Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals

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Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals
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Contents
List of contributors
Preface
References
1 Behavioral genetics and animal science
Introduction
Genetics shapes behavior
Genetic effects of domestication
Basic genetic mechanisms
Single-nucleotide polymorphisms
Repeats
Copy number variations
Jumping genes
Coding DNA
Noncoding DNA, also called regulatory DNA
Exome
RNA transcriptome
De novo mutations
Quantitative trait loci
Haplotypes
Epigenetics
Lamarckism
Brain genetics more complex than other traits
A brief historical review of animal behavior study
Behaviorism
Instincts versus learning
Ethology
Ethology and behaviorism provide tools to study emotions and behaviors
Neuroscience and behavior
Emotional systems motivate behavior
Confusion of emotional systems may confound studies
Genetics and emotional systems
Interactions between genetics and experience
Interactions between instinctual hard-wired behavior and experience
The paradox of novelty
Reaction to novelty
Genetic factors and the need for novelty
Temperament is not just about fear
Species differences in emotional reactions to similar tests
Biological basis of fear
Fearfulness and the mothering instinct conflict
Nervous system reactivity changed by the environment
Taming does not change nervous system reactivity
Domestic versus wild and fear responses
Neoteny
Overselection for specific traits
Overselection in livestock
Links between different traits
Transgenic mice
Random factors and noninherited effects on variation
Concluding thoughts
References
Further reading
2 Behavioral genetics and animal domestication
Definition of domestication
The domesticated phenotype
Evolutionary mechanisms in domestication
Genetic mechanisms in domestication
Selection
Inbreeding
Drift
The role of hybridization in domestication
Genetic architecture of domestication
What types of mutations cause the domestic phenotype?
Copy number variation
Mapping genes for behavior—top-down approaches
Pedigree studies and heritability analysis
Quantitative trait loci and association mapping
Selective sweep mapping
Mapping genes for behavior—bottom-up approaches
Effects of specific mutations
Social aggregation in C. elegans
Foraging in Drosophila larvae and Apis mellifera
Pigmentation and behavior
Neurotransmitters and social behavior
Different means to same ends
Epigenetics
Epigenetic changes and long-term behavioral modifications
Epigenetic changes in domestication
Closing remarks
References
3 How studying interactions between animal emotions, cognition, and personality can contribute to improve farm animal welfare
Preface to “How studying interactions between animal emotions, cognition, and personality can contribute to improve farm an...
References
Introduction
Do animals feel emotions?
What is the nature of animal sentience? What is an emotion? What is stress?
Fear and anxiety
Diversity of fear-eliciting events
Diversity in fear-related responses
Various ways of assessing fear and anxiety
A need for a refined and structured methodology in fear studies
Contribution of cognitive psychology to access animal emotions
Influence of cognitive processes on emotions
Alteration of the judgment and decision-making by emotions
Animal individuality in emotions: the concept of personality
Individual variability in emotional behaviors
Consistency of fear-related responses across different frightening situations
Consistency of fear-related responses over time
Personality as a complex intermediate variable
Pre-existing characteristics of temperament
Genetic background and genetic models of emotional reactivity
Developmental aspects
Personality and health
A concept of positive welfare based on positive experiences
Genetics and selective breeding for alleviating negative emotions
Eliciting positive emotions by enriching the environment and management
Environmental enrichment
Positive human contact and training programs
Cognitive enrichment: a new approach based on the animals’ appraisal abilities
Promoting positive experiences to mitigate negative experiences and to improve animal welfare and health
Conclusion
References
4 Genetics and behavior during handling, restraint, and herding
Introduction
Principles of herd behavior
Visual and auditory senses
Differences in the strength of herding behavior of cattle and sheep
Social behavior and handling
Flight zone
Working the flight zone
Measuring temperament in livestock
Tests originally designed to measure fearfulness in cattle
Restraint tests
Exit speed tests
Startle tests for cattle, sheep, and pigs
Tests that measure separation distress, fear, and seeking
Isolation tests
Open-field tests
Approach a novel object or novel person test
Pen testing
Other behavioral indicators which may indicate genetic differences in fear
Eye white
Physiological measures
Production traits
Relationship between fear and attraction to novelty
Animals with a fearful temperament have more violent reactions to a sudden novelty
Animal reaction to novelty is very specific
Temperament and strength of emotional responses are highly heritable
Field observations on breed differences in cattle and sheep behavior
Problems with crossbred cattle
Sire and breed effects on ruminant behavior
Individual differences within a breed
Effect of pig genetics on behavior during handling
Lean, rapid-growing pigs are more excitable
Behavior problems in crossbred beef cattle during the 1990s
Animal size, body shape, coat color, and temperament
Body type and temperament in domestic animals
Type and temperament in wild herd animals
Coat color and temperament
Hair whorls
Hair whorl height and vigilance
The effects of early experience on handling
Effects of environment and experience on pigs
Excellent memory of aversive experiences
Training highly reactive animals by introducing novelty gradually
Innate nervous fearfulness or reaction to separation stress
Facilitating animal movement in handling facilities
Genetic effects on handling facility design
Conclusion
References
Further Reading
5 Reproductive and maternal behavior of livestock
General introduction
Evolution and domestication
Livestock behavior
Reproductive behavior
Pheromones and biostimulation
Genetic considerations
Inbreeding
Unbalanced selection and overselection
Assisted reproductive technologies
Balancing resources
Maternal behavior
Temperament
Early weaning and separation of dam from offspring
Genetic aspects of maternal behavior in selected livestock species
Pigs
Cattle
Sheep
Horses
Environment and stress
Selected areas of concern
Reduced male reproductive potential
Injuries and pathologies
Lameness
Conclusion
References
6 Factors influencing the expression of behavior in the domestic dog
Introduction
Nature
Breed
Breed differences in canine behavior
Breed differences in cognitive functioning
Sex
Cerebral lateralization
Nurture
Source of acquisition and early experiences
Training
Owner traits
Conclusions
References
7 From mind to genome: the effect of domestication on dog cognition and genetics
Cognitively remarkable
The domestication hypothesis
Domesticated foxes
Comparing wolves and dogs
What genetic mechanism did evolution target?
Different types of cognition?
The opportunity to investigate the genetics of breed differences
Heritable forms of cognition?
Applications
Conclusion
Acknowledgments
References
8 Genetics of domesticated behavior in dogs and foxes
The dog is the first domesticated species
Dogs are more competent than wolves in social interaction with humans
Analysis of temperament traits in dogs
The farm-fox experiment
Selection of foxes for tame behavior
Selection of foxes for aggressive behavior
Behavioral and physiological changes associated with selection for tame behavior
Genetics of fox behavior
Genetic mapping of fox behavioral phenotypes
Identification of genomic regions differentiating the fox populations
What the farm-fox experiment tells us about behavior
Summary
Acknowledgments
References
Further reading
9 Behavioral genetics in pigs and relations to welfare
Introduction
Pig behavior
Explorer and generalist
Adaptation and learning
The social pig
Tail biting
Sexual behavior
Maternal behavior
Farm Animal Welfare Council’s five freedoms
Freedom from hunger and thirst
Freedom from discomfort
Freedom from pain, injury, or disease
Locomotion and leg problems
Tail biting
Aggressive behavior in young pigs
Aggressive behavior in sows
Maternal behavior
Freedom from fear and distress
Fearfulness
Easy to handle
Lactating sows’ aggression toward humans
Pigs’ ability to handle stress
Freedom to express normal behavior
New phenotypes with new technologies
Pig behavior and sustainable production
Concluding remarks
References
10 Behavior genetics of the horse (Equus caballus)
Introduction
Molecular behavior genetics
Genetic differences interact with environment
The effects of early experience on behavior
Prenatal effects on behavior
Early postnatal effects on behavior induced by handling
Long-term effects of early intensive handling
Early postnatal period
Six months old
Seven months old (weaning)
One year old
A nonintrusive neonatal handling method
Factors affecting attachment to humans
Mare behavior and human behavior influence foal behavior
Serotonin genes and maternal behavior
Training foals to accept handling
Wearing a halter and hoof handling
Subtle individual differences
More factors that affecting bonding with humans
Genetics and temperament: origins and outcomes
Temperament tests
Behavioral measures
Physiological measures
The relationship between hair whorls and behavior
Personal observations
Hair whorls and side preferences
Hair whorls, temperament, side preference, and environmental interactions
The paradox of double hair whorls
The hair whorls position is highly heritable
Many traits are conserved
A Predisposition to pathology?
The science of hair whorls in humans
Hair whorls in cattle
Hair whorls in horses
Increase of double whorls in racing and jumping horses
Hair whorl height and reactivity in horses
Lateralization in the nervous system
Laterality in horses
Motor asymmetry
Sensory laterality
Auditory and olfactory laterality
Hemispheric dominance
Hair whorl patterns and lateralization
Chronic asymmetry
Experience-dependent lateralized learning
Switching sides
Conclusion
References
Further reading
11 Genetic selection of poultry to improve welfare
Preface to genetic selection of poultry for behavioral traits to improve welfare by Temple Grandin
References
Preface by the authors from the second edition
Introduction
Pharmacology
Surgery
Ontogeny
Genetic selection
Selection procedure
Selection results
Stability of the selection results
Fear reactions
Social behavior
Stress reactions
Neurobiology
Conclusions
References
Additional reading studies published since the first edition
12 Genetic influences on the behavior of chickens associated with welfare and productivity
Preface to genetic influences on the behavior of chickens associated with welfare and productivity by Temple Grandin
References
Introduction
Assessment of welfare
Criteria of welfare
Overt signs
Physiological and immune responses
Functional genomics
Productivity
Behavior
General
Domestication and behavior
Genetic versus environmental influences
Behavioral differences among populations
Inbreeding depression and random genetic drift
Mendelian traits
Selection involving behavioral traits
Broodiness
Stereotyped pacing during the prelaying period
Feather and cannibalistic pecking
Agonistic behavior
Mating behavior of males
Appetite
Walking problems and tibial dyschondroplasia
Fear-associated behavior
Open-field activity
Tonic immobility
Escape and avoidance (“flighty”) behavior
Potential problems with selection on behavioral traits
Selection involving production traits
Antagonisms
The environment of selection
Multilevel selection
Group selection experiments
Conclusions from group-selection studies
Multilevel selection experiments
General conclusions
References
Further reading
13 Genetics and animal welfare
Introduction
Aggression in pigs
Tail biting in pigs
Savaging in sows
Feather pecking in hens
Effects of overselection in cattle and pigs
Muscle growth and welfare
Porcine stress syndrome and leg problems in pigs
Problems caused by genetic selection for appetite
Importance of roughage feeds
Movement restriction versus feed restriction
Nervous system abnormalities due to selective breeding for specific behaviors
Inherited neurological defects
Nervous defects in rodents and small mammals
Depigmentation patterns and the nervous system
Depigmentation, behavior, and defects
Fluctuating asymmetry and genetic problems
Welfare and genetic selection
Transgenic animals used to study human neurological disorders
Unexpected linked traits
Speculations of genetic engineering
Genetic diversity
Ethical questions
The farm versus the laboratory
References
Further reading
Index
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