Divergent selection on feather pecking behaviour in laying hens (Gallus gallus domesticus)

Kjaer, Joergen; Sørensen, Preben; Su, Guosheng

doi:10.1016/s0168-1591(00)00184-2

Cited by 175 publications

(135 citation statements)

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“…The procedure of selection from generations 0 to 5 has been described in detail by Kjaer et al (2001) and Buitenhuis and Kjaer (2008), and from later generations by Boegelein et al (2014) and Grams et al (2015a). Establishment of the F2 cross has been reported by Bennewitz et al (2014).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The presence of extreme feather peckers in groups of laying hens

Piepho

Lutz

Kjaer

et al. 2017

Animal

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Feather pecking is a serious economic and welfare problem in laying hens. Feather damage occurs mainly through severe feather pecking (SFP). Selection experiments have proved that this behavior is heritable and lines have been divergently selected for high (HFP) and low feather pecking (LFP). The number of bouts of SFP per hen follows a Poisson distribution with a maximum nearby 0. A few studies indicate that the distribution within flocks is not homogenous but contains sub-groups of birds showing extremely high levels of feather pecking (EFP). It was the aim of the current study to re-analyze data on SFP of lines selected for HFP/LFP and their F2 cross so as to uncover hidden sub-populations of EFP birds. Data of seven selection generations of HFP and LFP selection lines as well as their F2 cross have been used. We fitted a two-component mixture of Poisson distributions in order to separate the sub-group of EFP from the remaining birds. HFP and LFP lines differed mainly in mean bouts per bird. The proportion of EFP was only marginal in the LFP as compared with the HFP and the F2 population. Selection for LFP did not result in total elimination of EFP. The presence of even small proportions of EFP may play an important role in initiating outbreaks of feather pecking in large flocks. Further studies on feather pecking should pay special attention to the occurrence of EFP sub-groups.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A large variation exists in the expression of SFP between and within breeds of laying hens (Kjaer et al, 2001;Rodenburg et al, 2003;Nicol et al, 2013). There is growing evidence suggesting that the existence of sub-groups of individual birds with an extreme expression of SFP (EFP).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The presence of extreme feather peckers in groups of laying hens

Piepho

Lutz

Kjaer

et al. 2017

Animal

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“…There is general acceptance that the development of feather pecking reflects multifactorial processes [17]. Some investigators have stressed the relevance of environmental factors (e.g., housing conditions) [4], while others have implicated animal-related factors (e.g., genetics, hormones) [22] and animal -environment interactions (e.g., ontogenetic factors) [18]. Lately, studies of feather pecking behavior are broadening to include animal characteristics [21,26,28].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adrenocortical reactivity and central serotonin and dopamine turnover in young chicks from a high and low feather-pecking line of laying hens

Hierden

Korte

Ruesink

et al. 2002

Physiology & Behavior

110

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Adrenocortical reactivity and central serotonin and dopamine turnover in young chicks from a high and low feather-pecking line of laying hens van Hierden, YM; Korte, SM; Ruesink, EW; van Reenen, CG; Engel, B; Korte-Bouws, GAH; Koolhaas, JM; Blokhuis, HJ Take-down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim.Downloaded from the University of Groningen/UMCG research database (Pure): http://www.rug.nl/research/portal. For technical reasons the number of authors shown on this cover page is limited to 10 maximum. AbstractFeather pecking in domestic fowl is a behavioral abnormality that consists of mild or injurious pecking at feathers of conspecifics. Previously, it was shown that chicks from a high feather-pecking (HFP) and low feather-pecking (LFP) line of laying hens already differ in their propensity to feather peck at 14 and 28 days of age. As a first step in investigating a possible relationship between the development of feather pecking and physiological and neurobiological characteristics of laying hens, two subsequent experiments were carried out. Firstly, we investigated the development of adrenocortical (re)activity in HFP and LFP chicks during the first 8 weeks of life. Secondly, we studied dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) turnover in the brain of 28-day-old HFP and LFP chicks. In both experiments, chicks were exposed to manual restraint (placing the chicks on its side for 5 min). Plasma corticosterone levels were lower (baseline on Days 3 and 56; restraintinduced on Days 3, 14 and 28) in HFP chicks. Both brain DA and 5-HT turnover were lower in the HFP chicks, as well. Possible consequences for the observed differences in (stress) physiology and neurobiology between the two lines in relation to the feather pecking are discussed. D

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“…Laying hen populations divergently selected for feather pecking were created successfully in parallel to a control line (Kjaer et al, 2001;Su et al, 2005). More aggressive birds (high line) vocalized and walked for a longer time in an openfield test than birds from the low line (Jones et al, 1995) in association with a neural hyperactive disorder.…”

Section: Genetics Of the Behavioural Response To Changes In The Sociamentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetics of behavioural adaptation of livestock to farming conditions

Canario

Mignon-Grasteau²,

Dupont‐Nivet

et al. 2013

Animal

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Behavioural adaptation of farm animals to environmental changes contributes to high levels of production under a wide range of farming conditions, from highly controlled indoor systems to harsh outdoor systems. The genetic variation in livestock behaviour is considerable. Animals and genotypes with a larger behavioural capacity for adaptation may cope more readily with varying farming conditions than those with a lower capacity for adaptation. This capacity should be exploited when the aim is to use a limited number of species extensively across the world. The genetics of behavioural traits is understood to some extent, but it is seldom accounted for in breeding programmes. This review summarizes the estimates of genetic parameters for behavioural traits in cattle, pigs, poultry and fish. On the basis of the major studies performed in the last two decades, we focus the review on traits of common interest in the four species. These concern the behavioural responses to both acute and chronic stressors in the physical environment (feed, temperature, etc.) and those in the social environment (other group members, progeny, humans). The genetic strategies used to improve the behavioural capacity for adaptation of animals differ between species. There is a greater emphasis on responses to acute environmental stress in fish and birds, and on responses to chronic social stress in mammals.

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Divergent selection on feather pecking behaviour in laying hens (Gallus gallus domesticus)

Cited by 175 publications

References 12 publications

The presence of extreme feather peckers in groups of laying hens

The presence of extreme feather peckers in groups of laying hens

Adrenocortical reactivity and central serotonin and dopamine turnover in young chicks from a high and low feather-pecking line of laying hens

Genetics of behavioural adaptation of livestock to farming conditions

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