Behaviour of cattle in yards. II. A study of temperament

Tulloh, N. M.

doi:10.1016/0003-3472(61)90046-x

Cited by 115 publications

(68 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…We found no significant effects of sex of calf or date of birth regression on calf temperament score, and this was also reported by Tulloh (1961) and by Hearnshaw & Morris (1984).…”

Section: Breed Groupssupporting

confidence: 83%

Some genetic factors affecting temperament inBos tauruscattle

Morris

Cullen

Kilgour

et al. 1994

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research

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Temperament scores were recorded by two operators on a herd of Bos taurus beef cattle, including Angus and Hereford controls and various crossbred groups. The herd consisted of 765 cows, 653 calves at foot (average age 2 months), and 250 yearling heifers. Recording of temperament in the yards was carried out at weighing time in November 1982 using a 1-8 scale, and immediately afterwards when the herd was drafted for natural mating using a 1-6 scale, with higher scores indicating more difficulty experienced by stockmen in carrying out the routine weighing and drafting operations. In addition, a calving temperament score was recorded on 2121 cows calving in 1981-90 using a 0-5 scale. Both scores in the yards differed significantly among cow breed groups (P < 0.001). The range of means was 1.73 units (1.86 phenotypic standard deviations: σ) for the weighing score (Score 1) and 1.57 units (1.29σ) for the drafting score (Score 2). Corresponding data for yearling breed groups were 1.11σ for Score 1 (P < 0.001) and 0.49σ for Score 2 (not significant), and for calf breed groups 0.99σ for Score 1 (P < 0.001) and 0.90σ for Score 2 (P < 0.01). The heritability for average cow score in the yards (untransformed scale) was 0.22 ±0. (based on 176 sires), for average yearling score was 0.32 ± 0.24 (47 sire groups), and for average calf score was 0.23 ± 0.12 (53 different sire groups). Transforming data to a logarithmic scale made little difference to these estimates. Cow's calving temperament score had a heritability of 0.09 ± 0.03 (486 sires) and a repeatability of 0.20 ± 0.02. The correlation of average weighing/drafting scores for cow-calf pairs was 0.27, or 0.14 after adjustment for breed group. Correlations among breed groups were 0.49 for Scores 1 and 2 from cows, 0.65 for mean scores from cows and yearlings, 0.79 for mean scores from yearlings and calves, and 0.54 for mean scores from cows and calves. It was concluded that there were generally significant differences among breeds for temperament scores, and that breeds ranked similarly over the various age groups. Cow differences within breed were repeatable, but heritable effects were generally small.

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“…We found no significant effects of sex of calf or date of birth regression on calf temperament score, and this was also reported by Tulloh (1961) and by Hearnshaw & Morris (1984).…”

Section: Breed Groupssupporting

confidence: 83%

Some genetic factors affecting temperament inBos tauruscattle

Morris

Cullen

Kilgour

et al. 1994

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research

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“…There is no antagonism in selecting heavier animals at weaning with a calmer temperament The estimated genetic correlations between WW and T (−0.33 in both models) indicate that these traits can be simultaneously selected and that selection applied to one of them will have a moderate indirect effect on the other. The results obtained in the present study were consistent with those reported by Tulloh (1961), Voisinet et al (1997) and Muller and Von Keyserlingk (2006). Sant'anna et al (2013) estimated much lower genetic correlations between WW and temperament, as measured using temperament scores (T) and through other methods (flight speed, movement score and crush score) in Nellore cattle (r g between − 0.06 and − 0.08).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Genetic analysis of the temperament of Nellore cattle using linear and threshold models

Lucena¹,

Neves²,

Carvalheiro³

et al. 2015

Animal

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Temperament is an important trait for the management and welfare of animals and for reducing accidents involving people who work with cattle. The present study aimed to estimate the genetic parameters related to the temperament score (T) and weaning weight (WW) of Nellore cattle, reared in a beef cattle breeding program in Brazil. Data were analyzed using two different two-trait statistical models, both considering WW and T: (1) a linear-linear model in which variance components (VCs) were estimated using restricted maximum likelihood; and (2) a linear-threshold model in which VCs were estimated via Bayesian inference. WW was included in the analyses of T to minimize any possible effects of sequential selection and to allow for estimation of the genetic correlation between these two traits. The heritability estimates for T were 0.21 ± 0.003 (model 1) and 0.26 (model 2, with a 95% credibility interval (95% CI) of 0.21 to 0.32). The estimated genetic correlations between WW and T were of a moderate magnitude (−0.33 ± 0.01 (model 1) and − 0.34 (95% CI: − 0.40, − 0.28, model 2). The genetic correlations between the estimated breeding values (EBVs) obtained for the animals based on the two models were high (>0.92). The use of different models had little influence on the classification of animals based on EBVs or the accuracy of the EBVs.Keywords: beef production, categorical trait, genetic parameter, performance trait ImplicationsAnimal temperament is a trait that exerts a marked influence on the beef production system in tropical regions, because the management applied on the herds has direct repercussions on the profitability of the enterprises. Given the categorical nature of the temperament scores (T) and their asymmetric distribution, two statistical models were applied to study this trait in cattle, with the aim of assessing the differences and possible advantages of using a threshold model compared with a linear model for estimating variance components. The two models produced similar estimates of genetic parameters, classification of animals based on estimated breeding values (EBVs) and accuracy of the EBVs. The variability observed for T and the favorable association of this score with weaning weight, a trait related to maternal ability, support the inclusion of T as a selection criterion for the breeding program.

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“…During restraint, a chute score (TEMP) was assigned, using a 5 point scale (Grandin, 1993) to categorize temperament of cattle during restraint (Tulloh, 1961) (Table 1). Under this system, cattle were categorized as follows: 1 = calm -no movement; 2 = restless shifting; 3 = squirming, occasional shaking of weigh box or chute; 4 = continuous vigorous movement and shaking of weigh box or chute; 5 = behaviors included in level 4 plus rearing, twisting, or violently struggling.…”

Section: Chute Temperamentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of initial handling practices on behavior and average daily gain of fed steers

Woiwode¹,

Grandin²,

Kirch³

et al. 2016

Int. J. Livest. Prod.

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The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between handling methods, cattle behavior during handling, and average daily gain (ADG) of feed yard cattle. Hereford steers (n = 496; initial body weight [BW] = 304 ± 35.6 kg) of similar genetic background were enrolled in this study after arrival at a commercial feed yard in Southwest Kansas. Two handling conditions prior to the working barn and two conditions of release from the squeeze chute were imposed. When cattle were moved from home pens to the working area, handlers were required to quietly walk all steers (SLOW); or handlers were permitted to bring steers to the processing area in the normal manner (FAST), which included handlers running, yelling, and cracking whips. Individual steers were randomly assigned to one of the two conditions of release from the squeeze chute. The first was a delay not longer than 30 s following the completion of procedures to allow cattle to stop struggling (DELAY); the second was release immediately following the completion of procedures (NORM). Vocalization and behavioral agitation (chute score) were measured in the squeeze chute and exit speed and exit behavior scores were assigned to all steers as they exited the squeeze chute the first time they were worked after entering the feed yard. Paired t-tests determined that cattle exiting the chute at a walk or trot vs. a run tended to have higher (P=0.08) ADG. Cattle vocalizing during restraint had lower (P=0.04) ADG than those that did not vocalize. The FAST group showed a tendency to vocalize more frequently than the SLOW group. There was a significant positive correlation between exit speed and vocalization (P= 0.0021, r= 0.14256) and a significant negative correlation between exit speed and ADG (P=0.0036, r=-0.13542). Handling was correlated with both behavior and ADG. Cattle that vocalize during handling and restraint may have reduced weight gains.

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Behaviour of cattle in yards. II. A study of temperament

Cited by 115 publications

References 4 publications

Some genetic factors affecting temperament inBos tauruscattle

Some genetic factors affecting temperament inBos tauruscattle

Genetic analysis of the temperament of Nellore cattle using linear and threshold models

Effects of initial handling practices on behavior and average daily gain of fed steers

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