The effect of facial hair whorl position and raising environment on the temperament of the Chinese Yellow cattle in Shinjang Uyghur Aptonom Rayoni, China.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine whether there is a relationship between hair whorl position and temperament in Chinese Yellow cattle using a questionnaire. Also, the effect of the raising environment is investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 122 Chinese Yellow cattle were surveyed in 3 village areas and four grassland areas in the northern area of China. For each cattle, an investigator asked the care-person about each item of a temperament questionnaire and determined the facial hair whorl position of each cattle. The location of hair whorl was categorized as low, middle, or high in relation to the eyes. RESULTS: The overall distribution was 20.5% high, 58.2% middle, 13.1% low, 6.6% double, and 1.6% no hair whorl. There was no significant difference between the grassland and village area cattle in the distribution of whorl position. The scores of grassland areas were significantly higher than those of village areas in terms of "Retentive memory", "Sensitivity," and "Timidity" and lower in "Docility" and "Fortitude." The scores for the high position tended to be higher than those for the middle plus low positions in terms of "Adaptability" and "Obedience." On the other hand, there was a tendency for a score for the high position to be lower than the other positions in "Excitability." A significant interaction between area and whorl position was observed in "Friendliness to cattle." CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that hair whorl location may be useful in predicting the temperament in cattle, but temperament can be influenced by environment and/or handlings.

Association between temperament and polymorphisms of CRH and leptin in Japanese Black Cattle.

OBJECTIVE: The behavioral trait is one of the important concerns when handling livestock. The objectives of the present study were investigated the possible role of these genes on behavioral traits in Japanese Black cattle (Bos taurus). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood samples were collected for DNA extraction and genotyping was carried out using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Two energy metabolism related genes, namely, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and leptin (LEP) were subjected in this work. Temperaments were evaluated by scores of four behavioral tests. RESULTS: Allele frequencies for the C and G alleles at CRH were 0.25 and 0.75, respectively. For the LEP SNP, the C and T alleles were 0.71 and 0.29, respectively. By analyzing the association between the polymorphisms and temperament scores of behavioral tests, significant effects of CRH polymorphism and interaction were not detected but cattle with wild homo-type of LEP tended to permit the contact of stranger when feeding (p < 0.1). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the LEP polymorphism is involved in behavioral traits in Japanese Black cattle. The LEP polymorphism may be useful in selecting Japanese Black cattle with the trait of being docility.

Sex, age, or genetic differences related to play behaviors in Japanese Black calves.

Play behavior in young animals has been used to evaluate the condition (health) of livestock. We investigated age, sex, and genetic differences of Japanese Black calves in relation to frequency of play behaviors (galloping, leaping, turning, bucking, head butting objects, and head shaking) and examined how these relationships might affect growth during the suckling stage. Locomotor play behaviors (galloping, leaping, turning, and bucking) and head butting objects gradually declined with the age for both sexes. The frequency of head butting was significantly higher in males than females. We found that significant interaction effects (age × MAOA polymorphism) in play behaviors (except head shaking) and the frequencies of locomotor play in calves without the wild-type allele were significantly higher than those in younger calves (2 and 6 weeks of age). Weight gain was significantly correlated with the frequency of locomotor play in females, but not in males. This study suggests that play in Japanese Black calves gradually declines as they mature and that play may be controlled by variations in the MAOA gene. In addition, the frequency of locomotor play may be an indicator of health in female calves.