Genomic Selection for Dairy Cattle Behaviour Considering Novel Traits in a Changing Technical Production Environment
Cow behaviour is a major factor influencing dairy herd profitability and is an indicator of animal welfare and disease. Behaviour is a complex network of behavioural patterns in response to environmental and social stimuli and human handling. Advances in agricultural technology have led to changes i...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Genes |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/14/10/1933 |
| _version_ | 1797626737382653952 |
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| author | Larissa Elisabeth Behren Sven König Katharina May |
| author_facet | Larissa Elisabeth Behren Sven König Katharina May |
| author_sort | Larissa Elisabeth Behren |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cow behaviour is a major factor influencing dairy herd profitability and is an indicator of animal welfare and disease. Behaviour is a complex network of behavioural patterns in response to environmental and social stimuli and human handling. Advances in agricultural technology have led to changes in dairy cow husbandry systems worldwide. Increasing herd sizes, less time availability to take care of the animals and modern technology such as automatic milking systems (AMSs) imply limited human–cow interactions. On the other hand, cow behaviour responses to the technical environment (cow–AMS interactions) simultaneously improve production efficiency and welfare and contribute to simplified “cow handling” and reduced labour time. Automatic milking systems generate objective behaviour traits linked to workability, milkability and health, which can be implemented into genomic selection tools. However, there is insufficient understanding of the genetic mechanisms influencing cow learning and social behaviour, in turn affecting herd management, productivity and welfare. Moreover, physiological and molecular biomarkers such as heart rate, neurotransmitters and hormones might be useful indicators and predictors of cow behaviour. This review gives an overview of published behaviour studies in dairy cows in the context of genetics and genomics and discusses possibilities for breeding approaches to achieve desired behaviour in a technical production environment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:14:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1b9eade125f443b699a7553b81f9a536 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:14:28Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Genes |
| spelling | doaj.art-1b9eade125f443b699a7553b81f9a5362023-11-16T10:29:50ZengMDPI AGGenes2073-44252023-10-011410193310.3390/genes14101933Genomic Selection for Dairy Cattle Behaviour Considering Novel Traits in a Changing Technical Production EnvironmentLarissa Elisabeth Behren0Sven König1Katharina May2Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University of Gießen, 35390 Giessen, GermanyInstitute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University of Gießen, 35390 Giessen, GermanyInstitute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University of Gießen, 35390 Giessen, GermanyCow behaviour is a major factor influencing dairy herd profitability and is an indicator of animal welfare and disease. Behaviour is a complex network of behavioural patterns in response to environmental and social stimuli and human handling. Advances in agricultural technology have led to changes in dairy cow husbandry systems worldwide. Increasing herd sizes, less time availability to take care of the animals and modern technology such as automatic milking systems (AMSs) imply limited human–cow interactions. On the other hand, cow behaviour responses to the technical environment (cow–AMS interactions) simultaneously improve production efficiency and welfare and contribute to simplified “cow handling” and reduced labour time. Automatic milking systems generate objective behaviour traits linked to workability, milkability and health, which can be implemented into genomic selection tools. However, there is insufficient understanding of the genetic mechanisms influencing cow learning and social behaviour, in turn affecting herd management, productivity and welfare. Moreover, physiological and molecular biomarkers such as heart rate, neurotransmitters and hormones might be useful indicators and predictors of cow behaviour. This review gives an overview of published behaviour studies in dairy cows in the context of genetics and genomics and discusses possibilities for breeding approaches to achieve desired behaviour in a technical production environment.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/14/10/1933automatic milking systembiomarkercortisolgenetic parametershuman–animal relationshiplearning behaviour |
| spellingShingle | Larissa Elisabeth Behren Sven König Katharina May Genomic Selection for Dairy Cattle Behaviour Considering Novel Traits in a Changing Technical Production Environment Genes automatic milking system biomarker cortisol genetic parameters human–animal relationship learning behaviour |
| title | Genomic Selection for Dairy Cattle Behaviour Considering Novel Traits in a Changing Technical Production Environment |
| title_full | Genomic Selection for Dairy Cattle Behaviour Considering Novel Traits in a Changing Technical Production Environment |
| title_fullStr | Genomic Selection for Dairy Cattle Behaviour Considering Novel Traits in a Changing Technical Production Environment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genomic Selection for Dairy Cattle Behaviour Considering Novel Traits in a Changing Technical Production Environment |
| title_short | Genomic Selection for Dairy Cattle Behaviour Considering Novel Traits in a Changing Technical Production Environment |
| title_sort | genomic selection for dairy cattle behaviour considering novel traits in a changing technical production environment |
| topic | automatic milking system biomarker cortisol genetic parameters human–animal relationship learning behaviour |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/14/10/1933 |
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