Indirect genetic effects for growth rate in domestic pigs alter aggressive and manipulative biting behaviour.

Irene Camerlink,Winanda W Ursinus,J Elizabeth Bolhuis,Piter Bijma,Bas Kemp

doi:10.1007/s10519-014-9671-9

Irene Camerlink, Winanda W Ursinus + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1007/s10519-014-9671-9

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Journal: Behavior Genetics	Publication Date: Sep 17, 2014
Citations: 87	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Wageningen University & Research

Abstract

Indirect genetic effects (IGEs) are heritable effects of an individual on phenotypic values of others, and may result from social interactions. We determined the behavioural consequences of selection for IGEs for growth (IGEg) in pigs in a G × E treatment design. Pigs (n = 480) were selected for high versus low IGEg with a contrast of 14 g average daily gain and were housed in either barren or straw-enriched pens (n = 80). High IGEg pigs showed from 8 to 23 weeks age 40 % less aggressive biting (P = 0.006), 27 % less ear biting (P = 0.03), and 40 % less biting on enrichment material (P = 0.005). High IGEg pigs had a lower tail damage score (high 2.0; low 2.2; P = 0.004), and consumed 30 % less jute sacks (P = 0.002). Selection on high IGEg reduced biting behaviours additive to the, generally much larger, effects of straw-bedding (P < 0.01), with no G × E interactions. These results show opportunities to reduce harmful biting behaviours in pigs.

Highlights

Social interactions among individuals may affect a variety of phenotypic traits (e.g. Frank 2007)
Sires and dams with the most extreme high and low indirect genetic effect (IGE) for growth (IGEg) of the available population were mated within their IGEg group, while the direct breeding value was kept equal between groups
High IGEg offspring would increase the growth of their pen mates, whereas low IGEg offspring would decrease the growth of their pen mates

Summary

Introduction

Social interactions among individuals may affect a variety of phenotypic traits (e.g. Frank 2007). If these social effects on others are heritable they may affect response to selection, and thereby alter the outcome of both evolutionary processes in natural populations, and artificial selection programs in agriculture (e.g. Griffing 1967; Bijma and Wade 2008; McGlothlin et al 2010). The impact of social interactions on response to selection can be studied within the framework of indirect genetic effects (IGEs). An indirect genetic effect (IGE), known as an associative, social-, or competitive genetic effect, or a social breeding value, is a heritable effect of an individual on the trait values of its social partners (Griffing 1967; Moore et al 1997).

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