Beak Trimming of Turkeys. 1. Effects of Three Methods of Beak Trimming on Body Weight and Mortality of Six Genetic Lines

An experiment was designed to compare BW and mortality of turkeys when three methods of beak trimming were utilized. Turkeys from six genetic lines were assigned to three beak trimming methods: arc beak trimming at hatching, hot-blade block trimming at 13 d, or hot-blade top-beak-only trimming at 13 d. Beak trimming method influenced 8-wk BW of three lines of females, but did not affect female BW at 16 wk. Beak trimming method influenced 8-wk BW of males from one line and 16-wk BW of a different line. There were no effects of method of beak trimming on 20-wk BW of either males or females from any line. Neither lines nor beak treatments differed in mortality.