Genetic evaluation for cow fighting ability in the Valdostana breed

Mantovani, Roberto; Contiero, Barbara; Vevey, Mario

doi:10.4081/ijas.2007.1s.155

Cited by 6 publications

(11 citation statements)

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“…For breeds selected for behavioural fighting ability, like the Valdostana breed, the heritability value estimates ranged from 0.09 (Sartori & Mantovani 2010) to 0.16 (Mantovani et al 2007). In the Lidia breed (selected for fearlessness) the heritability value estimates ranged from 0.19 (Gonz alez et al 1994) to 0.27 (Calero & Dur an 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioural linear standardized scoring system of the Lidia cattle breed by testing in herd: estimation of genetic parameters

Pelayo

Solé

Sánchez

et al. 2015

J Animal Breeding Genetics

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Docility is very important for cattle production, and many behavioural tests to measure this trait have been developed. However, very few objective behavioural tests to measure the opposite approach 'aggressive behaviour' have been described. Therefore, the aim of this work was to validate in the Lidia cattle breed a behavioural linear standardized scoring system that measure the aggressiveness and enable genetic analysis of behavioural traits expressing fearless and fighting ability. Reproducibility and repeatability measures were calculated for the 12 linear traits of this scoring system to assess its accuracy, and ranged from 85.3 and 94.2%, and from 66.7 to 97.9%, respectively. Genetic parameters were estimated using an animal model with a Bayesian approach. A total of 1202 behavioural records were used. The pedigree matrix contained 5001 individuals. Heritability values (with standard deviations) ranged between 0.13 (0.04) (Falls of the bull) and 0.41 (0.08) (Speed of approach to horse). Genetic correlations varied from 0.01 (0.07) to 0.90 (0.13). Finally, an exploratory factor analysis using the genetic correlation matrix was calculated. Three main factors were retained to describe the traditional genetic indexes aggressiveness, strength and mobility.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioural linear standardized scoring system of the Lidia cattle breed by testing in herd: estimation of genetic parameters

Pelayo

Solé

Sánchez

et al. 2015

J Animal Breeding Genetics

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“…Traditional agonistic competitions of fighting cows in the NorthWest Alps provide a good subject for studies concerning social dominance and its evolution over time. Despite the lack of a planned selection for good fighters able to acquire higher social status and thus to win traditional competitions, an empirical selection for fighting ability (that is, the capability of winning a contest) has been carried out over the years, also due to a low but existing level of heritability for the trait (Mantovani et al, 2007;Mantovani, 2010, 2012). Therefore, also the traits 'good at winning' (another way of expressing fighting ability) and 'bad at losing' , that is, the two faces of social dominance, are expected to vary over time.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…occur at pasture. Two autochthonous and genetically related breeds (Aosta Chestnut and Aosta Pie Black) are involved in the battle contest, for which an exhaustive description has been given elsewhere (Mantovani et al, 2007;Sartori and Mantovani, 2010). Briefly explained, the competitions consist of 20 preliminary tournaments per year in which participants are divided into three weight categories.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The present work aimed at improving the knowledge about genetics of social dominance by extending the study to cattle. Subjects of the study were Aosta Chestnut and Aosta Black Pied breeds (Bos taurus), two Alpine rustic cattle famous for traditional tournaments in which pairs of cows assess the respective dominant status in ritual bloodless fights (Mantovani et al, 2007;Mantovani, 2010, 2012). The outcome (that is, win or defeat) of cow dyadic interactions was considered to be a phenotype aimed at investigating (i) the incidence of IGEs in social dominance, (ii) the magnitude of the relationship between direct and indirect effects, both genetic and environmental and (iii) the response of a population to a selection for dominance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Indirect genetic effects and the genetic bases of social dominance: evidence from cattle

Sartori

Mantovani

2012

Heredity

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Genetic studies of social behaviour have currently received new impetus from models including indirect genetic effects (IGEs) of social partners. This study aimed at investigating the contribution of conspecifics in social dominance, considered as response of dyadic interaction that is, winning (dominant individual) or losing (subordinate). A genetic correlation of À1 is expected between the attitude to win and the attitude to loose, and because a population always accounts for half winners and half losers, the heritability of the dominant status should be close to zero. Specifically, social dominance was studied in Aosta Chestnut and Aosta Black Pied (Bos taurus) breeds, alpine rustic cattle famous for traditional tournaments where pairs of cows assess dominant status in bloodless fights. The outcomes of 25 590 dyadic interactions performed by 8159 individuals in 11 years were analysed by applying a classical quantitative model and models including indirect effects. Data were analysed via Bayesian approach on a threshold trait. The assessment of variances revealed a genetic correlation of À0.976 between direct and indirect genetic components. The heritability measured on a liability scale was 0.122 for direct phenotype, but decreased to 0.014 when the total heritable variance (TBV) was considered. The trend of estimated breeding values showed that the total TBV was constant over the years, even though its direct component increased and the indirect part decreased. This result confirms the relevance of IGEs on social behaviour and the assumption that the mean individual social dominance cannot evolve within a population, due to the evolutionary constraints imposed by the 'social environment'.

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“…The traditional Batailles de Reines is a bloodless competition existing since decades in Aosta Valley, Italian North-West Alps, and aimed at reviving the competitions for dominance occurring at pasture (Mantovani et al, 2007). Participants are pregnant lactating cows belonging to Aosta Chestnut and Aosta Black Pied, rustic breeds from West Alps also known with the close Aosta Red Pied population as Valdostana cattle, and possible direct descendants of primitive aurochs (Bos primigenius;Del Bo et al, 2001;Forabosco and Mantovani, 2011).…”

Section: Description Of the Subject And Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship Between Number and Intensity of Fighting: Evidence From Cow Fighting Tournaments in Valdostana Cattle

Sartori

Manser

Mantovani

2014

Italian Journal of Animal Science

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Cattle establish firm dominance relationships through ritualised fights. This study aimed at investigating behaviours involved in dominance relationships and effect of factors such as weight, age and repeated fighting experience in fighting dynamics. Subject of the study was the Valdostana breed, whose cows assess dominance relationships in traditional competitions. Tournaments consist in rounds in which cows interact in pairs to assess dominance. Only winners participate in subsequent rounds. An amount of 120 fights involving 145 cows was retained, and winners (51 cows) were considered as focal individuals. An ethogram of agonistic interactions was established, including behaviours of different agonistic intensity as physical interactions (pushes, clashes), displays (threats, vocalisations), and non agonistic approaches. A transition diagram of behaviours showed a tendency to express firstly non agonistic approaches and lastly more aggressive clashes. A mixed linear model analysis on traits like competition intensity, duration, and type of behaviours expressed showed a significant effect of age difference on behaviours. However, the most important factor was the number of rounds performed: from the first to subsequent fights agonistic intensity and physical contacts increased, and displays reduced. This may be due either to the fact that more aggressive individuals were likely to be the winners, or that in higher rounds the opponents were more similar regarding fighting ability or aggressiveness and thus more intense fights occurred. The increased aggressiveness after repeated situations of competition suggests suggests that careful attention should be paid to welfare when animals are exposed to situations of high competition, like regrouping.

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Genetic evaluation for cow fighting ability in the Valdostana breed

Cited by 6 publications

References 1 publication

Behavioural linear standardized scoring system of the Lidia cattle breed by testing in herd: estimation of genetic parameters

Behavioural linear standardized scoring system of the Lidia cattle breed by testing in herd: estimation of genetic parameters

Indirect genetic effects and the genetic bases of social dominance: evidence from cattle

Relationship Between Number and Intensity of Fighting: Evidence From Cow Fighting Tournaments in Valdostana Cattle

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