Disease mortality in domesticated animals is predicted by host evolutionary relationships.

Infectious diseases of domesticated animals impact human well-being via food insecurity, loss of livelihoods, and human infections. While much research has focused on parasites that infect single host species, most parasites of domesticated mammals infect multiple species. The impact of multihost parasites varies across hosts; some rarely result in death, whereas others are nearly always fatal. Despite their high ecological and societal costs, we currently lack theory for predicting the lethality of multihost parasites. Here, using a global dataset of >4,000 case-fatality rates for 65 infectious diseases (caused by microparasites and macroparasites) and 12 domesticated host species, we show that the average evolutionary distance from an infected host to other mammal host species is a strong predictor of disease-induced mortality. We find that as parasites infect species outside of their documented phylogenetic host range, they are more likely to result in lethal infections, with the odds of death doubling for each additional 10 million years of evolutionary distance. Our results for domesticated animal diseases reveal patterns in the evolution of highly lethal parasites that are difficult to observe in the wild and further suggest that the severity of infectious diseases may be predicted from evolutionary relationships among hosts.

Covariation of diet and gut microbiome in African megafauna.

A major challenge in biology is to understand how phylogeny, diet, and environment shape the mammalian gut microbiome. Yet most studies of nonhuman microbiomes have relied on relatively coarse dietary categorizations and have focused either on individual wild populations or on captive animals that are sheltered from environmental pressures, which may obscure the effects of dietary and environmental variation on microbiome composition in diverse natural communities. We analyzed plant and bacterial DNA in fecal samples from an assemblage of 33 sympatric large-herbivore species (27 native, 6 domesticated) in a semiarid East African savanna, which enabled high-resolution assessment of seasonal variation in both diet and microbiome composition. Phylogenetic relatedness strongly predicted microbiome composition (r = 0.91) and was weakly but significantly correlated with diet composition (r = 0.20). Dietary diversity did not significantly predict microbiome diversity across species or within any species except kudu; however, diet composition was significantly correlated with microbiome composition both across and within most species. We found a spectrum of seasonal sensitivity at the diet-microbiome nexus: Seasonal changes in diet composition explained 25% of seasonal variation in microbiome composition across species. Species' positions on (and deviations from) this spectrum were not obviously driven by phylogeny, body size, digestive strategy, or diet composition; however, domesticated species tended to exhibit greater diet-microbiome turnover than wildlife. Our results reveal marked differences in the influence of environment on the degree of diet-microbiome covariation in free-ranging African megafauna, and this variation is not well explained by canonical predictors of nutritional ecology.

Performance of Black Bengal goat: a 50-year review.

Black Bengal goat (BBG) is the most widely recognized legacy goat breed in Bangladesh. The breed is black in color yet likewise earthy, white, or dim colors additionally found. The breed has medium body size with grown-up weight 25-30 kg, little horns, short legs, and tight body structure. The BBG is one of the most compliant, all around adjusted, early maturing, prolific, productive, and tropical disease-resistant goat types of the world that produces incredible quality meat, milk, and skin. The breed is versatile in hot, moist, cruel, climatic conditions and flourishes well on a cacophonous dietary regimen from uncultivable decrepit grounds, residences, riversides, banks, sloping, and hilly territories where crop culture or dairy nourishing is inconceivable. In Bangladesh, the BBG is one of the main red meat-producing small ruminants which shares remarkable local interest during Eid-Ul-Adha, Eid-Ul-Fitr, wedding ceremony, birthday festival, circumcision, memorial programs, and other social celebrations with no social, cultural, and religious limitations. Being little in size, the BBG has been an amazing asset to advance supportable vocations for the negligible, little, and landless ranchers who rely upon free regular grazing lands for raising domesticated animals. Regardless of incredibly exceptional components and features, the production of BBG has not yet been popularized widely since meager consideration has been paid for improving their efficiency. Development of cutting edge hereditary, dietary, and health as well as disease control procedure and utilization of modern management frameworks may procure considerable changes in improving the overall performance of the BBG.

Multiple domestication of swamp buffalo in China and South East Asia.

The domestication of swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis carabanesis) has been discussed for years and still remained unclear. To obtain a better understanding of where, when and how the swamp buffaloes were domesticated, the complete mitochondrial DNA D-loop sequences of 1,788 individuals from China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Burma, Bangladesh and India were investigated. Our results revealed swamp buffalo with abundant genetic diversity. The lineage SA of swamp buffalo may be first domesticated in Lower Yangtze and then migrated following two different routes: one migrated along the Upper Yangtze to Southwest China (L1); the other migrated to Southeast China to Southeast Asia through Guangxi province (L2). During the migration process several later domestication events may be inspired in the Upper Yangtze (SB3), Southwest China and North of Southeast Asia (SB1 and SB2). In this study, we proposed a non-independent multiple domestication pattern in swamp buffalo.

Genetic analysis of novel phenotypes for farm animal resilience to weather variability.

BACKGROUND: Climate change is expected to have a negative impact on food availability. While most efforts have been directed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, complementary strategies are necessary to control the detrimental effects of climate change on farm animal performance. The objective of this study was to develop novel animal resilience phenotypes using reaction norm slopes, and examine their genetic and genomic parameters. A closely monitored dairy goat population was used for this purpose. RESULTS: Individual animals differed in their response to changing atmospheric temperature and a temperature-humidity index. Significant genetic variance and heritability estimates were derived for these animal resilience phenotypes. Furthermore, some resilience traits had a significant unfavourable genetic correlation with animal performance. Genome-wide association analyses identified several candidate genes related to animal resilience to environment change. CONCLUSIONS: Heritable variation exists among dairy goats in their production response to fluctuating weather variables. Results may inform future breeding programmes aimed to ensure efficient animal performance under changing climatic conditions.

Assessing mineral status in edible tissues of domestic and game animals: a review with a special emphasis in tropical regions.

Mineral status in edible tissues has been extensively studied since the beginning of the twentieth century. Most research focus on nutrition, as the earliest reports were essentially related to nutrition, animal health and mineral deficiencies. Nutrition wise, minerals are of great importance for consumers worldwide, as meat (i.e. beef, pork, chicken) and fish are major sources of protein in human diets. Nutrition gains renewed importance in the tropical context, since tropical forages are poor in minerals. This fact contributes to mineral deficiencies and impaired production performance in extensive production systems, with greater emphasis in ruminant species. In addition to nutrition, several other factors have an important impact in mineral metabolism such as geographic location, gender and species. In this article, we aim to infer on both the role in the organism and the amount present in various edible tissues of different species, either game or production animals, presenting an overall perspective in the context of tropical animal production.

How farm animals are improving human health and welfare.

The contribution of farm animals to human health and welfare cannot be properly addressed without reflecting on the impact that animal domestication has had upon human civilisation. About 14,000 years ago, the Neolithic revolution started with the domestication of animals and plants, resulting in the emergence of the main agricultural breeds of livestock and crops. In contrast, the breeding of new animal species for biomedical research, such as small rodents and other model species, is a relatively recent activity. The cellular and molecular mechanisms of inheritance have only been understood over the past few decades and translated into approaches to improve breeding success. In recent years, seminal discoveries in the fields of cellular reprogramming, genetic engineering, and whole-genome sequencing have accelerated this development. The first therapeutic proteins produced by biopharming in livestock have been approved to treat human patients. The suitability of pluripotent stem cells as a source for cell replacement therapies is currently being investigated, using farm animals as informative preclinical models. Disease modelling in farm animals allows systematic testing of effective treatments. Within the context of these developments, this concise review will focus on the contribution of farm animals to human health and welfare.

On ne peut traiter de la contribution des animaux d'élevage à la santé et au bienêtre de l'homme sans prendre en compte l'impact de la domestication des animaux sur la civilisation humaine. La révolution néolithique a commencé il y a environ 14 000 ans avec la domestication des animaux et des plantes, ce qui a donné naissance aux principales variétés cultivées et races d'élevage. En revanche, la sélection d'espèces animales nouvelles pour la recherche biomédicale, par exemple certaines espèces de petits rongeurs et d'autres modèles animaux, constitue une activité relativement récente. Ce n'est que depuis quelques dizaines d'années que les mécanismes cellulaires et moléculaires de l'hérédité sont bien compris et appliqués dans des approches permettant d'améliorer le potentiel génétique des élevages. Depuis quelques années, des découvertes fondamentales dans les domaines de la reprogrammation cellulaire, du génie génétique et du séquençage du génome entier ont accéléré cette évolution. Les premières protéines thérapeutiques produites par l'industrie biopharmaceutique chez des animaux d'élevage ont été approuvées pour traiter des patients humains. La recherche examine actuellement les possibilités de recourir à des cellules souches pluripotentes pour mettre en place des thérapies de remplacement, en utilisant des animaux d'élevage comme modèles précliniques. La modélisation des maladies en utilisant des animaux d'élevage permet d'effectuer des essais systématiques de l'efficacité des traitements. Les auteurs consacrent l'essentiel de leur synthèse à la contribution des animaux d'élevage à la santé et au bienêtre de l'homme, dans le cadre de ces évolutions.

No cabe examinar debidamente la contribución de los animales de granja a la salud y el bienestar del ser humano sin detenerse a reflexionar sobre la influencia que ha tenido en la civilización humana la domesticación de los animales. Hace unos 14 000 años, con la domesticación de animales y plantas, dio comienzo la revolución neolítica, que iba a deparar la aparición de las principales razas agrícolas de ganado y cultivos. En marcado contraste, la cría selectiva de nuevas especies animales con fines de investigación biomédica, como pequeños roedores y otras especies utilizadas como modelo, es una actividad relativamente reciente. Solo en los últimos decenios se han desentrañado los mecanismos celulares y moleculares de la herencia y se ha podido traducir este conocimiento en métodos para mejorar los niveles de éxito de la cría selectiva. En los últimos años, esta evolución se ha acelerado gracias a trascendentales descubrimientos en los ámbitos de la reprogramación celular, la ingeniería genética y la secuenciación de genomas completos. Ya están aprobadas las primeras proteínas terapéuticas para tratar a pacientes humanos obtenidas a partir de ganado mediante procedimientos biofarmacéuticos. Actualmente se investiga la idoneidad de las células troncales pluripotentes como fuente de terapias de sustitución celular, utilizando a animales de granja como modelos preclínicos informativos. La modelización de enfermedades en animales de granja permite ensayar tratamientos eficaces de forma sistemática. En el contexto de todos estos adelantos, los autores se centran en repasar concisamente la contribución de los animales de granja a la salud y el bienestar humanos.

Retrieval practice in the form of online homework improved information retention more when spaced 5 days rather than 1 day after class in two physiology courses.

Studies have shown that practicing temporally spaced retrieval of previously learned information via formal assessments increases student retention of the information. Our objective was to determine the impact of online homework administered as a first retrieval practice 1 or 5 days after introduction of physiology topics on long-term information retention. Students in two undergraduate courses, Anatomy and Physiology (ASCI 240) and Animal Physiological Systems (ASCI 340), were presented with information on a specific physiological system during each weekly laboratory and then completed an online homework assignment either 1 or 5 days later. Information retention was assessed via an in-class quiz the following week and by a comprehensive final exam at semester's end (4-13 wk later). Performance on homework assignments was generally similar between groups for both courses. Information retention at 1 wk did not differ due to timing of homework in either course. In both courses, however, students who received homework 5 days after class performed better on final exam questions relevant to that week's topic compared with their day 1 counterparts. These findings indicate that the longer period between introducing physiology information in class and assigning the first retrieval practice was more beneficial to long-term information retention than the shorter period, despite seemingly equivalent benefits in the shorter term. Since information is typically forgotten over time, we speculate that the longer interval necessitates greater retrieval effort in much the same way as built-in desirable difficulties, thus allowing for stronger conceptual connections and deeper comprehension.

Differences in aromatase expression and steroid hormone concentrations in the reproductive tissues of male domestic turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) with white and yellow semen.

1. To show hormonal differences between male turkeys with yellow semen syndrome (YSS) and white, normal semen (WNS), the expression of aromatase, oestrogen receptor α (ERα), and oestrogen receptor ß (ERß) as well as testosterone and oestradiol concentrations in YSS and WNS testes, epididymis, and ductus deferens were examined. 2. To measure gene expression levels of aromatase and oestrogen receptors (ERs), three complementary techniques (real-time PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry) were used, whereas steroid hormone levels were determined radio-immunologically. 3. Upregulation of aromatase and ERα mRNAs in YSS testes (P < 0.05; P < 0.01), epididymis (P < 0.001; P < 0.001), and ductus deferens (P < 0.05; P < 0.01) compared to those of WNS tissues was detected. Significant increases in the levels of aromatase and ERα proteins were detected in YSS testes (P < 0.001; P < 0.05), epididymis (P < 0.001; P < 0.001), and ductus deferens (P < 0.001; P < 0.05). The expression of ERß mRNA and protein level was upregulated in the testes (P < 0.05; P < 0.01) and epididymis (P < 0.001; P < 0.01) but not in ductus deferens where it was downregulated (P < 0.01; P < 0.01). Increased intensity of immunoreactive proteins in YSS versus WNS reproductive tissues corroborated gene expression results. 4. Testosterone concentration diminished in YSS epididymis (P < 0.05) and ductus deferens (P < 0.05), but not in the testes, remaining at high level (P < 0.05) compared to WNS values. Concomitantly, increased oestradiol concentration was found in YSS testes (P < 0.05) and epididymis (P < 0.05) but decreased in the ductus deferens (P < 0.05). 5. From the published literature, this study is the first to demonstrate the ability for androgen aromatisation in the turkey reproductive tissues and to show the cellular targets for locally produced oestrogens. The data suggested that the androgen/oestrogen ratio is a mechanistic basis for amplification of differences between turkeys with white and yellow semen and that these results can have a relevance in applied sciences to widen the knowledge on domestic bird reproduction.

Earliest evidence for commensal processes of cat domestication.

Domestic cats are one of the most popular pets globally, but the process of their domestication is not well understood. Near Eastern wildcats are thought to have been attracted to food sources in early agricultural settlements, following a commensal pathway to domestication. Early evidence for close human-cat relationships comes from a wildcat interred near a human on Cyprus ca. 9,500 y ago, but the earliest domestic cats are known only from Egyptian art dating to 4,000 y ago. Evidence is lacking from the key period of cat domestication 9,500-4,000 y ago. We report on the presence of cats directly dated between 5560-5280 cal B.P. in the early agricultural village of Quanhucun in Shaanxi, China. These cats were outside the wild range of Near Eastern wildcats and biometrically smaller, but within the size-range of domestic cats. The δ(13)C and δ(15)N values of human and animal bone collagen revealed substantial consumption of millet-based foods by humans, rodents, and cats. Ceramic storage containers designed to exclude rodents indicated a threat to stored grain in Yangshao villages. Taken together, isotopic and archaeological data demonstrate that cats were advantageous for ancient farmers. Isotopic data also show that one cat ate less meat and consumed more millet-based foods than expected, indicating that it scavenged among or was fed by people. This study offers fresh perspectives on cat domestication, providing the earliest known evidence for commensal relationships between people and cats.

Correction for adipocyte size and number in the analysis of differences in gene expression in fat tissues.

In gene expression studies of candidate genes related to fat deposition, accounting for differences in cell number using reference genes could be not sufficient when cell transcriptional levels are related to cell size, or the tissues are constituted by different types of cells where candidate genes could be differentially expressed. In these situations, mixed model can be applied giving the possibility to take into account the effects of adipocyte size and number on gene expression. The inclusion in the models of analysis of adipocyte size and number, previously estimated taking into account the possible bimodality of size distribution, reduces the rate of false positives in the expression of candidate genes, although, as expected, more powerful designs are needed to detect true differences. The analysis of cellularity of adipose tissue is recommended to infer differences in the expression of genes related to fat deposition.

Thermal plasticity in farmed, wild and hybrid Atlantic salmon during early development: has domestication caused divergence in low temperature tolerance?

BACKGROUND: In the past three decades, millions of domesticated Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. have escaped from farms into the wild. Their offspring display reduced survival in the natural environment, which demonstrates that gene-flow is likely to have a negative effect on wild populations. However, inter-population differences in introgression of farmed salmon have been observed, and the underlying ecological mechanisms remain enigmatic. We hypothesised that domestication-driven divergence in tolerance to low temperatures during early development may contribute to lower survival of farmed salmon offspring in the wild, which in turn, may influence patterns of introgression among populations exposed to different temperature regimes. We reared the offspring of 35 families of wild, farmed and hybrid origin at three temperatures (3.9, 5.6 and 12°C) from the onset of exogenous feeding and throughout their first summer. Thermal reaction norms for growth and survival were investigated along the gradient. RESULTS: The main results of this study, which is based upon the analysis of juvenile salmon from five wild strains, two farmed strains and two hybrid strains, can be summarised as; (i) salmon of all origins were able to successfully initiate feeding at all temperatures and similar survival reaction norms were detected in all strains across the temperature gradient; (ii) deviating growth reaction norms were detected between strains, although this result was most likely due to an overall lack of growth in the lower temperature treatments. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed no evidence of domesticated-driven divergence in low temperature tolerance in Atlantic salmon during early development. Although the potential interaction between low temperature and other river-specific factors cannot be excluded, our results indicate that the reduced survival of farmed offspring in the wild is not explained by farmed salmon displaying impaired abilities to initiate feeding at low temperatures. We therefore suggest that the observed inter-population patterns of introgression are not low-temperature driven and that other ecological or biological factors may explain why detection of farmed salmon in wild rivers is not synonymous with introgression. In general, our results support the literature indicating that phenotypic plasticity instead of thermal adaption has been selected for in Atlantic salmon.

[Horse, cow and reindeer were converted into arctic domestic animals]. / Hevonen, nauta ja poro muokkautuivat arktisiksi kotieläimiksi.

Domestic animal production in the arctic region is often thought to be based exclusively on reindeer herding. There are, however, regions in Northern Europe and Siberia having a long tradition in rearing breeds of cattle and horse adapted to the northers conditions also. The development of these arctic animal breeds has been largely founded on old tradition rather than on the programs of breeding organizations. As a result of the selection carried out by nature and man, the domestic animals of arctic regions express characteristics that are metabolic, structural, associated with reproductive physiology and conducive to the adaptation to arctic conditions.

Selection for tameness, a key behavioral trait of domestication, increases adult hippocampal neurogenesis in foxes.

Work on laboratory and wild rodents suggests that domestication may impact on the extent of adult hippocampal neurogenesis and its responsiveness to regulatory factors. There is, however, no model of laboratory rodents and their nondomesticated conspecifics that would allow a controlled comparison of the effect of domestication. Here, we present a controlled within-species comparison of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in farm-bred foxes (Vulpes vulpes) that differ in their genetically determined degree of tameness. Quantitative comparisons of cell proliferation (Ki67) and differentiating cells of neuronal lineage (doublecortin, DCX) in the hippocampus of foxes were performed as a proxy for neurogenesis. Higher neurogenesis was observed in tameness-selected foxes, notably in an extended subgranular zone of the middle and temporal compartments of the hippocampus. Increased neurogenesis is negatively associated with aggressive behavior. Across all animals, strong septotemporal gradients were found, with higher numbers of proliferating cells and young neurons relative to resident granule cells in the temporal than in the septal hippocampus. The opposite gradient was found for the ratio of DCX/Ki67- positive cells. When tameness-selected and unselected foxes are compared with rodents and primates, proliferation is similar, while the number of young neurons is higher. The difference may be mediated by an extended period of differentiation or higher rate of survival. On the background of this species-specific neurogenic pattern, selection of foxes for a single behavioral trait key to domestication, i.e., genetic tameness, is accompanied by global and region-specific increases in neurogenesis.

Is domestication driven by reduced fear of humans? Boldness, metabolism and serotonin levels in divergently selected red junglefowl (Gallus gallus).

Domesticated animals tend to develop a coherent set of phenotypic traits. Tameness could be a central underlying factor driving this, and we therefore selected red junglefowl, ancestors of all domestic chickens, for high or low fear of humans during six generations. We measured basal metabolic rate (BMR), feed efficiency, boldness in a novel object (NO) test, corticosterone reactivity and basal serotonin levels (related to fearfulness) in birds from the fifth and sixth generation of the high- and low-fear lines, respectively (44-48 individuals). Corticosterone response to physical restraint did not differ between selection lines. However, BMR was higher in low-fear birds, as was feed efficiency. Low-fear males had higher plasma levels of serotonin and both low-fear males and females were bolder in an NO test. The results show that many aspects of the domesticated phenotype may have developed as correlated responses to reduced fear of humans, an essential trait for successful domestication.

Heterogeneity of hunting ability and nutritional status among domestic dogs in lowland Nicaragua.

In past and modern human societies, dogs have played an important role as hunting companions. Given considerable ethnographic evidence that dogs vary in their hunting abilities, this paper addresses the effects of key demographic variables, namely age and sex, on the amount of harvested game that dogs contribute in an indigenous Nicaraguan community. Controlling for variation in the time spent potentially hunting, male dogs and older dogs are significantly associated with greater harvests. These results may account for documented preferences for males in both archaeological and ethnographic contexts. Among societies in which dogs are used both as hunting companions and sources of food, the age-related delay in peak hunting ability also suggests a tradeoff that might explain the consumption of dogs shortly after they have reached adult size. Informant rankings of two cohorts of dogs indicate that residents of the community exhibit high agreement about the relative abilities of the dogs, and the rankings indicate that dogs from the same household exhibit comparable skill. There is little evidence that talented, highly-ranked dogs are provided a more nutritious diet, as measured by nitrogen-based and carbon-based isotopic analysis of hair samples. Overall, although dogs can be quite advantageous as hunting companions, this research suggests that the heterogeneity of hunting ability combines with the high mortality of dogs to impose risks on households that depend on dogs as a source of harvested meat.

Faecal particle size: digestive physiology meets herbivore diversity.

In herbivore ecophysiology, comparative chewing efficiency has only recently received increased attention. This measure is best assessed on un-processed forage-only diets; corresponding comparative datasets are missing. We measured a faecal mean particle size (MPS [mm]) in 14 large herbivore species (body mass (M) range 60­4000 kg; 8 ruminants and 6 hindgut fermenters) fed a consistent grass hay diet, in which intake, digesta mean retention times (MRT [h]) and digestive efficiency (as digestibility of faecal fibre measured by 96 h cumulative in vitro gas production GP96h [ml per 200 mg faecal fibre], and metabolic faecal nitrogen MFN [% organic faecal matter]) had been quantified simultaneously. MPS was generally lower in ruminants than in hindgut fermenters and increased with M in the total dataset, but was nearly constant among closely related taxa (e.g. within ruminants, within equids) irrespective of M. MPS (but not MRT) was significantly correlated to GP96h, whereas MRT (but not MPS) was significantly correlated to MFN, suggesting different effects of these factors on different aspects of digestibility. Combinations of measures including MPS mostly explained digestibility better than other combinations. The phylogenetic signal λ, which was mostly 1 when linking any single measure to digestibility, was estimated 0 in models that linked digestive efficiency to combinations of measures. These results support the intuitive concept that species diversification in large herbivores is tightly related to digestive physiology, and that chewing efficiency as measured by faecal particle size is an integral aspect of this scenario.

Phytase in non-ruminant animal nutrition: a critical review on phytase activities in the gastrointestinal tract and influencing factors.

This review focuses on phytase functionality in the digestive tract of farmed non-ruminant animals and the factors influencing in vivo phytase enzyme activity. In pigs, feed phytase is mainly active in the stomach and upper part of the small intestine, and added phytase activity is not recovered in the ileum. In poultry, feed phytase activities are mainly found in the upper part of the digestive tract, including the crop, proventriculus and gizzard. For fish with a stomach, phytase activities are mainly in the stomach. Many factors can influence the efficiency of feed phytase in the gastrointestinal tract, and they can be divided into three main groups: (i) phytase related; (ii) dietary related and (iii) animal related. Phytase-related factors include type of phytase (e.g. 3- or 6-phytase; bacterial or fungal phytase origin), the pH optimum and the resistance of phytase to endogenous protease. Dietary-related factors are mainly associated with dietary phytate content, feed ingredient composition and feed processing, and total P, Ca and Na content. Animal-related factors include species, gender and age of animals. To eliminate the antinutritional effects of phytate (IP6), it needs to be hydrolyzed as quickly as possible by phytase in the upper part of the digestive tract. A phytase that works over a wide range of pH values and is active in the stomach and upper intestine (along with several other characteristics and in addition to being refractory to endogenous enzymes) would be ideal.

[Does the selection of fox for tame and aggressive behavior changes their ability to focus attention, and training the motor skills?].

Foxes long time selected for tame and aggressive behavior were compared on ability to focus attention on the object of food reinforcement. Attenuation of this behavior and rate of training for motor skills also has been examined. Maximal duration of eye focusing was significantly higher in aggressive foxes, in comparison with tame ones. Our experiments allowed divide the group of tame foxes into two subgroups "calm" and "emotional", on the base of emotionality and motor activity during tests. Features of behavior of these two subgroups steadily differed in all tests. "Calm" tame foxes at the extinction test continued the trained skill longer than "emotional" and aggressive ones. Tame foxes were more successful than aggressive in the training for motor skills. The possible reasons of the data obtained are discussed.