Estimating the repeatability of behavioral traits in Norduz sheep subjected to an arena test

Çakmakçı, Cihan

doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105704

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Our estimates of phenotypic profile repeatability were moderate and in the range of previous estimates, with studies on a wide range of behaviours and taxa reporting an average repeatability of 0.37 [21], and studies on sheep behaviour in an arena test reporting R values of 0.10 -0.71 [5], [22]. Sheep have also been shown to demonstrate repeatable grazing and rumination behaviour [21], [23], [24].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

Bio-logging reveals heritable patterns of natural behaviours in sheep

Langford,

Fawcett,

Price

et al. 2024

Acta IMEKO

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The measurement of behaviour in extensively managed livestock for the assessment of welfare remains a challenge. Bio-logging devices offer the opportunity to collect continuous behavioural data over long periods while animals are in their normal physical environment. Using collar-measured acceleration from 84 ewes over 28 days in a commercial flock, we built two-component daily phenotypic profiles with data-driven analysis techniques not reliant on human observations. Our analysis demonstrates the moderate repeatability of both components (0.58 ± 0.06 and 0.53 ± 0.05), the heritability of one component (0.53 ± 0.15), and environmental associations with wind chill index (−0.63 ± 0.13), and day length (−0.66 ± 0.19). We discuss these results in relation to previous work, showing that our methods of measurement and analysis are capable of revealing the daily patterns of behaviour in sheep and how these are influenced by the physical environment and genetics. This approach can be generalised to assess behavioural phenotypes and the determinants of behaviour in other breeds or species.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

Bio-logging reveals heritable patterns of natural behaviours in sheep

Langford,

Fawcett,

Price

et al. 2024

Acta IMEKO

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“…This supports our previous findings that vocalisations are indicative of an individual’s degree of sociability and are expressed in response to the absence of conspecifics [ 2 , 10 ]. Although these measures of temperament have consistently demonstrated high repeatability over time and, in some instances, in response to different stimuli when tested in social isolation [ 8 , 9 , 19 , 29 ], the lack of repeatability across social situations suggests inclusion of these behaviours in the classification of temperament should be approached with caution where that classification is applied to sheep managed in groups.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, while testing sheep in groups is known to reduce the overall expression of behaviours compared to individual testing, if individuals within the same cohort are ranked similarly across both situations, the performance of that behaviour could be considered stable. The temporal stability, or repeatability, of vocalisations and locomotory behaviours across different tests in sheep is well documented [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ] and these behaviours are therefore commonly used as measures of temperament in sheep. However, their stability across situations requires further exploration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temperament Behaviours in Individually Tested Sheep Are Not Related to Behaviours Expressed in the Presence of Conspecifics

Atkinson,

Doyle,

Jongman

2024

Animals

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Individual behavioural testing in sheep is common; however, outcomes may be misleading as they are a highly gregarious species that is usually managed in groups. We investigated whether behaviour expressed by 3–4-month-old Merino lambs (n = 220) in social isolation was related to their behaviour towards the same stimuli when three other conspecifics were present, and if measures of temperament (vocalisations and locomotory behaviours) were repeatable across both social situations. Expression of all behaviours were reduced when conspecifics were present, and vocalisations were rarely performed in social groups, suggesting that this behaviour is a response to social isolation. Similarities across the two social situations, in ranked order of how individual lambs expressed each behaviour, indicate that vigilance and attentional orienting towards a human were repeatable (p < 0.001), as was vigilance in a startle test (p < 0.05). However, no clear relationship between behaviours expressed across the two social situations was found. The results of this study suggest that testing sheep individually should be conducted with caution where the outcome is applied to animals managed in groups. Vigilance shows promise as a measure of an underlying trait that is stable across social contexts.

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