Beak necrosis in broiler breeder roosters

Beak lesions were observed in 50-weeks-old broiler breeder roosters reared under a separate sexmash diet feeding, with low in protein and energy for roosters. All roosters kept with hens showeddeformities in the upper and lower beak but the lesions were not found in roosters kept separately. Hens’feed troughs had been covered with galvanized wire grids to exclude the males eating from hens’troughs. There was approximately 5% mortality among roosters with the beak lesions. A markedreduction (23%) on hatchability was observed, but no change in egg production occurred. The beaklesions were the major cause of male’s culling in the flock. Histopathological examination of thelesions revealed that the epidermis, keratin layer and underlying connective tissue of the beaks wereseverely affected by necrosis. Bacteriological cultures yielded, mainly, growth of hemolyticStaphylococcus aureus, and hematological tests showed a mild increase in the number of the whiteblood cells. The case reported here appeared to be a management-related problem. These findings haveimplications for poultry industry. J.Vet.Res. 62,2:33-36,2007.