Genetic selection for temperament traits in dairy and beef cattle

摘要: Animal temperament can be defined as a response to environmental or social stimuli. There are number of traits in cattle that contribute their welfare, including handling milking, challenge such human approach intervention at calving, and conspecifics. In these areas, the genetic basis trait has been studied. Heritabilities have estimated some cases quantitative loci (QTL) identified. The variation is sometimes considerable moderate heritabilities found for major traits, making them amenable selection. Studies also investigated correlations between other productivity meat quality. Despite this, there relatively few examples being used selection programmes. Most often, animals screened aggression excessive fear during with extreme culled, EBVs estimated, but not commonly included routinely indices, despite economic, welfare safety drivers their. may constraints barriers. For breeds, difficulties collecting behavioral data on sufficiently large populations estimate parameters. indices require estimates economic values, it often difficult assign an value trait. effects primarily discussed. Future opportunities include automated collection methods wider use genomic information