Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals

Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals, Third Edition offers the latest and most valuable information on animal science and behavioral genetics, carrying on the book's legacy since its original publication in 1998. This book synthesizes research from behavioral genetics and animal and veterinary science, bridging the gap between these fields. The objective is to show that principles of behavioral genetics have practical applications to agricultural and companion animals. The continuing domestication of animals is a complex process whose myriad impacts on animal behavior are commonly under-appreciated. Genetic factors play a significant role in both species-specific behaviors and behavioral differences exhibited by individuals in the same species. Leading authorities explore the impact of increased intensities of selection on domestic animal behavior. Rodents, cattle, pigs, sheep, horses, herding and guard dogs, and poultry are all included in these discussions of genetics and behavior, making this book useful to veterinarians, livestock producers, laboratory animal researchers and technicians, animal trainers and breeders, and any researcher interested in animal behavior. Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals, Third Edition is the most valuable resource for researchers and practitioners in animal and veterinary science, animal behavior, genetics, ethology, and similar fields. Advanced undergraduate and graduate students in these disciplines will also benefit from the global expertise featured in this newest edition. Provides full and thorough updates to all chapters, ensuring dissemination of the latest data and research Synthesizes research from behavioral genetics, animal science, and veterinary literature Broaches fields of behavior genetics and behavioral research Includes practical applications of principles discovered by behavioral genetics researchers Covers many species ranging from pigs, dogs, foxes, rodents, cattle, horses, and cats Front Cover Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals Copyright Page 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 Back Cover