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Heinsius JL, von Keyserlingk MAG, Weary DM. Behavioral responses to artificial insemination and the effect of positive reinforcement training. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0310537. [PMID: 39388492 PMCID: PMC11466390 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0310537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 10/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Dairy cattle experience a variety of stressors associated with routine farm practices, including injections, pen movements, regrouping, and artificial insemination. The primary objective of this study was to assess ear position (categorized according to 5 positions) and body movement responses of heifers during their first experience of artificial insemination, in comparison with responses during baseline observations before and after this procedure. A secondary objective was to test whether heifers exposed to positive reinforcement training (PRT) responded differently to this procedure. We tested 12 heifers (13 ± 0.7 mo. old); 7 were trained using PRT (as part of another study) and 5 had no experience with PRT. Ear axial and ear forward positions were more frequent during observations before and after artificial insemination relative to during artificial insemination (4.57 ± 0.82 vs. 0.31 ± 0.82 times/period, and 3.45 ± 0.51 vs. 0.50 ± 0.51 times/period, respectively). Backward pinned ear position was observed less frequently before and after versus during artificial insemination (0.12 ± 0.76 vs. 3.76 ± 0.76 times/period). We found no effect of period relative to artificial insemination on any of the 4 body movements assessed (leaning forward, backward, and steps taken with front legs and back legs).We found an effect of PRT on forward ear position (1.00 ± 0.51 times/PRT group vs. 2.95 ± 0.60 times/control group), and found that control heifers leaned forward and took more steps with their front legs than did PRT heifers (0.93 ± 0.57 times/PRT group vs. 3.55 ± 0.67 times/control group and 1.29 ± 0.68 times/PRT group vs. 3.85 ± 0.81 times/control group). We conclude that heifers experiencing artificial insemination for the first time express distinct ear positions that are consistent with responses to a negative emotional state. Further work is required to validate these responses and to determine the extent that they can be used to assess affective responses to this and other procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Heinsius
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Marina A G von Keyserlingk
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Daniel M Weary
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Brasier JE, Schwanke AJ, Bergeron R, Haley DB, DeVries TJ. Effect of training method and dairy cow personality traits on adaptation to an automated milking system. J Dairy Sci 2024:S0022-0302(24)01207-4. [PMID: 39389305 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2024-25420] [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: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 09/18/2024] [Indexed: 10/12/2024]
Abstract
Training dairy cows on the automated milking system (AMS) can improve their performance, however, the ideal training method and how their individual personality relates to training is unknown. The objectives of this study were to determine: 1) the effect of AMS training method on adaptation of primiparous cows to an AMS, 2) whether the personality of a cow affects their adaptation to the AMS, and 3) whether certain personality types adapt better based on the type of training they receive. Forty-eight primiparous Holstein dairy cows, who had not previously been milked by an AMS, were enrolled in the study at ∼85 DIM and were assessed for personality traits using a combined arena test comprised of 3 parts: a novel arena test, a novel object test, and a novel human test. Cows were allocated into 1 of 4 AMS training treatments (n = 12): control (CON; no training), environment exposure only (ENV), environment and AMS concentrate provision (PEL), and environment and mechanics exposure (MEC). Cows in the ENV, PEL, and MEC treatments were subjected to training 4 × /d for 4 d, and then cows from all 4 treatments were milked on the AMS in the evening of the 4th training d. Milking activity and production were recorded for the first 14 d on the AMS. PEL cows had fewer visits to the AMS, fewer milkings, and fewer voluntary milkings compared with CON cows across the 14 d. Cows on all experimental treatments had more fetching events than CON cows, while MEC and ENV treatment cows had a higher milk yield compared with those on the CON treatment. Principal component analysis of the behaviors recorded during the personality assessment revealed 2 factors interpreted as personality traits, "explore-active" and "bold." Across all cows, more "explore-active" cows had greater milk yield. Only the performance of ENV cows was associated with personality; ENV cows who scored low for "explore-active" differed from CON cows, through increased visits and voluntary milkings. Overall, the results demonstrate that providing concentrate on its own during AMS training may not be motivating enough to improve adaptation and performance. However, exposing cows to the mechanics (e.g., the robotic arm and sounds of the AMS) before first milking may improve milk yield. Finally, cow personality may influence the performance of cows trained using less complicated training methods, such as only exposing them to the environment of the AMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- J E Brasier
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - A J Schwanke
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - R Bergeron
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - D B Haley
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - T J DeVries
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
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Neave HW, Hvidtfeldt Jensen E, Solarino A, Bak Jensen M. Exploring factors influencing machine milk yield of dairy cows in cow-calf contact systems: Cow behavior, animal characteristics, and milking management. JDS COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 5:495-499. [PMID: 39310824 PMCID: PMC11410470 DOI: 10.3168/jdsc.2023-0480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to explore factors contributing to low machine milk yield of cows with cow-calf contact. Danish Holstein dairy cows were assigned to 1 of 3 cow-calf contact treatments: full-time with the calf (n = 24), part-time with the calf between morning (a.m.) and afternoon (p.m.) milking and separated overnight (n = 23), or separated from the calf at birth (n = 23). Behavior of cows (stepping and kicking in the parlor) and milking procedures (teat or udder stimulation frequency, preparation duration) were recorded at a.m. and p.m. milking on 2 d during wk 4 and 6 of the treatment period (8 milkings per cow). Full-time cows had the lowest machine milk yields (mean ± SE; 6.1 and 6.0 ± 0.7 L at a.m. and p.m. milking, respectively), whereas part-time cows had similar yield to no-contact cows at a.m. milking (19.6 ± 0.7 L) and similar yield to full-time cows at p.m. milking (6.4 ± 0.7 L). Lower machine milk yields in cows with calf contact could not be fully attributed to milk consumption by the calf; however, they also could not be explained by differences in cow parity, calf sex, milking procedures (stimulation frequency; preparation duration), or stepping and kicking (restless) behavior at milking. All cows showed more restless behavior at p.m. milking, which weakly negatively affected machine milk yield, but this was unrelated to stimulation frequency in cow-calf contact cows, indicating that there may be other sources of discomfort or stress at the time of milking for these cows. Part-time versus full-time calf contact improved daily machine milk yields, but low machine milk yield issues merit further research so that cow-calf contact systems can be sustainable for producers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Amelie Solarino
- Department of Animal and Veterinary Science, Aarhus University, Tjele 8830, Denmark
| | - Margit Bak Jensen
- Department of Animal and Veterinary Science, Aarhus University, Tjele 8830, Denmark
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Jurkovich V, Hejel P, Kovács L. A Review of the Effects of Stress on Dairy Cattle Behaviour. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2038. [PMID: 39061500 PMCID: PMC11273513 DOI: 10.3390/ani14142038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In this narrative review, the authors summarise the relationship between stress and behaviour and how dairy cattle cope with stressors. Based on the available literature, the most common stressors in intensive dairy cattle farming, such as pain, disease, heat stress, poor comfort caused by technology, and social stress, are surveyed. The authors describe how these stressors modify the behaviour of dairy cattle, influencing their feeding patterns, social interactions, and overall well-being. Additionally, the review explores the effectiveness of various coping mechanisms employed by dairy cattle to mitigate stress, including physiological adaptations and behavioural responses. This review is a valuable resource for understanding and grading stress in dairy cattle through behavioural reactions. Elucidating the intricate interplay between stressors and behaviour offers insights into potential interventions to improve animal welfare and productivity in dairy farming. Furthermore, this review highlights areas for future research, suggesting avenues for more comprehensive behavioural studies to enhance our understanding of stress management strategies in dairy cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor Jurkovich
- Centre for Animal Welfare, University of Veterinary Medicine, István u. 2, H-1078 Budapest, Hungary;
| | - Péter Hejel
- Department of Animal Hygiene, Herd Health and Mobile Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine, István u. 2, H-1078 Budapest, Hungary;
| | - Levente Kovács
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly u. 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
- Bona Adventure Ltd., Peres u. 44, H-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
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Linstädt J, Thöne-Reineke C, Merle R. Animal-based welfare indicators for dairy cows and their validity and practicality: a systematic review of the existing literature. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1429097. [PMID: 39055860 PMCID: PMC11271709 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1429097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Animal welfare is of increasing importance, with consumers preferring animal products made with ethical practices due to growing awareness. This shift highlights the need for reliable methods to evaluate welfare. This systematic review aims to assess the validity of current animal-based welfare indicators for dairy cows to aid farmers and agricultural professionals in evaluating and improving welfare amidst the lack of a clear legislative definition. The literature search spanned five databases: CAB Direct, PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and Livivo, covering publications in English and German from 2011 to 2021. Specific search terms were employed, and abstracts were screened for relevance. Publications were categorized based on exclusion criteria, with a final verification process conducted by three independent scientists. Research highlights correlations between welfare measures, farm characteristics and innovative indicators like hair cortisol concentration. Farming systems and housing methods significantly affect welfare, with pasture-based systems generally resulting in reduced lameness and improved behavior. Proper housing design and management practices are important, as they influence indicators like lameness and cleanliness. Heart rate variability and heart rate monitoring provide insights into dairy cow stress levels during milking and other stressors, making them valuable for welfare assessment. Biomarker research emphasizes the need to balance productivity and health in breeding strategies, as high milk production alone does not indicate good welfare. Behavioral studies and the human-animal relationship are key to understanding welfare. Precision Livestock Farming offers real-time assessment capabilities, although validation is needed. Stress physiology is complex, and while cortisol measurement methods are promising, further research is necessary. Assessment tools like the Animal Needs Index and routine herd data analysis are valuable for identifying welfare concerns. Key findings highlight the WQ® protocol's effectiveness and versatility, the challenge of its time demands, and the DCF protocol's promise for more practical and efficient welfare assessments. Commercial animal welfare audits should prioritize easily observable indicators and herd records due to logistical constraints in measuring biomarkers or heart rate variability. This focus on easily accessible indicators, such as body condition score, lameness, claw health, cleanliness, and somatic cell count allows effective welfare assessments, enabling prompt action to enhance wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Linstädt
- Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christa Thöne-Reineke
- Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Roswitha Merle
- Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Marchesini G, Fossaluzza D, Palme R, Andrighetto I, Magrin L, Serva L. Management of dairy heifers: Can operant conditioning be an effective and feasible tool to decrease stress and ease animals' close contact and handling? J Dairy Sci 2024; 107:4973-4986. [PMID: 38369120 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-23992] [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: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Besides health monitoring, a regular check of dairy heifers' growth rate is desirable, but it is rarely done because procedures that require restraint and handling can be associated with substantial stress for both animals and farmers. Inexperienced heifers, especially if they are highly responsive to humans, may find restraint and handling potentially aversive. This study investigated whether training heifers of different age and responsiveness toward humans (RTH), through operant conditioning, could reduce stress in animals, ease close contact and handling, and be feasible in terms of farmers' effort. We assessed 60 Holstein heifers of 2 age classes (young, n = 29, 291 ± 39 d; old, n = 31, 346 ± 62 d) according to the avoidance distance test and classified them as confident (n = 20), neutral (n = 21), or nonconfident (n = 19). Half of the heifers of each age and RTH class were trained (n = 29), whereas the other half was not (n = 31). The trained heifers were subjected to target training for 8 sessions and positively reinforced with feed to allow being touched on the muzzle, rump, and perineum. If a heifer refused positive reinforcement, the trainer stepped back as negative reinforcement. In the last week of the experiment, the effect of training on the reaction to handling was assessed in all heifers. We measured heart rate, root mean square of successive interbeat interval differences (RMSSD), and fecal cortisol metabolites (FCMet). The presence of behavioral distress signs was recorded as well. The avoidance distance test was performed a second time 24 h after the measuring session. All of the trained heifers, regardless of RTH class, successfully accomplished the target training task in 6 sessions, each spending on average 25.3 s per session. All of the trained heifers allowed touches on the rump and perineum at the end of the fourth session. Training nonconfident heifers required more time compared with the others. Trained heifers showed higher RMSSD than nontrained heifers (14.2 vs. 16.9 ms, respectively), indicating a lower vagal tone, and thus, a slightly lower stress level than nontrained heifers. Training did not lead to differences in HR, FCMet, or presence of stress behavioral signs. Nonconfident heifers had the highest mean baseline FCMet values compared with neutral and confident heifers (38.4 vs. 30.3 vs. 29.1 ng/g, respectively). Nonconfident heifers also showed the lowest value of FCMet 12 h after the measuring session (36.7 vs. 44.6 vs. 49.7 ng/g), likely due to a decreased responsiveness of the adrenal gland to a stressor. The average avoidance distance decreased between the beginning and the end of the experiment, especially for neutral and nonconfident heifers, regardless of whether they were trained or not. These results show how using operant conditioning on some heifers not only decreased their vagal tone, but also reduced the responsiveness to humans of all the animals, trained and not trained; in the latter case, this reduction was through nonassociative learning, such as habituation.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Marchesini
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy.
| | - D Fossaluzza
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - R Palme
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - I Andrighetto
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - L Magrin
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - L Serva
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
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7
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Woodrum Setser MM, Neave HW, Costa JHC. Individuality of calves: Linking personality traits to feeding and activity daily patterns measured by precision livestock technology. J Dairy Sci 2024; 107:3235-3251. [PMID: 38135049 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-24257] [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: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Animal personality has established connections with animal performance, resilience, and welfare which are related to stable behavioral patterns. Precision livestock technologies introduce the opportunity to measure these behavior patterns automatically and noninvasively. Thus, the primary aim of this study was to determine if personality traits in dairy calves measured via standardized personality assessments were associated with activity measured via a commercially available accelerometer. Secondary aims of this study were to investigate if personality traits were associated with feeding behaviors measured via an automatic feeding system (AFS) and with average daily gain (ADG). We characterized personality traits of Holstein calves (n = 49) utilizing standardized personality (novel environment, novel person, novel object, and startle) tests. Behaviors from these tests were summarized and 3 factors were extracted from a principal component analysis to represent calf personality traits: fearful, active, and explorative. Factor scores were regressed against behaviors from the accelerometer and AFS and with ADG. We found that calves that were more active were associated with taking more steps in the home environment, consuming more calf starter, and with reaching the benchmark of 1 kg of starter consumed in a day at a younger age. The trait active was also associated with greater ADG throughout the study. In addition, calves that were more explorative in the personality tests were associated with less starter consumed and lower ADG specifically during the weaning period. The findings of this research contribute to the existing literature by further establishing the links between personality traits and the daily behavioral patterns and performance of young calves. This study suggests the potential for using precision technology to assess and characterize personality traits, thereby enhancing their practical applicability on farms. Future research should focus on evaluating how personality traits, as measured through standardized assessments and precision technologies, correlate with deviations in behavior observed in dairy calves during stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- M M Woodrum Setser
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546
| | - H W Neave
- Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, 8830 Tjele, Denmark
| | - J H C Costa
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546; Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405.
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Field L, Hemsworth L, Jongman E, McGill D, Verdon M. Early-life contact with non-maternal adult cows and a pasture-based rearing environment influence behavioural responses of dairy heifers to novelty. Anim Welf 2024; 33:e18. [PMID: 38618293 PMCID: PMC11016361 DOI: 10.1017/awf.2024.20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
The complexity experienced in early life can affect trait development of individuals, including sociability and fearfulness. The modern dairy calf's rearing environment often lacks environmental and social complexity. This study examined the effects of early-life, non-maternal adult contact and access to a physically complex environment on the responses of dairy heifers to several stressors, including restraint, social isolation, and novelty at 18 months of age. From the age of 2-13 weeks, 60 dairy heifers (Bos taurus) were reared according to one of three treatments applied to 20 calves each: (1) Hand-reared at pasture in groups of ten, with three unrelated dry cows (+S); (2) Hand-reared at pasture in groups of ten (-S); or (3) Hand-reared in sheds in groups of 10-12 as a commercial control (CC). At 13 weeks, all treatment groups were mixed and managed at pasture as a single herd. At 18 months, the responses of 50 heifers to restraint in a crush, social isolation and a novel object were observed (+S = 16, -S = 17, CC = 17). Treatment did not influence responses to restraint or social isolation, but influenced some indicators of fearfulness during exposure to a novel object. Six +S heifers interacted with the novel object compared to 0 -S and one CC, and CC heifers spent around 50% more time in vigilance than +S or -S heifers. Dairy heifers provided with early-life social enrichment in the form of non-maternal adult contact may have reduced fear of novelty. The implications for lifelong ability to adapt to novel situations, such as entry into the milking herd, should be assessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Field
- Animal Welfare Science Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Corner Flemington Road and Park Drive, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 3523, Burnie, TAS7320, Australia
| | - Lauren Hemsworth
- Animal Welfare Science Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Corner Flemington Road and Park Drive, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
| | - Ellen Jongman
- Animal Welfare Science Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Corner Flemington Road and Park Drive, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
| | - David McGill
- Institute of Future Farming Systems, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity Australia, Rockhampton, QLD4701, Australia
| | - Megan Verdon
- Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 3523, Burnie, TAS7320, Australia
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Schwanke AJ, Neave HW, Penner GB, Bergeron R, DeVries TJ. Flexible feeding: Dairy cow personality affects changes in feeding behavior and milk production under feed competition conditions. J Dairy Sci 2024; 107:2465-2482. [PMID: 37949406 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-24063] [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: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the effect of individual cow personality traits on feeding behavior and production under low levels of feeding competition, and to determine whether personality traits influence how feeding behavior changes in response to greater feeding competition. Forty-two Holstein cows were assigned to 1 automated feed bin per cow (low competition condition) from 15 to 28 d in milk (DIM; period 1, P1), and 2 feed bins per 3 cows (higher competition condition) from 63 to 76 DIM (period 2, P2). A total mixed ration (TMR) was fed into the automated feed bins which recorded each feed bin visit time, duration, and intake. Cow personality traits were assessed at 21 DIM during P1 and at 70 DIM during P2 using a combined arena test, measuring behavioral responses to a novel environment, novel object, and novel human. Principal components analysis of behaviors observed during the P1 combined arena test revealed 1 factor (interpreted as active-explorative) from the novel environment test explaining 51% of the variance, and 3 factors (interpreted as fearfulness, active-explorative, and sociability toward conspecifics) from each of the novel object (76% cumulative variance) and human (75% cumulative variance) tests. The principal components analysis of behaviors observed during the P2 combined arena test revealed 2 factors jointly from the environment, object, and human tests (interpreted as fearfulness and active-explorative) that together explained 68% of the variance. Fearfulness and active-explorative trait scores were correlated across P1 and P2, indicating stability of personality over a challenging period and advancing DIM. In P2 when competition for feed was increased at greater stage of lactation, the more active-explorative cows appeared to make few alterations to their feeding behavior, yet still maintained their milk yield, compared with lower competition in P1. In contrast, cows who were more fearful increased their feed bin visits from P1 to P2, and less fearful cows increased their eating rate, without increased milk production, despite advanced lactation. Overall, the results indicate that cows of different personalities adopt different feeding strategies in response to a change in their environment, and may benefit from tailored management during challenging periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J Schwanke
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - H W Neave
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - G B Penner
- Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5A8, Canada
| | - R Bergeron
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - T J DeVries
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
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10
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Simoni M, Mezzasalma N, Pitino R, Manuelian CL, Spadini C, Iannarelli M, Montanaro SL, Summer A, Cabassi CS, De Marchi M, Righi F. A short-term comparison of wheat straw and poplar wood chips used as litter in tiestalls on hygiene, milk, and behavior of lactating dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 2023; 106:9150-9163. [PMID: 37641355 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-22811] [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: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
A short-term study was conducted to compare the effect of using poplar wood chips (PWC) instead of wheat straw (WS) litter in dairy cows. A total of 38 lactating Holstein cows (204 ± 119 days in milk, 26.9 ± 6.5 kg of milk yield [MY]) were housed in a tiestall farm for a 10-d trial including 5 d of adaptation followed by 5 sampling days (from d 5 to 10). Cows were divided into 2 homogeneous groups: one group was bedded with WS, and the second with PWC. Both litter materials were provided in the amount of 7 kg/stall per d. Each group was composed of 3 subgroups of 6 or 7 cows; the subgroups were physically separated along the feeding line by wooden boards. During the sampling days, fecal composition, used litter composition, and bacterial count (Clostridium spp., Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus, and total bacterial count) were analyzed by subgroup twice a day. On d 1 and from d 5 to 10, udder hygiene score and cow cleanliness score were also evaluated individually twice a day. Meanwhile MY, milk hygiene (total bacterial count [TBC], coliform bacterial count [CBC], and spore-forming units [SFU]) and quality were measured and analyzed from 9 animals per group. Moreover, individual animal behavior (body position and behavioral traits) and subgroup dry matter intake were measured on d 9 and 10. Fecal dry matter did not differ between groups, PWC had the lowest used litter moisture and N content favoring the highest clean cow frequency, but also gave rise to the greatest used litter microbial contamination. The MY, milk quality, TBC, SFU, and CBC were similar. The lying behavior frequency was similar between groups. However, the PWC group showed the lowest sleeping frequency, the highest frequency of other behaviors (including discomfort signs), and the lowest dry matter intake. However, despite this apparent reduction in cow comfort, no biologically important differences were observed in this short-term study between cows on PWC and WS in milk production or hygiene.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Simoni
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy.
| | - N Mezzasalma
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - R Pitino
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy.
| | - C L Manuelian
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy; Group of Ruminant Research (G2R), Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - C Spadini
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - M Iannarelli
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - S L Montanaro
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - A Summer
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - C S Cabassi
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - M De Marchi
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - F Righi
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
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11
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Gingerich K, Lindner E, Kalman S, Miller-Cushon E. Social contact from birth influences personality traits of group-housed dairy calves. JDS COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 4:484-488. [PMID: 38045902 PMCID: PMC10692323 DOI: 10.3168/jdsc.2023-0383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess effects of prior social contact on the expression of personality traits in group-housed calves. Holstein heifer and bull calves were housed in either individual pens (n = 16), or in pairs (n = 8 pairs) at birth before they were mingled between treatments and moved to group pens at approximately 2 wk of life (8 calves/pen). During wk 4 of life, calves were tested in a series of standardized behavioral tests: an open field test, a novel object test, an unfamiliar calf test, and an unfamiliar human test. Responses in the open field test and novel object test were analyzed using principal component analysis, yielding 2 factors interpreted as bold and inactive/grooming. Calves housed in pairs before grouping had greater scores for bold and tended to have lower scores for inactive/grooming. Responses in the unfamiliar calf and human tests were similarly analyzed, yielding 3 factors interpreted as calf-directed, active, and human-directed. Calves housed in pairs before grouping had lower scores for calf-directed, tended to have lower scores for active, and scores for human-directed did not differ. Following grouping, average daily gain, milk replacer intake, and meal frequency did not differ between previous housing treatments. Our results suggest that behavioral traits reflective of personality in group-housed calves may be influenced by social contact from birth even following adaptation to group-housing.
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Affiliation(s)
- K.N. Gingerich
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
| | - E.E. Lindner
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
| | - S. Kalman
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
| | - E.K. Miller-Cushon
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
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12
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Brasier JE, Schwanke AJ, DeVries TJ. Effects of dairy cows' personality traits on their adaptation to an automated milking system following parturition. J Dairy Sci 2023; 106:7191-7202. [PMID: 37210355 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-23176] [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: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to determine how dairy cow personality traits affect their adaptation to an automated milking system (AMS) upon parturition, as well as whether these personality traits are consistent across the transition from gestation to lactation. Sixty Holstein dairy cows (19 primiparous and 41 multiparous) were assessed for personality traits using a combined arena test conducted at 24 d before parturition and 24 d after first introduction to an AMS, which occurred ∼3 d after parturition. The combined arena test comprised 3 parts: a novel arena test, a novel object test, and a novel human test. Principal component analysis of the behaviors recorded during the personality assessment revealed 3 factors interpreted as personality traits (75% cumulative variance) in the pre-calving test, interpreted as explore, active, and bold. The post-calving test revealed 2 factors (78% cumulative variance), interpreted as active and explore. Data from d 1 to 7 after introduction to the AMS were summarized by cow and associated with the pre-calving factors, and data from d 21 to 27 after introduction to the AMS were summarized by cow and associated with the post-calving factors. The active trait had a moderate positive correlation between the pre- and post-calving tests, whereas exploration had a weak positive correlation between tests. Cows that scored high for activeness in the pre-calving test tended to have fewer fetching events and a higher coefficient of variation of milk yield in the first 7 d after introduction to the AMS, whereas bolder cows tended to have higher milk yield during that period. In the post-calving test, more active cows tended to have more frequent milkings and voluntary visits per day, as well as a lower cumulative milk yield from d 21 to 27 after introduction to the AMS. Overall, these results indicate that personality traits of dairy cows are associated with adaptation and performance in an AMS, and that personality traits are consistent across the transition period. Specifically, cows that scored high for boldness and activeness adapted better to the AMS immediately after calving, whereas cows that scored low for activeness and high for boldness performed better in terms of milk yield and milking activity in early lactation. This study demonstrates that personality traits affect milking activity and milk yield of dairy cows milked with an AMS and, therefore, may be useful for selection of cows who might best adapt to and use an AMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- J E Brasier
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - A J Schwanke
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - T J DeVries
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
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13
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Jaśkowski JM, Jaśkowski BM, Herudzińska M, Tul O, Ciorga M. Contemporary Knowledge on the Assessment of Temperament in Cattle and Its Impact on Production and Reproduction Including Some Immunological, Genetic and Metabolic Parameters. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1944. [PMID: 37370453 DOI: 10.3390/ani13121944] [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: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Temperament is associated with the well-being, health, production and reproduction of cattle. In order to increase the population of individuals with the desired temperament, its evaluation should be standardized and be made one of the obligatory elements of breeding and veterinary examination. A number of different tests are used for temperament assessment. In this article, the importance of temperament correlation with some metabolic, genetic, immunological, production and reproductive parameters have been shown, pointing at its influence on the economy and cattle handling. The most common methods for assessing the temperament of cattle are presented, including long-time scales of temperament assessment. At the same time, the relationship of the temperament of cattle with production efficiency, immunity and reproductive indicators has been shown, indicating that its correct assessment is an important aspect of the proper development of the herd and the associated economic growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jędrzej M Jaśkowski
- Department of Diagnostics and Clinical Sciences, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 87-100 Torun, Poland
| | - Bartłomiej M Jaśkowski
- Department of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-366 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Herudzińska
- Department of Basic and Preclinical Sciences, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 87-100 Torun, Poland
| | - Oleksandra Tul
- Department of Surgery and Obstetrics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Poltava State Agrarian University, 36003 Poltava, Ukraine
| | - Marcin Ciorga
- Department of Public Health Protection and Animal Welfare, Institute for Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 87-100 Torun, Poland
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14
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Marçal-Pedroza MG, Campos MM, Martins MF, Silva MVB, Paranhos da Costa MJR, Negrão JA, Sant'Anna AC. Is the temperament of crossbred dairy cows related to milk cortisol and oxytocin concentrations, milk yield, and quality? PLoS One 2023; 18:e0286466. [PMID: 37262031 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Reactive dairy cows are more susceptible to stress, and this may result in negative effects on milk yield and quality. The aims of this study were to investigate the relationships between temperament traits and concentration of milk cortisol and oxytocin, milk yield, milkability, and milk quality in Holstein-Gyr cows. Temperament traits were assessed in 76 Holstein-Gyr cows in the milking parlor (by scoring milking reactivity and recording the numbers of steps and kicks during pre-milking udder preparation and when fitting the milking cluster) and during handling in the corral (by measuring the time to enter in the squeeze chute, ET and flight speed, FS). Milk samples were collected for milk quality (% fat, % protein, % lactose, and somatic cell count, SCC), and milk cortisol and oxytocin. Milk yield, milking time, and average flow were also measured. The calmer cows during milking management (class 'low') produced milk with higher protein (p = 0.028) content and tendencies for lower fat (p = 0.056) and higher lactose (p = 0.055) contents. Regarding the hormones, the most reactive cows (class 'high') in the milking and handling corral produced milk with higher concentrations of cortisol (p<0.001) and oxytocin (p = 0.023). In addition, the temperament of the animals affected some of the productive measures evaluated. Cows with reactive temperament had lower milk flow and longer milking time than the intermediate ones and had higher fat and a tendency for lower protein percentage in milk compared to cows with intermediate temperaments. Calm and intermediate cows in the handling corral produced more milk and presented better milkability parameters, such as a shorter milking time and greater average milk flow. Our results suggest that the cows' behavioral reactivity can be related to the intensity of their response to stress during handling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Guilhermina Marçal-Pedroza
- Nucleus of Studies and Research in Ethology and Animal Welfare (NEBEA), Department of Zoology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Postgraduation Program in Biodiversity and Nature Conservancy, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Marta Fonseca Martins
- Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa Dairy Cattle, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, CNPq Researcher, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Marcos Vinícius Barbosa Silva
- Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa Dairy Cattle, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, CNPq Researcher, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Mateus José Rodrigues Paranhos da Costa
- National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, CNPq Researcher, Brasília, Brazil
- Research Group in Ethology and Animal Ecology, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - João Alberto Negrão
- National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, CNPq Researcher, Brasília, Brazil
- Basic Science Department, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering (FZEA), São Paulo State University (USP), Pirassununga, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Aline Cristina Sant'Anna
- Nucleus of Studies and Research in Ethology and Animal Welfare (NEBEA), Department of Zoology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, CNPq Researcher, Brasília, Brazil
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15
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Montalcini CM, Petelle MB, Toscano MJ. Commercial laying hens exhibit long-term consistent individual differences and behavioural syndromes in spatial traits. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230043. [PMID: 37234496 PMCID: PMC10206461 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Past research has supported the importance of animal personalities for the productivity and welfare of farm animals. However, current assessments of personality traits are commonly conducted over short periods using standardized assays and may not reflect all important aspects of behaviours in commercial settings throughout the production period. This study aimed to evaluate consistent behavioural differences between 194 commercial laying hens within an aviary across most of the production period (eight months). We used five spatial behaviours related to various aspects of commercial hens' daily routine, including the sleeping, feeding, nesting, indoor movements and outdoor usage. All behaviours were repeatable over time and across contexts, with consistent differences between individuals explaining between 23% and 66% of the variation. These long-term consistencies revealed the potential applicability of the behaviours as personality traits of commercial hens. Moreover, we identified behavioural syndromes comprising all behaviours except the nesting-related behaviour, indicating two axes of spatial personalities that may be driven by different mechanisms. We discussed the significance of such individual differences in using personality traits to breed more resilient farm animals. Future research should evaluate associations of these behaviours with animal welfare and productivity to inform breeding efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille M. Montalcini
- ZTHZ, Division of Animal Welfare, VPH Institute, University of Bern, 3052 Zollikofen, Switzerland
- Graduate School of Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Matthew B. Petelle
- ZTHZ, Division of Animal Welfare, VPH Institute, University of Bern, 3052 Zollikofen, Switzerland
| | - Michael J. Toscano
- ZTHZ, Division of Animal Welfare, VPH Institute, University of Bern, 3052 Zollikofen, Switzerland
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16
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Hansson I, Silvera A, Ren K, Woudstra S, Skarin A, Fikse WF, Nielsen PP, Rönnegård L. Cow characteristics associated with the variation in number of contacts between dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 2023; 106:2685-2699. [PMID: 36823010 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-21915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
In modern freestall barns where large groups of cows are housed together, the behavior displayed by herd mates can influence the welfare and production of other individuals. Therefore, understanding social interactions in groups of dairy cows is important to enhance herd management and optimize the outcomes of both animal health and welfare in the future. Many factors can affect the number of social contacts in a group. This study aimed to identify which characteristics of a cow are associated with the number of contacts it has with other group members in 2 different functional areas (feeding and resting area) to increase our understanding of the social behavior of dairy cows. Inside 2 herds housed in freestall barns with around 200 lactating cows each, cow positions were recorded with an ultra-wideband real-time location system collecting all cows' positions every second over 2 wk. Using the positioning data of the cows, we quantified the number of contacts between them, assuming that cows spending time in proximity to one another (within a distance of 2.5 m for at least 10 min per day) were interacting socially. We documented in which barn areas these interactions occurred and used linear mixed models to investigate if lactation stage, parity, breed, pregnancy status, estrus, udder health, and claw health affect the number of contacts. We found variation in the number of contacts a cow had between individuals in both functional areas. Cows in later lactation had more contacts in the feeding area than cows in early lactation. Furthermore, in one herd, higher parity cows had fewer contacts in the feeding area than first parity cows, and in the other herd, cows in third parity or higher had more contacts in the resting area. This study indicates that cow characteristics such as parity and days in milk are associated with the number of contacts a cow has daily to its herd mates and provides useful information for further research on social interactions of dairy cows.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Hansson
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7023, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - A Silvera
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7023, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - K Ren
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7023, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - S Woudstra
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - A Skarin
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7024, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - W F Fikse
- Växa, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Ulls väg 26, SE-756 51 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - P P Nielsen
- RISE Research Institute of Sweden, Division of Bioeconomy and Health, Department of Agriculture and Food, RISE Ideon, SE-223 70 Lund, Sweden
| | - L Rönnegård
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7023, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden; School of Technology and Business Studies, Dalarna University, SE-791 88 Falun, Sweden; The Beijer Laboratory for Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7024, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
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17
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Marçal-Pedroza MG, Canozzi MEA, Campos MM, Sant’Anna AC. Effects of dairy cow temperament on milk yield: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Anim Sci 2023; 101:skad099. [PMID: 37004202 PMCID: PMC10158527 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skad099] [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: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The temperament of dairy cows interferes in milk yield and quality, but there is a lack of consensus throughout the literature. Thus, systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis (MA) methodologies were used to assess the effects of dairy cow temperament on milk yield. Our literature search included four electronic databases (CABI Abstracts, Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus) and bibliographies of the publications included on MA. As inclusion criteria, we considered publications about the temperament of lactating cows and its effect on daily milk yield and total milk yield (whole lactation). A random effect-MA was carried out separately for daily milk yield and total milk yield related to each class of cows' temperament, 'low' (low reactivity, calm animals), 'intermediate' (intermediate reactivity), and 'high' (high reactivity, reactive animals). A total of eight publications reporting 75 trials were included in the analyses for daily milk yield, and three publications reporting nine trials for total milk yield. For daily and total milk yield the heterogeneity between publications was high (I2 = 99.9%). Cows of European breeds with intermediate temperament produced less milk daily than the calm (P = 0.020) and reactive ones (P < 0.001). In the case of primiparous cows, those with intermediate temperament produced less milk daily (P < 0.001) than the reactive ones, while for multiparous, the intermediate produced less than calm (P = 0.032) and reactive cows (P < 0.001). Regarding the stage of lactation, cows evaluated throughout lactation with a calm temperament tended (P = 0.081) to produce more milk than the intermediate ones, but less than the reactive ones (P < 0.001). For total milk yield, reactive cows tended to produce more than the calm (P = 0.082) and intermediate (P = 0.001) ones. Among European and primiparous cows, reactive cows produced more than the intermediate (P = 0.001). According to our results, we cannot confirm what we expected, that calmer cows would be the most productive for both daily and total yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria G Marçal-Pedroza
- Nucleus of Studies and Research in Ethology and Animal Welfare (NEBEA), Department of Zoology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, 36.036-330, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
- Postgraduation Program in Biodiversity and Nature Conservancy, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, 36.036-330, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | | | - Mariana M Campos
- Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa Dairy Cattle, Minas Gerais, 36038-330, Brazil
| | - Aline C Sant’Anna
- Nucleus of Studies and Research in Ethology and Animal Welfare (NEBEA), Department of Zoology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, 36.036-330, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
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18
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Water Buffalo Responsiveness during Milking: Implications for Production Outputs, Reproduction Fitness, and Animal Welfare. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12223115. [PMID: 36428343 PMCID: PMC9686578 DOI: 10.3390/ani12223115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The overall objective of this study was to evaluate the effects that milking temperament (MT) of water buffaloes has on milking traits, welfare indicators, and reproductive outputs. The study was performed on 60 multiparous buffalo cows (6.7 ± 0.6 lactations) at the beginning of their lactation (100 days in milk, DIM). Each buffalo cow was scored by two independent observers using a temperament scoring system (1: extremely calm, 2: calm, 3: alert, 4: reactive, and 5: aggressive), and then grouped as 'calm' (scores 1, 2, and 3; n = 42) or 'nervous' (scores 4 and 5; n = 18). Additionally, the milk yield at 100 DIM (MY), milking speed (MS), calving interval (CI), age at first calving (AFC), body condition score (BCS), animal-based welfare parameters, and infrared thermography data (IRT) were evaluated. The MT significantly influenced the MY (p = 0.0082), with calmer cows outperforming their nervous counterparts. The MS was significantly influenced by the MT (p = 0.0015), with calmer animals having a higher milk ejection rate. The MT of the cows had no influence on the CI, AFC, or BCS. The evidence from this study suggests that the responsiveness of buffalo cows during milking affects their milk yield and milking speed, with no associations being found for reproduction efficiency indicators or animal-based welfare indicators.
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19
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Moreno García CA, Zhou H, Altimira D, Dynes R, Gregorini P, Jayathunga S, Maxwell TMR, Hickford J. The glutamate metabotropic receptor 5 (GRM5) gene is associated with beef cattle home range and movement tortuosity. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2022; 13:111. [PMID: 36104821 PMCID: PMC9476267 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-022-00755-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The grazing behaviour of herbivores and their grazing personalities might in part be determined genetically, but there are few studies in beef cattle illustrating this. In this study, we investigated for first time the genetic variation within a candidate ‘grazing gene’, the glutamate metabotropic receptor 5 gene (GRM5), and tested associations between variation in that gene and variation in grazing personality behaviours (GP-behaviours) displayed by free-ranging cows during winter grazing in the steep and rugged rangelands of New Zealand. Mature beef cows (n = 303, from 3 to 10 years of age) were tracked with global positioning system (GPS) and, with 5-minutes (min) relocation frequency, various GP-behaviours were calculated. These included horizontal and vertical distances travelled, mean elevation, elevation range, elevation gain, slope, home range and movement tortuosity, variously calculated using daily relocation trajectories with repeated measurements (i.e., 7 to 24 days (d)) and satellite-derived digital elevation models (DEM). The different GP-behaviours were fitted into mixed models to ascertain their associations with variant sequences and genotypes of GRM5. Results We discovered three GRM5 variants (A, B and C) and identified the six possible genotypes in the cattle studied. The mixed models revealed that A was significantly associated with elevation range, home range and movement tortuosity. Similarly, GRM5 genotypes were associated (P < 0.05) to home range and movement tortuosity, while trends suggesting association (P < 0.1) were also revealed for elevation range and horizontal distance travelled. Most GP-behaviour models were improved by correcting for cow age-class as a fixed factor. The analysis of GP-behaviours averaged per cow age-class suggests that grazing personality is fully established as beef cows reached 4 years of age. Home range and movement tortuosity were not only associated with GRM5 variation, but also negatively correlated with each other (r = − 0.27, P < 0.001). Conclusions There seems to be a genetically determined trade-off between home range and movement tortuosity that may be useful in beef cattle breeding programmes aiming to improve the grazing distribution and utilisation of steep and rugged rangelands. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40104-022-00755-7.
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20
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Schwanke A, Dancy K, Neave H, Penner G, Bergeron R, DeVries T. Effects of concentrate allowance and individual dairy cow personality traits on behavior and production of dairy cows milked in a free-traffic automated milking system. J Dairy Sci 2022; 105:6290-6306. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2021-21657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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21
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Neave HW, Zobel G, Thoday H, Saunders K, Edwards JP, Webster J. Toward on-farm measurement of personality traits and their relationships to behavior and productivity of grazing dairy cattle. J Dairy Sci 2022; 105:6055-6069. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2021-21249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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22
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León-Llanos LM, Flórez-Díaz H, Duque-Muñoz LG, Villarroel M, Miranda-de la Lama GC. Influence of temperament on performance and carcass quality of commercial Brahman steers in a Colombian tropical grazing system. Meat Sci 2022; 191:108867. [DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2022.108867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Alvarenga AB, Oliveira HR, Miller SP, Silva FF, Brito LF. Genetic Modeling and Genomic Analyses of Yearling Temperament in American Angus Cattle and Its Relationship With Productive Efficiency and Resilience Traits. Front Genet 2022; 13:794625. [PMID: 35444687 PMCID: PMC9014094 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.794625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cattle temperament has been considered by farmers as a key breeding goal due to its relevance for cattlemen's safety, animal welfare, resilience, and longevity and its association with many economically important traits (e.g., production and meat quality). The definition of proper statistical models, accurate variance component estimates, and knowledge on the genetic background of the indicator trait evaluated are of great importance for accurately predicting the genetic merit of breeding animals. Therefore, 266,029 American Angus cattle with yearling temperament records (1-6 score) were used to evaluate statistical models and estimate variance components; investigate the association of sex and farm management with temperament; assess the weighted correlation of estimated breeding values for temperament and productive, reproductive efficiency and resilience traits; and perform a weighted single-step genome-wide association analysis using 69,559 animals genotyped for 54,609 single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Sex and extrinsic factors were significantly associated with temperament, including conception type, age of dam, birth season, and additional animal-human interactions. Similar results were observed among models including only the direct additive genetic effect and when adding other maternal effects. Estimated heritability of temperament was equal to 0.39 on the liability scale. Favorable genetic correlations were observed between temperament and other relevant traits, including growth, feed efficiency, meat quality, and reproductive traits. The highest approximated genetic correlations were observed between temperament and growth traits (weaning weight, 0.28; yearling weight, 0.28). Altogether, we identified 11 genomic regions, located across nine chromosomes including BTAX, explaining 3.33% of the total additive genetic variance. The candidate genes identified were enriched in pathways related to vision, which could be associated with reception of stimulus and/or cognitive abilities. This study encompasses large and diverse phenotypic, genomic, and pedigree datasets of US Angus cattle. Yearling temperament is a highly heritable and polygenic trait that can be improved through genetic selection. Direct selection for temperament is not expected to result in unfavorable responses on other relevant traits due to the favorable or low genetic correlations observed. In summary, this study contributes to a better understanding of the impact of maternal effects, extrinsic factors, and various genomic regions associated with yearling temperament in North American Angus cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda B Alvarenga
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Hinayah R Oliveira
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States.,Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Stephen P Miller
- American Angus Association, Angus Genetics Inc., St Joseph, MO, United States
| | - Fabyano F Silva
- Department of Animal Sciences, Federal University of Vicosa, Viçosa, Brazil
| | - Luiz F Brito
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
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Morales-Piñeyrúa JT, Damián JP, Banchero G, Blache D, Sant'Anna AC. Metabolic profile and productivity of dairy Holstein cows milked by a pasture-based automatic milking system during early lactation: Effects of cow temperament and parity. Res Vet Sci 2022; 147:50-59. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2022.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Woodrum Setser MM, Neave HW, Vanzant E, Costa JHC. Development and Utilization of an Isolation Box Test to Characterize Personality Traits of Dairy Calves. FRONTIERS IN ANIMAL SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fanim.2022.770755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of an isolation box test (IBT) to characterize personality traits has been used in non-bovine species with success. We aimed to develop an IBT for dairy calves and determine if the behavioral responses to an IBT were associated with personality traits found from traditional tests (novel person, novel object, and a startle tests) and average daily gain (ADG; Kg/d) through weaning. Calf movement while in the IBT was measured via accelerometers attached to 5 locations on the exterior of the box. A total movement index (TMI) was calculated based on accelerometer readings during the IBT. We performed a principal component analysis on the traditional tests and identified 3 influential factors that we labeled as “fearful,” “bold,” and “active.” Calves were weighed biweekly to track liveweight ADG. Factor scores and ADG were regressed against TMI. A significant negative association was found between the TMI and the factor “active,” indicating the validity of IBT as a tool for assessing some personality traits of dairy calves. Furthermore, TMI had a positive association with ADG through the entire experimental period and thus has potential to help predict performance through weaning. IBT has potential to be used as a personality test in research scenarios. Further development is needed to produce an IBT that would be appropriate to measure animals' responses reliably in production settings. An automated test that can accommodate a wide range of ages and developing a computer learning model to interpret output from the IBT would be a possible option to do so.
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Whalin L, Neave HW, Føske Johnsen J, Mejdell CM, Ellingsen-Dalskau K. The influence of personality and weaning method on early feeding behavior and growth of Norwegian Red calves. J Dairy Sci 2021; 105:1369-1386. [PMID: 34955245 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2021-20871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Some research has described a relationship between personality and feeding behavior at weaning in Holstein dairy calves; our objective was to determine if personality traits, especially sociability, are associated with differences in feeding behavior and growth in Norwegian Red calves. Our secondary objective was to assess the interaction between personality traits and gradual weaning method (by age or by concentrate intake) on the behavior and growth of calves. Twenty-seven Norwegian Red calves were housed in 7 groups of 3 to 5 calves, with group composition based on birthdate to ensure that there were no more than 21 d between the youngest and oldest calves. Calves had access to an automated milk and concentrate feeder with ad libitum access to concentrates, water, hay, and silage. Calves were semi-randomly assigned to be either gradually weaned by age at d 56, or weaned by intake, where weaning was initiated based on reaching specific concentrate intake targets. We measured milk intake, concentrate intake, and the number of unrewarded visits to the automated feeder during each of 5 experimental periods: preweaning (12 L/d; 10-30 d of age), weaning (milk allowance gradually reduced by method until completely weaned), weaning week (3 d before weaning and the first 7 d of 0 L/d milk allowance), postweaning (20 d after complete milk removal), and the total experimental period (10-20 d postweaning). At 21 and 80 d of age, individual behavioral responses toward novelty and isolation (indicative of personality) were recorded in 3 personality tests: novel environment, novel object, and a social motivation test (time taken to return the group). At 83 d of age, a group novel object test was conducted. Principal component analysis revealed 3 factors interpreted as personality traits (playful/exploratory, vocal/active, interactive in group test) that together explained 56% of the variance. Calves that were more playful/exploratory consumed more milk per day preweaning and more concentrate per day over the experimental period. Calves that were more vocal/active (interpreted as a type of sociability trait where vocalizations and pacing serve to communicate with conspecifics when isolated from herd) had lower preweaning milk intakes and lower concentrate intakes over the experimental period. Calves that were more interactive in the group test (interpreted as a type of sociability trait when with other herd mates) had lower preweaning and weaning concentrate intakes. There was no interaction between personality traits and weaning method on feeding behavior or performance outcomes; however, calves that were weaned by intake (successfully reached all concentrate targets) had higher average daily gains postweaning, likely due to consuming more concentrate per day over the entire experiment, than calves who failed to reach all targets, or were weaned by age. We concluded that the sociability traits of Norwegian Red calves were related to individual differences in milk and concentrate intake. Although the relationship between personality and feeding behavior and growth did not depend on weaning method, gradual weaning based on individual concentrate intakes provides an opportunity for calves to wean at a pace that fits the needs of each individual calf.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Whalin
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
| | - Heather W Neave
- Animal Behaviour and Welfare Team, AgResearch Ltd., Ruakura Research Centre, 3214 Hamilton, New Zealand; Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, Foulum, 8830 Tjele, Denmark
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Volpi D, Alves FV, da Silva Arguelho A, do Vale MM, Deniz M, Zopollatto M. Environmental variables responsible for Zebu cattle thermal comfort acquisition. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2021; 65:1695-1705. [PMID: 33830324 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-021-02124-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to estimate, using data mining, which microclimate and behavioral variables affect the behavior of animals to seek shaded or sunny areas. The experiment was carried out between January and May 2016 in an integrated crop-livestock-forest system. In this system, we defined two different areas: shaded and sunny. Microclimatic variables (At, BGt, RH, and WS) were measured in each area on 4 consecutive days per month. With these variables, we determined the bioclimatic indicators (THI, BGHI, HLI, MRT, RTL, and ETI). In addition, we calculated the absolute difference (Δ) by subtracting the value recorded in shaded areas from the value recorded in sunny areas for all microclimatic variables and bioclimatic indicators, except for WS. The behaviors (grazing, ruminating, and other activities), posture (standing or lying), and use of areas (shaded or sunny) of 38 Zebu cattle were recorded on 2 consecutive days per month. The data mining technique was applied for analysis in a classification task. The model correctly classified 76% of the instances with a Kappa statistic of 0.51 after features selection from the database. The ΔBGt was the most important feature in the model to classify the decision of Zebu cattle to seek another area or remain in a determined area. The model was built with seven classification rules, being one simple rule, composed of the interaction between ΔBGt and rumination; and other more complex rules, composed of the interactions among the ΔBGt, WS, and rumination. The preference of Zebu cattle to seek or remain in shaded or sunny areas was influenced by eight features: rumination, drinking water, WS, ΔBGt, MRT in shade, BGHI in sun, ΔBGHI, and HLI in sun.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Volpi
- Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Parana, 540 Funcionarios St., Curitiba, Parana, 80035050, Brazil.
| | - Fabiana Villa Alves
- Embrapa Beef Cattle, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Alan da Silva Arguelho
- Department of Animal Science, State University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Marcos Martinez do Vale
- Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Parana, 540 Funcionarios St., Curitiba, Parana, 80035050, Brazil
| | - Matheus Deniz
- Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Parana, 540 Funcionarios St., Curitiba, Parana, 80035050, Brazil
| | - Maity Zopollatto
- Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Parana, 540 Funcionarios St., Curitiba, Parana, 80035050, Brazil
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Hu H, Mu T, Ma Y, Wang X, Ma Y. Analysis of Longevity Traits in Holstein Cattle: A Review. Front Genet 2021; 12:695543. [PMID: 34413878 PMCID: PMC8369829 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.695543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Dairy cow longevity is an essential economic trait that can supplement the breeding value of production traits, which is related to the herd time and lifetime milk yield of dairy cows. However, longevity is a relatively difficult trait to select for dairy cow breeding due to low heritability and numerous influence factors of the longevity in dairy cows. Longevity trait has been used as an important breeding target of a comprehensive selection index in many dairy developed countries; however, it has not been included in performance index in many developing countries. At present, cows in these countries are still in the primary stage of “large quantity, low quality, high cost, and low yield.” The average parity of dairy cows is less than 2.7, which is difficult to maintain the production efficiency to meet the demands of the dairy industry. Therefore, there is an urgent need to select and breed for the longevity of dairy cows. The various definitions and models (including linear, threshold, random regression, sire, and survival analysis) of longevity were reviewed and standardized. Survival analysis is the optimal model to evaluate longevity, and the longevity heritability is 0.01–0.30 by using different definitions and models. Additionally, the relationship between longevity and other traits was summarized, and found that longevity was regulated by multiple factors, and there were low or medium genetic correlations between them. Conformation traits, milk production traits, reproductive traits, and health traits may be used as indicators to select and breed the longevity of dairy cows. The genetic assessment methods, heritability, influencing factors, importance, breeding, and genetics of longevity were reviewed in the manuscript, which could provide a valuable reference for the selective breeding to extend the productive life of Holstein cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honghong Hu
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Ruminant Molecular and Cellular Breeding, School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Tong Mu
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Ruminant Molecular and Cellular Breeding, School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Yanfen Ma
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Ruminant Molecular and Cellular Breeding, School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
| | - XingPing Wang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Ruminant Molecular and Cellular Breeding, School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Yun Ma
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Ruminant Molecular and Cellular Breeding, School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
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Paranhos da Costa MJ, Taborda PA, de Lima Carvalhal MV, Valente TS. Individual differences in the behavioral responsiveness of F1 Holstein-Gyr heifers to the training for milking routine. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Are dairy cows with a more reactive temperament less efficient in energetic metabolism and do they produce more enteric methane? Animal 2021; 15:100224. [PMID: 34049108 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2021.100224] [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: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
It remains unknown whether dairy cows with more reactive temperament produce more enteric methane (CH4) and are less bioenergetically efficient than the calmer ones. The objectives of this study were (a) to evaluate the relationship between cattle temperament assessed by traditionally used tests with energetic metabolism and enteric CH4 emissions by crossbred dairy cows; (b) to assess how cows' restlessness in respiration chambers affects energetic metabolism and enteric CH4 emissions. Temperament indicators were evaluated for 28 primiparous F1 Holstein-Gyr cows tested singly in the handling corral (entrance time, crush score, flight speed, and flight distance) and during milking (steps, kicks, defecation, rumination, and kick the milking cluster off). Cows' behaviors within respiration chambers were also recorded for each individual kept singly. Digestibility and calorimetry trials were performed to obtain energy partitioning and CH4 measures. Cows with more reactive temperament in milking (the ones that kicked the milking cluster off more frequently) spent 25.24% less net energy on lactation (P = 0.04) and emitted 36.77% more enteric CH4/kg of milk (P = 0.03). Furthermore, cows that showed a higher frequency of rumination at milking parlor allocated 57.93% more net energy for milk production (P < 0.01), spent 50.00% more metabolizable energy for milk production (P < 0.01) and 37.10% less CH4/kg of milk (P = 0.04). Regarding the handling temperament, most reactive cows according to flight speed, lost 29.16% less energy as urine (P = 0.05) and tended to have 14.30% more enteric CH4 production (P = 0.08), as well as cows with a lower entrance time (most reactive) that also lost 13.29% more energy as enteric CH4 (P = 0.04). Temperament and restless behavior of Holstein-Gyr cows were related to metabolic efficiency and enteric CH4 emissions. Cows' reactivity and rumination in the milking parlor, in addition to flight speed and entrance time in the squeeze chute during handling in the corral, could be useful measures to predict animals more prone to metabolic inefficiency, which could negatively affect the sustainability of dairy systems.
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Yang S, Zhang T, Li Y, Xu S, Zhang M, Hu X, Liu S, Hu D, Wronski T. Identifying personality traits and their potential application to the management of captive forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii). Appl Anim Behav Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Salau J, Krieter J. Instance Segmentation with Mask R-CNN Applied to Loose-Housed Dairy Cows in a Multi-Camera Setting. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E2402. [PMID: 33333993 PMCID: PMC7765358 DOI: 10.3390/ani10122402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
With increasing herd sizes came an enhanced requirement for automated systems to support the farmers in the monitoring of the health and welfare status of their livestock. Cattle are a highly sociable species, and the herd structure has important impact on the animal welfare. As the behaviour of the animals and their social interactions can be influenced by the presence of a human observer, a camera based system that automatically detects the animals would be beneficial to analyse dairy cattle herd activity. In the present study, eight surveillance cameras were mounted above the barn area of a group of thirty-six lactating Holstein Friesian dairy cows at the Chamber of Agriculture in Futterkamp in Northern Germany. With Mask R-CNN, a state-of-the-art model of convolutional neural networks was trained to determine pixel level segmentation masks for the cows in the video material. The model was pre-trained on the Microsoft common objects in the context data set, and transfer learning was carried out on annotated image material from the recordings as training data set. In addition, the relationship between the size of the used training data set and the performance on the model after transfer learning was analysed. The trained model achieved averaged precision (Intersection over union, IOU = 0.5) 91% and 85% for the detection of bounding boxes and segmentation masks of the cows, respectively, thereby laying a solid technical basis for an automated analysis of herd activity and the use of resources in loose-housing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Salau
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Kiel University, Olshausenstraße 40, 24098 Kiel, Germany;
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Costa JHC, Neave HW, Weary DM, von Keyserlingk MAG. Use of a food neophobia test to characterize personality traits of dairy calves. Sci Rep 2020; 10:7111. [PMID: 32346003 PMCID: PMC7188825 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63930-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Food neophobia, i.e. the avoidance of novel foods, is common in ruminants and may provide a biologically relevant and practical way to test individual responses to novelty or challenge. We aimed to determine if behavioural responses in a food neophobia test (exposure to a novel total mixed ration) reflected boldness and exploratory personality traits derived from 3 traditional tests (open field, novel human and novel object) in dairy calves. We performed two Principal Component Analyses, one using behaviours from 3 traditional tests (3 factors: 'Bold', 'Exploratory' and 'Active'), and one using behaviours from the food neophobia test (3 factors: 'Eating', 'Inspecting', and 'Avoidance'). A regression analysis determined if individual factor scores from the food neophobia test predicted factor scores from the traditional tests. Contrary to our expectations, 'Avoidance' (latencies to approach and eat the novel food) did not predict boldness trait, and the factors 'Inspecting' (time spent inspecting food and empty buckets) and 'Eating' (time spent eating food and total intake) did not predict exploration trait, but they did predict active trait. These results suggest that the food neophobia test in our study resulted in context-specific behaviours, or that behavioural responses to a novel food present different underlying personality traits. The application of food neophobia to assess specific or generalized personality traits of dairy calves deserves further work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joao H C Costa
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, B.C., V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Dairy Science Program, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, 325 Cooper Dr., Lexington, 40546, USA
| | - Heather W Neave
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, B.C., V6T 1Z4, Canada
- AgResearch Ltd., Ruakura Research Centre, 10 Bisley Rd, Hamilton, 3214, New Zealand
| | - Daniel M Weary
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, B.C., V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Marina A G von Keyserlingk
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, B.C., V6T 1Z4, Canada.
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Associations between On-farm Welfare, Milk Production, and Reproductive Performance in Dairy Herds in Northwestern Spain. J APPL ANIM WELF SCI 2020; 24:29-38. [PMID: 32286861 DOI: 10.1080/10888705.2020.1750016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between on-farm welfare, milk production, and reproductive performance in dairy herds in northwestern Spain. Data on the welfare status from 31 herds were collected using the Welfare Quality® protocol. Linear regression was applied to assess associations between WQ criteria/principle scores on farm average 305-d milk production and calving to conception interval (CCI). Results indicated that milk production was associated with the absence of prolonged hunger criterion (average increase of 22.33kg per unit score). Each one unit increase in the score for good feeding was also associated with a26.49kg increase in milk production. A10 unit increase in the scores for the absence of pain (by management procedures), expression of social behaviors, and absence of injuries was associated with reductions in CCI by 1.77, 0.8, and 0.29 days. CCI also decreased by 1.08 and 0.53 days when the principles of good health and appropriate behavior increased by 10 units. This study points out associations which can help encourage the dairy cattle sector to adopt practices that promote animal welfare.
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Neave HW, Costa JHC, Weary DM, von Keyserlingk MAG. Long-term consistency of personality traits of cattle. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:191849. [PMID: 32257341 PMCID: PMC7062087 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.191849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Personality is often defined as the behaviour of individual animals that is consistent across contexts and over time. Personality traits may become unstable during stages of ontogeny from infancy to adulthood, especially during major periods of development such as around the time of sexual maturation. The personality of domesticated farm animals has links with productivity, health and welfare, but to our knowledge, no studies have investigated the development and stability of personality traits across developmental life stages in a mammalian farm animal species. Here, we describe the consistency of personality traits across ontogeny in dairy cattle from neonate to first lactation as an adult. The personality traits 'bold' and 'exploratory', as measured by behavioural responses to novelty, were highly consistent during the earlier (before and after weaning from milk) and later (after puberty to first lactation) rearing periods, but were not consistent across these rearing periods when puberty occurred. These findings indicate that personality changes in cattle around sexual maturation are probably owing to major physiological changes that are accelerated under typical management conditions at this time. This work contributes to the understanding of the ontogeny of behaviour in farm animals, especially how and why individuals differ in their behaviour.
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Marçal-Pedroza MG, Campos MM, Pereira LGR, Machado FS, Tomich TR, Paranhos da Costa MJ, SanťAnna AC. Consistency of temperament traits and their relationships with milk yield in lactating primiparous F1 Holstein - Gyr cows. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2019.104881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Finkemeier MA, Oesterwind S, Nürnberg G, Puppe B, Langbein J. Assessment of personality types in Nigerian dwarf goats (Capra hircus) and cross-context correlations to behavioural and physiological responses. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2019.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Miranda-de la Lama GC, Pascual-Alonso M, Aguayo-Ulloa L, Sepúlveda WS, Villarroel M, María GA. Social personality in sheep: Can social strategies predict individual differences in cognitive abilities, morphology features, and reproductive success? J Vet Behav 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2019.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Foris B, Zebunke M, Langbein J, Melzer N. Evaluating the temporal and situational consistency of personality traits in adult dairy cattle. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0204619. [PMID: 30273367 PMCID: PMC6166944 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent research suggests that personality, defined as consistent individual behavioral variation, in farm animals could be an important factor when considering their health, welfare, and productivity. However, behavioral tests are often performed individually and they might not reflect the behavioral differences manifested in every-day social environments. Furthermore, the contextual and longer-term temporal stability of personality traits have rarely been investigated in adult dairy cattle. In this study, we tested three groups of lactating Holstein cows (40 cows) using an individual arena test and a novel object test in groups to measure the contextual stability of behavior. Among the recorded individual test parameters, we used seven in the final analysis, which were determined by a systematic parameter reduction procedure. We found positive correlations between novel object contact duration in the group test and individual test parameters object contact duration (Rs = 0.361, P = 0.026) and movement duration (Rs = 0.336, P = 0.039). Both tests were repeated 6 months later to investigate their temporal stability whereby four individual test parameters were repeatable. There was no consistency in the group test results for 25 cows tested twice, possibly due to group composition changes. Furthermore, based on the seven individual test parameters, two personality traits (activity/exploration and boldness) were identified by principal component analysis. We found a positive association between the first and second tests for activity/exploration (Rs = 0.334, P = 0.058) and for boldness (Rs = 0.491, P = 0.004). Our results support the multidimensional nature of personality in adult dairy cattle and they indicate a link between behavior in individual and within-group situations. The lack of stability according to the group test results implies that group companions might have a stronger influence on individual behavior than expected. We suggest repeating the within-group behavioral measurements to study the relationship between the social environment and the manifestation of personality traits in every-day situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Borbala Foris
- Institute of Genetics and Biometry, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology, Dummerstorf, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany
| | - Manuela Zebunke
- Institute of Genetics and Biometry, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology, Dummerstorf, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany
| | - Jan Langbein
- Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology, Dummerstorf, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany
| | - Nina Melzer
- Institute of Genetics and Biometry, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology, Dummerstorf, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany
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Dairy cattle welfare as a result of human-animal relationship – a review. ANNALS OF ANIMAL SCIENCE 2018. [DOI: 10.2478/aoas-2018-0013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Despite the various concepts of human-animal relationship, the welfarist approach to this problem is one of the most often considered in theory and used in practice. When dealing with issues related to dairy cattle welfare (DCW), it is necessary to take into account both the reality characteristic for animals used to obtain milk (e.g. the problem of automatic milking of cows) and for slaughter cattle (e.g. slaughter of culled animals). It is not surprising, therefore, that issues related to DCW are the focus of the attention of the public, researchers, breeders as well as the dairy and meat industries. The aim of this article was to possibly most comprehensively cover the above-mentioned issues, although due to its huge scope it was obviously necessary to limit the article to what I think are currently most important issues. That is why in the review I (1) characterized the issues related to the division of human responsibility for DCW; (2) discussed the importance of technology to human-animal relationship; (3) elaborated the matter of stress, emotionality of animals and their cognitive abilities in the aspect of “negative” and “positive” DCW; (4) considered the possibilities of non-invasive assessment of animal welfare in the future and (5) discussed topics related to improving the conditions of the slaughter of animals. In summary, it was proposed paying more attention than has been paid until now, to the assessment of positive DCW in scientific research and breeding practice. I also drew attention to the necessity of reliable information flow on the line of the breeder/milk producer - industry - consumer, as negligence in this area is one of the reasons for public disinformation regarding the level of animal welfare.
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Hirata M, Arimoto C. Novel object response in beef cattle grazing a pasture as a group. Behav Processes 2018; 157:315-319. [PMID: 30071245 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2018.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2017] [Revised: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate how cattle (Bos taurus) respond to objects presented for the first time and repeatedly in a stimulus-rich environment where they can freely graze and interact with conspecifics. Twenty-five Japanese Black cows were subjected to three repeats of a novel object test in which animals stocked on a pasture as a group were exposed to the same and different objects across the test repeats. Responses of cows towards the objects were quantified by both approach (entering within a 0.5-m distance of the object) and contact (physical touch with the object) measures as occurrence (1 or 0) and number of reactions and latency to the first reaction. Cows were consistent in the approach to the first-time objects (repeatability = 0.39-0.62, Kendall's W = 0.58, P < 0.05), but not in the approach to the repeatedly presented objects or in the contact with both types of objects (P > 0.05). Individuals which consistently approached the novel objects could be regarded as highly exploratory and/or bold in personality. Future work should consider novel object response in cattle across a range of contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiko Hirata
- Department of Animal & Grassland Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan.
| | - Chie Arimoto
- Department of Animal & Grassland Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan
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Shahin M. The effects of positive human contact by tactile stimulation on dairy cows with different personalities. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2018.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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45
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Finkemeier MA, Langbein J, Puppe B. Personality Research in Mammalian Farm Animals: Concepts, Measures, and Relationship to Welfare. Front Vet Sci 2018; 5:131. [PMID: 30003083 PMCID: PMC6031753 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Measuring and understanding personality in animals is a rising scientific field. Much research has been conducted to assess distinctive individual differences in behavior in a large number of species in the past few decades, and increasing numbers of studies include farm animals. Nevertheless, the terminology and definitions used in this broad scientific field are often confusing because different concepts and methods are used to explain often synonymously applied terms, such as personality, temperament and coping style. In the present review we give a comprehensive overview of the concepts and terms currently used in animal personality research and critically reveal how they are defined and what they measure. First, we shortly introduce concepts describing human personality and how these concepts are used to explain animal personality. Second, we present which concepts, methods and measures are applied in farm animal personality research and show that the terminology used seems to be somehow species-related. Finally, we discuss some findings on the possible impact of personality on the welfare of farm animals. The assessment of personality in farm animals is of growing scientific and practical interest. Differences in theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches may also entail the diverse use of the different concepts between basic and applied research approaches. We conclude that more consistency is needed in using different theoretical concepts, terms and measures, especially in farm animal personality research. The terms coping style and temperament, which are used in different ways, should not be examined as independent concepts, but rather should be considered as different aspects of the whole personality concept. Farm animal personality should be increasingly considered for the improvement of animal housing, management, breeding and welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Antonine Finkemeier
- Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany.,Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Jan Langbein
- Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Birger Puppe
- Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany.,Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
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Neave HW, Costa JHC, Weary DM, von Keyserlingk MAG. Personality is associated with feeding behavior and performance in dairy calves. J Dairy Sci 2018; 101:7437-7449. [PMID: 29729921 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2017-14248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Performance varies considerably at weaning, perhaps in part because it is associated with the personality traits of the animals. Our objective was to identify calf personality traits using standardized tests and determine whether these were associated with measures of feeding behavior and performance. Fifty-six dairy calves were housed in 7 groups of 8 calves each with access to an automated milk feeder and ad libitum access to water, starter, and hay. We measured starter DMI and the number of unrewarded visits to the automated milk feeder during each of 4 periods: prestep (full milk allowance; 7-41 d of age), step (milk allowance reduced to 50%; 42-50 d of age), weaning (51-54 d of age), and postweaning (55-68 d of age). At 27 and 76 d of age, each calf was subjected to 3 novelty tests: novel environment (30 min), human approach (10 min with an unknown stationary human), and novel object (15 min with a black 140-L bucket). During each of the tests, 7 behaviors were scored: latency to touch and duration of touching the human or object, duration of attentive behavior toward the human or object, number of vocalizations, number of quadrants crossed as a measure of activity, and duration of inactivity, exploration, and playing. Data were averaged across ages and then across tests. Principal component analysis revealed 3 factors (interactive, exploratory-active, and vocal-inactive) that together explained 73% of the variance. Calves that were more exploratory-active began to consume starter at an earlier age and showed greater starter dry matter intake during all experimental periods and greater overall average daily gain. Calves that were more interactive and vocal-inactive had more unrewarded visits to the milk feeder during initial milk reduction. We conclude that personality traits are associated with feeding behavior and performance around weaning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather W Neave
- Animal Welfare Program, University of British Columbia, 2357 Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z4
| | - Joao H C Costa
- Animal Welfare Program, University of British Columbia, 2357 Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z4
| | - Daniel M Weary
- Animal Welfare Program, University of British Columbia, 2357 Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z4
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de Oliveira D, Keeling LJ. Routine activities and emotion in the life of dairy cows: Integrating body language into an affective state framework. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0195674. [PMID: 29718937 PMCID: PMC5931453 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
We assessed dairy cows' body postures while they were performing different stationary activities in a loose housing system and then used the variation within and between individuals to identify potential connections between specific postures and the valence and arousal dimensions of emotion. We observed 72 individuals within a single milking herd focusing on their ear, neck and tail positions while they were: feeding from individual roughage bins, being brushed by a mechanical rotating brush and queuing to enter a single automatic milking system. Cows showed different ear, neck and tail postures depending on the situation. When combined, their body posture during feeding was ears back up and neck down, with tail wags directed towards the body, during queuing their ears were mainly axial and forward, their neck below the horizontal and the tail hanging stationary, and during brushing their ears were backwards and asymmetric, the neck horizontal and the tail wagging vigorously. We then placed these findings about cow body posture during routine activities into an arousal/valence framework used in animal emotion research (dimensional model of core affect). In this way we generate a priori predictions of how the positions of the ears, neck and tail of cows may change in other situations, previously demonstrated to vary in valence and arousal. We propose that this new methodology, with its different steps of integration, could contribute to the identification and validation of behavioural (postural) indicators of how positively or negatively cows experience other activities, or situations, and how calm or aroused they are. Although developed here on dairy cattle, by focusing on relevant postures, this approach could be easily adapted to other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiana de Oliveira
- Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Linda J. Keeling
- Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
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Ramadan S, Nowier AM, Hori Y, Inoue-Murayama M. The association between glutamine repeats in the androgen receptor gene and personality traits in dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius). PLoS One 2018; 13:e0191119. [PMID: 29415053 PMCID: PMC5802489 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Temperament traits such as fearfulness are important as they define an animal’s responses to its environment and handling. The increasing automation of daily tasks and growing population limits contact between camels and humans. Such limitations contribute to fear of humans and changes in physical environment. Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) and androgen receptor (AR) genes are important candidates associated with mammal personality. In our analysis, MAOA exon 15 showed no polymorphism but a novel polymorphism was seen in the camel AR exon 1; 16, 17, 18, and 19 glutamine repeats were detected. We genotyped 138 camels belonging to four Egyptian breeds: Maghrabi (n = 90), Sudani (n = 15), Somali (n = 23), and Baladi (n = 10) for AR. Out of the 90 genotyped Maghrabi camels, we evaluated responses of 33 and 32 mature females to a novel object and exposure to an unfamiliar person, respectively. AR gene showed a significant association based on the principal component (PC) score, which indicated the fear of human touch, and the PC score indicates fear during interaction with novel objects. Individuals carrying a shorter genotype in homozygote (S/S) were found to be more fearful. Furthermore, we found that Sudani and Somali breeds had a higher frequency of shorter genotype (S/S), which was associated with increased fearfulness. These findings reflect the behavioral tendency and consequently, affect the use of this breed. This is the first report showing the role of AR glutamine repeats influencing a behavioral trait in dromedary camels and leading to inter-breed differences. Fear-related traits reported here are important because camels cope with various types of stresses and fear, resulting from the demands of intensive production systems and racing events. However, further studies, employing functional genomics and linkage analysis are necessary for confirming the relationship between fearfulness and genetic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherif Ramadan
- Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Moshtohor, Egypt
| | - Amira M. Nowier
- Biotechnology Research Department, Animal Production Research Institute, Dokki, Egypt
| | - Yusuke Hori
- Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Graduate School of Letters, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Miho Inoue-Murayama
- Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Wildlife Genome Collaborative Research Group, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
- * E-mail:
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Koolhaas JM, Van Reenen CG. ANIMAL BEHAVIOR AND WELL-BEING SYMPOSIUM: Interaction between coping style/personality, stress, and welfare: Relevance for domestic farm animals. J Anim Sci 2017; 94:2284-96. [PMID: 27285906 DOI: 10.2527/jas.2015-0125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper will argue that understanding animal welfare and the individual vulnerability to stress-related disease requires a fundamental understanding of functional individual variation as it occurs in nature as well as the underlying neurobiology and neuroendocrinology. Ecological studies in feral populations of mice, fish, and birds start to recognize the functional significance of phenotypes that individually differ in their behavioral and neuroendocrine response to environmental challenge. Recent studies indicate that the individual variation within a species may buffer the species for strong fluctuations in the natural habitat. Similarly, evolutionary ancient behavioral trait characteristics have now been identified in a range of domestic farm animals including cattle, pigs, and horses. Individual variation in behavior can be summarized in a 3-dimensional model with coping style, emotionality, and sociality as independent dimensions. These dimensions can be considered trait characteristics that are stable over time and across situations within the individual. This conceptual model has several consequences. First, the coping style dimension is strongly associated with differential stress vulnerability. Social stress studies show that proactive individuals are resilient under stable environmental conditions but vulnerable when outcome expectancies are violated. Reactive individuals are, in fact, rather flexible and seem to adapt more easily to a changing environment. A second consequence relates to genetics and breeding. Genetic selection for one trait usually implies selection for other traits as well. It is discussed that a more balanced breeding program that takes into account biologically functional temperamental traits will lead to more robust domestic farm animals. Finally, the relationship between temperamental traits, animal production, fitness, and welfare is discussed.
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Stewart M, Wilson M, Schaefer A, Huddart F, Sutherland M. The use of infrared thermography and accelerometers for remote monitoring of dairy cow health and welfare. J Dairy Sci 2017; 100:3893-3901. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2016-12055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2016] [Accepted: 12/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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