The genetics of feather pecking and cannibalism.

Abstract

Feather pecking and cannibalism are important welfare issues in the battery cage system and even more of a problem in alternative systems of egg production. Interest in the genetics of feather pecking and cannibalism has grown in the last few decades and a genetic solution might be more sustainable, efficacious and cost effective than environmental modifications. Strain differences in the plumage condition of laying hens and feather pecking behaviour have been reported. More recently within-line genetic components of feather pecking and cannibalism have been quantified. Estimates of the heritability of plumage condition range from moderate (0.22) to high (0.54) and the heritability of observations of pecking behaviour from 0.06 to 0.38. Some selection experiments have produced little or no evidence of a response. However, in one