Behavior, stress, and variability

Parsons, P. A.

doi:10.1007/bf01260931

Cited by 41 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…For example, zebras are more flighty and nervous than domestic horses. Parsons (1988) further wrote that domestic animals are more stress resistant because they have been selected for a calm attitude toward man. In either event, a genetic predisposition to be fearful or calm interacts with early experience and learning in very complex ways.…”

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Genetics and Behavior During Handling, Restraint, and Herding

Grandin¹,

Deesing²

2014

Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals

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The primary objective of this chapter is to discuss the effects of genetics on the behavior of herding animals during handling and restraint. Compared to rodents, poultry, and fruit flies (Drosophilia) very little behavioral genetics work has been done on livestock. During our careers we have observed thousands of animals under many different conditions. In this chapter we will discuss our observations under practical conditions and research findings, which would affect behavior during handling, herding, or restraint.Writing on the behavioral aspects of animal domestication for the Quarterly Review of Biology Price (1984) stated:It is difficult to generalize about the effects of domestication on either genetic or phenotypic variability because of different selection pressures on different traits and species. However, it is apparent that, with respect to animal behavior, domestication has influenced the quantitative rather than the qualitative nature of the response.To put it in simpler words, domestication changes the intensity of a behavioral response. For example, zebras are more flighty and nervous than domestic horses. Parsons (1988) further wrote that domestic animals are more stress resistant because they have been selected for a calm attitude toward man. In either event, a genetic predisposition to be fearful or calm interacts with early experience and learning in very complex ways. The term temperament will be used in this chapter to refer to nervous system reactivity, which is determined by both genetic and environmental factors. During handling, fear is a major determinant of an animal's behavior. Genetic influences on temperament interact with early experience and learning to shape adult patterns of behavior. The most convincing examples of genetic influence on behavior come from selection and strain studies of behavior in mice (DeFries et al., 1978). Selective breeding of rats for either high or low fearfulness clearly shows that genetics plays a major role in determining an animal's temperament (Broadhurst, 1960;Eysenck and Broadhurst, 1964;Huck and Price, 1975). Behaviors studied in the laboratory are clearly shown to be substantially influenced by genetic factors (Plomin, 1990). In the following sections we will discuss the interacting forces of genetics and experience. Some of the topics which will be covered are flocking behavior, herding behavior, flight zone, social behavior, attraction and reaction to novelty, inheritability of behavior, and sire effect; some general principles for handling domestic animals will also be discussed.

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Genetics and Behavior During Handling, Restraint, and Herding

Grandin¹,

Deesing²

2014

Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals

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“…Fuller also questioned the basis for Wahlsten's genetic nihilism, given the data available at that time. The intervening decade has brought a flood of sophisticated large-scale research, continued theoretical attention to GxE (e.g., Henderson 1986;Parsons 1988), and an emphasis on power and design considerations (e.g., Hewitt et al 1988;Martin et al 1978) in behavior genetics. Wahlsten has nevertheless restated some of his 1979 argument, missing the point of much of the contemporary human research, as he concentrates largely on the lack of power to detect model-destroying GxE.…”

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A nemesis for heritability estimation

Hirsch¹

1990

Behav Brain Sci

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“…Docility and not being afraid of people are among the preferential characteristics selected when domesticating animals [1]. Rabbits, however, were domesticated much later than other species [2] and the effects of domestication on them are not so marked: in fact, they conserve many characteristics of their wild ancestors, such as digging burrows and making nests [3,4].…”

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Influence of Stress Assessed through Infrared Thermography and Environmental Parameters on the Performance of Fattening Rabbits

Jaén-Téllez

Sánchez-Guerrero

Valera

et al. 2021

Animals

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Rabbits often experience stress when they perceive certain stimuli, such as handling. The physiological response of animals to stress and temperament is associated with feeding efficiency, with those with the least capacity to react to stress showing the highest performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of stress due to heat (temperature-humidity index; THI) or handling, assessed using infrared thermography, on the performance parameters of rabbits of a Spanish Common breed. Thirty-nine rabbits were analyzed during a 38-d fattening period at two times of the year: a cold period and a warm period. The rabbits’ stress due to handling was assessed by the temperature difference taken in the inner ear, before and after being handled. The animals were more productive in the cold season. Temperature-humidity index significantly influenced average daily gain (ADG) and daily feed intake (DFI). Rabbits with higher levels of stress showed higher ADG, DFI and feed conversion ratio (FCR) values. The greater the stress due to handling, the less efficient the animals were. FCR increased with higher THI. It was concluded that changes in animal welfare caused by the rabbits’ reactivity to both climatic and individual factors affect animal productivity.

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Behavior, stress, and variability

Abstract: Genetic variability of behavioral traits under optimal and stressful environments is considered with examples from

Cited by 41 publications

References 46 publications

Genetics and Behavior During Handling, Restraint, and Herding

Genetics and Behavior During Handling, Restraint, and Herding

A nemesis for heritability estimation

Influence of Stress Assessed through Infrared Thermography and Environmental Parameters on the Performance of Fattening Rabbits

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