potential of turkeys since the majority of research on this topic was completed motivated this study with the objective of establishing the effects of microwave toe treatment on production characteristics of tom turkeys. Turkey toms (306 in total) were either toe trimmed at the hatchery using a microwave claw processor (T) or were sham treated only (NT). Poults were randomly assigned to 1 of 9 replicate pens for each treatment. Average BW, feed consumption, and feed efficiency were determined from BW and feed intake measured by pen on d 0, 7, 21, 42, 56, 70, 91, 126, and 140. On d 140, toms were sent to a commercial processing facility where 5 carcasses from each pen were examined for scratching and other externally visible damage. Average BW was higher for NT toms on d 91, 126, and 140, with final weights of 21.70 and 21.15 kg for NT and T birds, respectively. The T birds had lower feed consumption than their NT counterparts during the first and last week of production, but feed efficiency was unaffected. Carcass scratching (T, 13.33% of carcasses scratched vs. NT, 15.56%) and other carcass damages were not affected by treatment. Although overall mortality was not affected by treatment, the incidence of mortality due to skeletal causes, especially rotated tibia, was increased in T toms. Negative effects on performance and no effect on carcass quality suggest that toe trimming may not be required or recommended for heavy tom turkeys.
在孵化日修剪双脚的3个前脚趾以去除爪子、减少禽类抓挠并提高胴体等级是火鸡行业的常见做法。自从关于这个主题的大多数研究完成以来，修剪方法和火鸡生长潜力的变化促使了本研究，其目的是确定微波脚趾处理对雄火鸡生产性能的影响。总共306只雄火鸡，要么在孵化场使用微波爪子处理器进行脚趾修剪（T组），要么仅进行假处理（NT组）。雏禽被随机分配到每种处理的9个重复栏中的1个。根据在第0、7、21、42、56、70、91、126和140天按栏测量的体重和采食量来确定平均体重、采食量和饲料效率。在第140天，将雄火鸡送到商业加工设施，检查每个栏中的5只胴体是否有抓挠和其他外部可见损伤。在第91、126和140天，NT组雄火鸡的平均体重较高，NT组和T组禽类的最终体重分别为21.70千克和21.15千克。在生产的第一周和最后一周，T组禽类的采食量低于NT组，但饲料效率不受影响。胴体抓挠情况（T组，13.33%的胴体有抓挠，NT组为15.56%）和其他胴体损伤不受处理影响。虽然总体死亡率不受处理影响，但T组雄火鸡因骨骼原因导致的死亡率，尤其是胫骨扭转的发生率有所增加。对性能有负面影响且对胴体质量无影响表明，对于重型雄火鸡可能不需要或不建议进行脚趾修剪。
