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Kitagawa Y, Maloney SK, Pool KR, Webster D, Ohkura S, Blache D, Ding L. Behavioural and physiological responses to stressors in sheep with temperament classified by genotype or phenotype. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8147. [PMID: 38584170 PMCID: PMC10999442 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58959-y] [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: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs107856856, located in the tryptophan hydroxylase-2 gene, is associated with the behavioural phenotype for sheep temperament measured at weaning. Here, we tested the association between that SNP and physiological and behavioural responses to stressors in adult sheep. Two groups of adult sheep, one with genotype A/A (calm genotype) and the other with G/G (nervous genotype) in rs107856856, were selected from 160 sheep and were exposed, twice, to an open-field arena and an isolation box test (IBT). During each repeat, the behaviour and physiological responses (cortisol, prolactin, dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA], brain derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF], characteristics of the response of body temperature, and oxidative stress) were measured. The behavioural and physiological responses of the sheep were compared between genotypes and also between groups classified on their phenotype as assessed by their initial isolation box score ("low responders" and "high responders"). The SNP rs107856856 had some effects on the behavioural phenotype (IBT score) but no effects on the physiological response to stress (cortisol, prolactin, DHEA, BDNF, oxidative stress or changes in body temperature) in the adult sheep, probably because the sheep were exposed, and therefore had adapted, to human contact during their life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri Kitagawa
- Laboratory of Animal Production Science, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Togo-cho, Aichi, Japan
- School of Agriculture and Environment, M087, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Shane K Maloney
- School of Human Sciences, M309, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Kelsey R Pool
- School of Agriculture and Environment, M087, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Dane Webster
- School of Human Sciences, M309, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Satoshi Ohkura
- Laboratory of Animal Production Science, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Togo-cho, Aichi, Japan
| | - Dominique Blache
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
- School of Agriculture and Environment, M087, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia.
| | - Luoyang Ding
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
- School of Agriculture and Environment, M087, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia.
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Romaniuk E, Vera B, Peraza P, Ciappesoni G, Damián JP, Van Lier E. Identification of Candidate Genes and Pathways Linked to the Temperament Trait in Sheep. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:229. [PMID: 38397218 PMCID: PMC10887918 DOI: 10.3390/genes15020229] [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: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Temperament can be defined as the emotional variability among animals of the same species in response to the same stimulus, grouping animals by their reactivity as nervous, intermediate, or calm. Our goal was to identify genomic regions with the temperament phenotype measured by the Isolation Box Test (IBT) by single-step genome-wide association studies (ssGWAS). The database consisted of 4317 animals with temperament records, and 1697 genotyped animals with 38,268 effective Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) after quality control. We identified three genomic regions that explained the greatest percentage of the genetic variance, resulting in 25 SNP associated with candidate genes on chromosomes 6, 10, and 21. A total of nine candidate genes are reported for the temperament trait, which is: PYGM, SYVN1, CAPN1, FADS1, SYT7, GRID2, GPRIN3, EEF1A1 and FRY, linked to the energetic activity of the organism, synaptic transmission, meat tenderness, and calcium associated activities. This is the first study to identify these genetic variants associated with temperament in sheep, which could be used as molecular markers in future behavioral research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estefanía Romaniuk
- Departamento de Producción Animal y Pasturas, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de la República, Avda. Garzón 780, Montevideo 12900, Uruguay;
- Estación Experimental Facultad de Agronomía Salto, Ruta 31, km 21, Salto 50000, Uruguay
| | - Brenda Vera
- Sistema Ganadero Extensivo, Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, INIA Las Brujas, Ruta 48, km 10, Canelones 90200, Uruguay; (B.V.); (P.P.); (G.C.)
| | - Pablo Peraza
- Sistema Ganadero Extensivo, Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, INIA Las Brujas, Ruta 48, km 10, Canelones 90200, Uruguay; (B.V.); (P.P.); (G.C.)
| | - Gabriel Ciappesoni
- Sistema Ganadero Extensivo, Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, INIA Las Brujas, Ruta 48, km 10, Canelones 90200, Uruguay; (B.V.); (P.P.); (G.C.)
| | - Juan Pablo Damián
- Departamento de Biociencias Veterinarias, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Ruta 8, km 18, Montevideo 13000, Uruguay;
- Núcleo de Bienestar Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Ruta 8, km 18, Montevideo 13000, Uruguay
| | - Elize Van Lier
- Departamento de Producción Animal y Pasturas, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de la República, Avda. Garzón 780, Montevideo 12900, Uruguay;
- Estación Experimental Facultad de Agronomía Salto, Ruta 31, km 21, Salto 50000, Uruguay
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Martin GB. Perspective: science and the future of livestock industries. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1359247. [PMID: 38282972 PMCID: PMC10808306 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1359247] [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: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Since the 1990s, livestock industries have been forced to respond to major pressures from society, particularly with respect to methane emissions and animal welfare. These challenges are exacerbated by the inevitability of global heating and the effects it will have on livestock productivity. The same challenges also led to questions about the value of animal-sourced foods for feeding the world. The industries and the research communities supporting them are meeting those challenges. For example, we can now envisage solutions to the ruminant methane problem and those solutions will also improve the efficiency of meat and milk production. Animal welfare is a complex mix of health, nutrition and management. With respect to health, the 'One Health' concept is offering better perspectives, and major diseases, such as helminth infection, compounded by resistance against medication, are being resolved through genetic selection. With respect to nutrition and stress, 'fetal programming' and the epigenetic mechanisms involved offer novel possibilities for improving productivity. Stress needs to be minimized, including stress caused by extreme weather events, and solutions are emerging through technology that reveals when animals are stressed, and through an understanding of the genes that control susceptibility to stress. Indeed, discoveries in the molecular biology of physiological processes will greatly accelerate genetic progress by contributing to genomic solutions. Overall, the global context is clear - animal-sourced food is an important contributor to the future of humanity, but the responses of livestock industries must involve local actions that are relevant to geographical and socio-economic constraints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graeme B. Martin
- The UWA Institute of Agriculture and UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
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Wang J, Ding L, Yu X, Wu F, Zhang J, Chen P, Qian S, Wang M. Tryptophan improves antioxidant capability and meat quality by reducing responses to stress in nervous Hu sheep. Meat Sci 2023; 204:109267. [PMID: 37392733 DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2023.109267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
In sheep, the effect of tryptophan (Trp) on behavioural traits that are associated with temperament and any effects on production traits is unknown. The hypothesis of this study is that the supplementation of Trp would improve temperament by enhancing serotonin production, which is beneficial to meat production subsequently in sheep. Twelve ewes that had the lowest and 12 ewes that had the highest behavioural responses to human contact were selected into the calm and the nervous groups respectively. Then, the ewes from each group were equally assigned into two treatments that were treated with the basal diet and the diet with extra 90 mg/kg/d Trp for 30 d. The temperament traits, the growth performance, the biochemicals that are related to health the slaughter performance and meat quality were measured at the end of feeding experiment. The findings in this study suggested the Hu sheep with calm temperament would experience less stress during production, resulting in less oxidative stress, better growth performance, slaughter traits and carcass traits, compared to the nervous sheep. Meanwhile, the dietary supplementation of Trp reduced stress responses by enhancing production of 5-HT in sheep from the nervous group which is beneficial to improve the production traits that mentioned above.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiasheng Wang
- Laboratory of Metabolic Manipulation of Herbivorous Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Luoyang Ding
- Laboratory of Metabolic Manipulation of Herbivorous Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth 6009, WA, Australia; State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Production, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Reclamation Sciences, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China
| | - Xiang Yu
- Laboratory of Metabolic Manipulation of Herbivorous Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Feifan Wu
- Laboratory of Metabolic Manipulation of Herbivorous Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Jinying Zhang
- Laboratory of Metabolic Manipulation of Herbivorous Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Peigen Chen
- Laboratory of Metabolic Manipulation of Herbivorous Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Shuhan Qian
- Laboratory of Metabolic Manipulation of Herbivorous Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Mengzhi Wang
- Laboratory of Metabolic Manipulation of Herbivorous Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Production, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Reclamation Sciences, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China.
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Atkinson L, Doyle RE, Woodward A, Jongman EC. Behavioural reactivity testing in sheep indicates the presence of multiple temperament traits. Behav Processes 2022; 201:104711. [PMID: 35872160 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2022.104711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Temperament in sheep is commonly presented as unidimensional, with a 'nervous' temperament indicative of fear and reactivity towards humans and novel environments. However, temperament is multidimensional, with some traits expressed only under certain conditions (context-specific). There is evidence that a common temperament test in sheep, the isolation-box (IB), measures level of activity and not fearfulness as intended, and that behaviours measured in the IB test are indicative of different traits. To investigate this, 16 behavioural responses to a human, to being startled, and to confinement (IB test) were measured in 89 lambs, twice, three months apart. Our results agree with previous studies that vocalisations in all tests and locomotion in two, show high repeatability over time. A principal component analysis identified that vocalisations are domain-general, and are indicative of the trait 'sociability', however locomotion is context-specific' and captures the traits 'exploration-avoidance', 'boldness-shyness' and 'general activity'. A cluster analysis identified four behavioural profiles that indicate the trait 'boldness-shyness' captures reactivity towards humans. This suggests the IB test, which measures 'general activity', is unsuitable for measuring reactivity towards humans in sheep, and that when studying the impact of temperament on other factors, multiple conditions should be used when identify temperament traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh Atkinson
- Animal Welfare Science Centre, The University of Melbourne, Corner Park Drive and Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Rebecca E Doyle
- Animal Welfare Science Centre, The University of Melbourne, Corner Park Drive and Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrew Woodward
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ellen C Jongman
- Animal Welfare Science Centre, The University of Melbourne, Corner Park Drive and Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee, Victoria, Australia
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Lay DC, Enneking SA, Anderson NC, Richert BT, Sapkota A. Effect of short-term high tryptophan diet fed to sows on their subsequent piglet behavior. Transl Anim Sci 2021; 5:txab127. [PMID: 35990806 PMCID: PMC8427170 DOI: 10.1093/tas/txab127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Housing sows in groups create the challenge of decreasing fighting amongst sows. One proposed method to do so is to feed a high tryptophan diet, but the effect on the fetus is unknown. To investigate this, 66 sows were fed one of three diets: Control (0.14% SID tryptophan), Medium (0.28% SID tryptophan), or High (0.42% SID tryptophan), from days 28 to 35 of gestation. Sows gestated in standard gestation stalls. Blood samples were taken on day 27 prior to and on day 35 after tryptophan supplementation. On days 1, 2, and 3, nursing bouts were observed so as to record disputes and displacements from teat competition. The piglets' activity and fighting were recorded on days 3, 7, and 11 from 0700 to 1700 h. On day 12, four piglets per litter were blood sampled: two to be used in later behavior tests and two to act as controls for blood cortisol levels. On day 14, the two behavior test piglets from each litter were subjected to a 10-min Isolation Test and 5-min Human Approach Test. On day 15, the behavior test piglets were paired by sex and treatment (for example, a male Medium piglet paired with another male Medium piglet from a different crate) and each pair was subjected to a 10-min Social Challenge Test and immediately blood sampled. Piglet cortisol and serotonin did not differ among treatments (P > 0.10). There were no differences (P > 0.10) for number born (12.7 ± 0.4), born alive (11.7 ± 0.4), or mortality (1.1 ± 0.2). Behavior during nursing bouts was similar, with no treatment differences in number of disputes or displacements, and similar bout lengths among treatments (199.5 ± 4.6 s, P > 0.10). No differences were detected for any of the variables for Isolation or the Human Approach Tests (P > 0.10). During the Social Challenge Test, High piglets had more contacts approaching the head of the companion piglet than did either Medium or Control piglets (14.3 ± 1.1, 10.7 ± 1.1, and 9.69 ± 0.8, respectively, P < 0.02). Total number of aggressive interactions during the test tended to be greater for Medium piglets compared to High piglets (9.3 ± 1.5 vs 5.1 ± 0.9, P < 0.07). Time budget data of the litter indicate that piglets from all three treatments spent equal amounts of time active and inactive (P > 0.10). Aggression was low with 0.3 ± 0.04% of piglets displaying aggressive behavior. Feeding high concentrations of tryptophan for a short duration early in gestation does not have a negative impact on sows' subsequent offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald C Lay
- USDA-ARS Livestock Behavior Research Unit, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Stacey A Enneking
- USDA-ARS Livestock Behavior Research Unit, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Nichole C Anderson
- USDA-ARS Livestock Behavior Research Unit, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Brian T Richert
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Avi Sapkota
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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