Genetics and Behavior During Handling, Restraint, and Herding

Abstract

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.

Pre-slaughter effects on bleed-out times and some behavioural and physiological responses of Nguni and non-descript steers

“…These results concur with those reported by Probst et al (2014) that there were no breed effects on any of the stress-indicating traits they measured. This can also be attributed to the fact that cattle are herd animals, showing more group behaviour than individual (Grandin & Deesing, 2014). A similar pattern was also seen in two preceding experiments on the same animals in which no breed effects were identified during handling behaviour and blood analysis at the farm or on the time-budgets of these steers (Njisane, 2016).…”

Influence of Age, Gender and Sire Line on Young Cattle Behaviour Traits

“…Heifer calves born on a dairy farm are mostly reared for potential cow replacements rather than for meat. Heifers grow to a smaller mature size than bulls, they also mature earlier [22,30,48]. Healthy, productive herd replacements are the result of good management from birth until the cow enters the milking herd.…”

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

“…The second handler stopped approximately two thirds of the distance from the gate to the back of the pen and waited for the researcher to reach the back of the pen and sweep the cattle towards the gate at a walk, in the manner described for low-stress handling of cattle (Williams, 2015;Grandin and Deesing, 1998). The first author worked toward the far corner and turned to move parallel with the steers as they moved towards the gate.…”