Beak trimming in poultry - an animal welfare assessment

In order to reduce the effects of feather pecking and cannibalism the beaks of certain poultry species, such as turkeys, muscovy ducks and laying hens, are trimmed. This current practice destroys or removes not only horny parts of the beak, but also underlaying innervated tissues and leads to permanent damage of the highly specialised bill tip organ. This operation has to be regarded as an amputation conduced by non-professionals without anaesthesia. Recent decisions by the German courts indicates that beak trimming of muscovy ducks and turkeys is not covered by paragraphs 5 and 6 of the German Animal Welfare Act. With respect to the maintenance of optimum animal welfare, the amputation of parts of farm animals cannot be tolerated for economic reasons sons to facilitate the use of husbandry systems. There is therefore an urgent need to improve husbandry and breeding systems to make beak trimming unnecessary. The draft of a new amendment to the German Welfare Act provides an exception to the principle of not allowing amputation.. The competent veterinary authority may, under certain conditions, allow the shortening of beaks if the intended husbandry system, with no regard to the housing conditions, make this absolutely necessary. Each permit will only be issued for a limited period and include specific requirements related to the qualification of the operator, the method, the extent and the time of the beak trimming.