Effects of genotype, horn and social rank on agonistic behaviours during food competition in goats

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed at investigating the agonistic interactions among goats in food competition based on genotype, horn and dominance rank. Material and Methods: After determining the dominance rank of the Maltese and Turkish Saanen genotypes, a mixed group consisting of horned, polled and both horned and polled animals, 2 to 5 years old, consisting of 54 heads in total, nine heads each and a total of 6 groups with linear social rank were formed. The observations were evaluated on the basis of their agonistic behaviors in competition for roughage (oat hay) placed in the feeders. Results: Genotype significantly affected the frequency of agonistic behaviors except for displacement behavior in feeder (P≤0.05). Aggressive biting and threatening behaviors in Turkish Saanen were 2.36 and 1.78 times higher than in Maltese (P≤0.0001). The rate of absence at through of Turkish Saanen goats, which displayed higher aggression frequency was higher that of Maltese goats (P=0.0159). The frequency of agonistic behaviors except for flank butting differed according to horn groups (P≤0.05). Total mean frequency of total aggressive behaviors in the descending order ranked 27.73 times/h for hornless, 23.47 times/h for mixed and 18.48 times/h for horned groups. The absence at the feeder differed in horned groups and ranked in the descending order 38% for horn, 16% for mixed and 8% for hornless (P<0.0001). Conclusion: Maltese genotype is more peaceful than the Turkish Saanen genotype and this peacefulness may be useful in terms of food competition.