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Pinto LFB, Medrado BD, Pedrosa VB, Brito LF. A systematic review with meta-analysis of heritability estimates for temperament-related traits in beef and dairy cattle populations. J Anim Breed Genet 2024. [PMID: 38807564 DOI: 10.1111/jbg.12874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Temperament (docility) is a key breeding goal in the cattle industry due to its direct relationship with animal welfare, cattle handler's safety and animal productivity. Over the past six decades, numerous studies have reported heritability estimates for temperament-related traits in cattle populations ranging from low to high values. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to perform a comprehensive systematic review with meta-analysis to obtain weighted estimates of heritability for temperament-related traits in worldwide cattle populations. After data editing and quality control, 106 studies were included in the systematic review, of which 29.2% and 70.8% reported estimates of heritability for temperament-related traits in dairy and beef cattle populations, respectively. Meta-analyses were performed for 95 heritability estimates using a random model approach. The weighted heritability estimates were as follow: (a) flight score at weaning = 0.23 (95% CI: 0.15-0.32); (b) flight speed at weaning = 0.30 (95% CI: 0.26-0.33); (c) joint analysis of flight speed and flight score at weaning = 0.27 (95% CI: 0.22-0.31); (d) flight speed at yearling = 0.26 (95% CI: 0.21-0.30); (e) joint analysis of flight speed at weaning and yearling = 0.27 (95% CI: 0.24-0.30); (f) movement score = 0.12 (95% CI: 0.08-0.15); (g) crush score at weaning = 0.21 (95% CI: 0.17-0.25); (h) pen score at weaning = 0.27 (95% CI: 0.19-0.34); (i) pen score at yearling = 0.20 (95% CI: 0.17-0.23); (j) joint analysis of pen score at weaning and yearling = 0.22 (95% CI: 0.18-0.26); (k) cow's aggressiveness at calving = 0.10 (95% CI: 0.01-0.19); (l) general temperament = 0.13 (95% CI: 0.06-0.19); (m) milking temperament = 0.16 (95% CI: 0.11-0.21); and (n) joint analysis of general and milking temperament = 0.14 (95% CI: 0.11-0.18). The heterogeneity index ranged from 0% to 77%, and the Q-test was significant (p < 0.05) for four single-trait meta-analyses. In conclusion, temperament is moderately heritable in beef cattle populations, and flight speed at weaning had the highest weighted heritability estimate. Moreover, between-study heterogeneity was low or moderate in beef cattle traits, suggesting reasonable standardization across studies. On the other hand, low-weighted heritability and high between-study heterogeneity were estimated for temperament-related traits in dairy cattle, suggesting that more studies are needed to better understand the genetic inheritance of temperament in dairy cattle populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís Fernando Batista Pinto
- Department of Animal Sciences, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | | | - Victor Breno Pedrosa
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
- Neogen Corporation - Biotechnology Research, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Luiz F Brito
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
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Freitas ADP, Lima MLP, Simili FF, Negrão JA, Schenkel FS, de Paz CCP. Influence of handling in corrals on the temperament of different breeds of beef cattle raised in Brazil. J Anim Sci 2023; 101:skad300. [PMID: 37681983 PMCID: PMC10540815 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skad300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective of the present study was to verify the effect of handling in corrals on the stress of beef cattle of Nelore, Caracu, and Guzerá breeds through the analysis of the relationship between behavioral traits, growth, and blood parameters. A total of 778 records of entry scores, chute scores, exit scores, flight speed, cortisol, glucose, lactate, live weight, and body condition scores were collected on steers and heifers of the three breeds, born between September and December. The animals came from the Advanced Beef Cattle Research Center of the Animal Science Institute. The variance analyses were performed using the GENMOD procedure. The PROC CORR estimated Spearman correlation coefficients for all traits studied, and the principal components analysis was performed according to the procedure PRINCOMP. Heifers had higher reactivity than steers, with higher behavioral scores and blood parameters. Overall, Caracu individuals demonstrated lower reactivity in comparison to Nelore and Guzerá. However, they presented high stress when they were restrained. The principal component analysis highlighted that behavioral traits and blood parameters were contrasted with growth traits; thus, this analysis can help selectors (livestock farmers) understand the importance of selecting less reactive animals and more easily choose the animals they want to select for breeding. Our results indicate that handling in corrals could be considered a stressful event for bovines. For this reason, measuring blood parameters and behavioral traits can compose necessary decision-making tools regarding changes and adequacies while handling events to reduce stress and consequently improve the herd's reactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anielly de P Freitas
- Beef Cattle Research Center, Animal Science Institute/APTA/SAA, Rodovia Carlos Tonani, Sertãozinho, São Paulo 14174-000, Brazil
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Maria Lúcia P Lima
- Beef Cattle Research Center, Animal Science Institute/APTA/SAA, Rodovia Carlos Tonani, Sertãozinho, São Paulo 14174-000, Brazil
| | - Flávia F Simili
- Beef Cattle Research Center, Animal Science Institute/APTA/SAA, Rodovia Carlos Tonani, Sertãozinho, São Paulo 14174-000, Brazil
| | - João A Negrão
- Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Flavio S Schenkel
- Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Claudia Cristina P de Paz
- Beef Cattle Research Center, Animal Science Institute/APTA/SAA, Rodovia Carlos Tonani, Sertãozinho, São Paulo 14174-000, Brazil
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14049-900, Brazil
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Freitas AP, Lima MLP, Simili FF, Schenkel FS, Faro LE, Santana ML, Paz CCP. Genetic parameters for behavioral and growth traits of Nellore cattle. J Anim Sci 2023; 101:skad280. [PMID: 37624655 PMCID: PMC10494874 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skad280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The growing concern of consumers with the welfare of production animals searches welfare in a production system extremely important; thus, the study of animal temperament is necessary to select less excitable temperament animals resulting in healthy development and fewer accidents. The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for traits related to animal temperament and growth traits of Nellore cattle. In addition to exploring the genetic pattern of these traits through cluster and principal component analysis (PCA), to reveal possible groups of individuals that express less excitable temperament and greater growth. A total of 2,332 measurements from 1,245 male and female Nellore cattle born between 2008 and 2016 were utilized in the study. The (co)variance components were estimated by Bayesian inference using a two-trait animal model. The heritability for temperament score (TS), flight speed (FS), body condition score (BCS), live weight (LW), and hip height (HH) were 0.08, 0.12, 0.06, 0.13, and 0.48, respectively. The genetic correlation between the temperament indicator traits was strong and positive (0.78 ± 0.24). The TS and FS showed a favorable or null genetic correlation with LW, BCS, and HH. The third cluster included animals with low EBV for TS and FS and with high EBV for BCS, LW, and HH. In the PCA, the PC1 was what best evidenced the aim of this study; thus, our findings suggest that we could explore select animals based on cluster 3 and PC1 in breeding programs to select Nellore cattle with less excitable temperament and greater growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anielly P Freitas
- BeefCattle Research Center, Animal Science Institute/APTA/SAA, Sertãozinho, São Paulo 14174-000, Brazil
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Maria Lúcia P Lima
- BeefCattle Research Center, Animal Science Institute/APTA/SAA, Sertãozinho, São Paulo 14174-000, Brazil
| | - Flávia F Simili
- BeefCattle Research Center, Animal Science Institute/APTA/SAA, Sertãozinho, São Paulo 14174-000, Brazil
| | - Flávio S Schenkel
- Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, CanadaN1G 2W1
| | - Lenira E Faro
- BeefCattle Research Center, Animal Science Institute/APTA/SAA, Sertãozinho, São Paulo 14174-000, Brazil
| | - Mario L Santana
- BeefCattle Research Center, Animal Science Institute/APTA/SAA, Sertãozinho, São Paulo 14174-000, Brazil
| | - Claudia Cristina P Paz
- BeefCattle Research Center, Animal Science Institute/APTA/SAA, Sertãozinho, São Paulo 14174-000, Brazil
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14049-900, Brazil
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Kim NY, Son JK, Cho IC, Shin SM, Park SH, Seong PN, Woo JH, Park NG, Park HB. Estimation of genetic parameters for temperament in Jeju crossbred horses. ASIAN-AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCES 2018; 31:1098-1102. [PMID: 29642687 PMCID: PMC6043454 DOI: 10.5713/ajas.17.0252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Objective Temperament can be defined as a type of behavioral tendency that appears in a relatively stable manner in responses to various external stimuli over time. The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for the records of temperament testing that are used to improve the temperament of Jeju crossbred (Jeju×Thoroughbred) horses. Methods This study was conducted using 205 horses (101 females and 104 males) produced between 2010 and 2015. The experimental animals were imprinted and tamed according to the Manual for Horse Taming and Evaluation for Therapeutic Riding Horses and evaluated according to the categories for temperament testing (gentleness, patience, aggressiveness, sensitivity, and friendliness) between 15 months and 18 months of age. Each category was scored on a five-point linear scale. Genetic parameters for the test categories were analyzed using a multi-trait mixed model with repeated records. The ASReml program was used to analyze the data. Results The heritability of gentleness, patience, aggressiveness, sensitivity and friendliness ranged from 0.08 to 0.53. The standard errors of estimated heritability ranged from 0.13 to 0.17. The test categories showed high genetic correlations with each other, ranging from 0.96 to 0.99 and high repeatability, ranging from 0.70 to 0.73. Conclusion The results of this study showed that the test categories had moderate heritability and high genetic correlations, but additional studies may be necessary to use the results for the improvement programs of the temperament of Jeju crossbred horses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nam Young Kim
- Subtropical Livestock Research Institute, National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Jeju 63242, Korea
| | - Jun Kyu Son
- Subtropical Livestock Research Institute, National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Jeju 63242, Korea
| | - In Cheol Cho
- Subtropical Livestock Research Institute, National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Jeju 63242, Korea
| | - Sang Min Shin
- Subtropical Livestock Research Institute, National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Jeju 63242, Korea
| | - Seol Hwa Park
- Subtropical Livestock Research Institute, National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Jeju 63242, Korea
| | - Pil Nam Seong
- Subtropical Livestock Research Institute, National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Jeju 63242, Korea
| | - Jae Hoon Woo
- Subtropical Livestock Research Institute, National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Jeju 63242, Korea
| | - Nam Geon Park
- Subtropical Livestock Research Institute, National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Jeju 63242, Korea
| | - Hee Bok Park
- Subtropical Livestock Research Institute, National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Jeju 63242, Korea
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