Genetic and phenotypic correlations between feather pecking and open-field response in laying hens at two different ages.

T. B. Rodenburg; A. J. Buitenhuis; Birgitte Ask; K. A. Uitdehaag; P. Koene; J. J. van der Poel; J. A. M. van Arendonk; H. Bovenhuis

Genetic and phenotypic correlations between feather pecking and open-field response in laying hens at two different ages.

T. B. Rodenburg, A. J. Buitenhuis, Birgitte Ask, K. A. Uitdehaag, P. Koene, J. J. van der Poel, J. A. M. van Arendonk, H. Bovenhuis

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Abstract

The object of this research was to study the relationship between feather pecking and open-field
activity in laying hens at two different ages. A population of 550 birds of a laying hen cross was
subjected to an open-field test at 5 and 29 weeks of age and to a social feather pecking test at
6 and 30 weeks of age. Factor analysis was used to identify underlying factors for each test:
pecking behavior (social test) and open-field activity (open-field test). In young birds, a positive
phenotypic correlation of 0.24 was found between high open-field activity and high levels
of pecking behavior (ground pecking, preening, gentle feather pecking, and wall pecking). In
adults, a similar genetic correlation of 0.62 was found. At adult age, the factor pecking behavior
consisted mainly of gentle and severe feather pecking. Between ages, a strong, negative genetic
correlation of -0.65 was found between open-field activity at young age and pecking
behavior at adult age, indicating that open-field activity levels in young birds may predict pecking
behavior in adult hens.

Original language	English
Journal	Behavior Genetics
Volume	34
Issue number	4
Pages (from-to)	407-415
Number of pages	9
ISSN	0001-8244
Publication status	Published - 1 Jul 2004
Externally published	Yes

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@article{824cffb0712011de8bc9000ea68e967b,

title = "Genetic and phenotypic correlations between feather pecking and open-field response in laying hens at two different ages.",

abstract = "The object of this research was to study the relationship between feather pecking and open-fieldactivity in laying hens at two different ages. A population of 550 birds of a laying hen cross wassubjected to an open-field test at 5 and 29 weeks of age and to a social feather pecking test at6 and 30 weeks of age. Factor analysis was used to identify underlying factors for each test:pecking behavior (social test) and open-field activity (open-field test). In young birds, a positivephenotypic correlation of 0.24 was found between high open-field activity and high levelsof pecking behavior (ground pecking, preening, gentle feather pecking, and wall pecking). Inadults, a similar genetic correlation of 0.62 was found. At adult age, the factor pecking behaviorconsisted mainly of gentle and severe feather pecking. Between ages, a strong, negative geneticcorrelation of -0.65 was found between open-field activity at young age and peckingbehavior at adult age, indicating that open-field activity levels in young birds may predict peckingbehavior in adult hens.",

author = "Rodenburg, {T. B.} and Buitenhuis, {A. J.} and Birgitte Ask and Uitdehaag, {K. A.} and P. Koene and {van der Poel}, {J. J.} and {van Arendonk}, {J. A. M.} and H. Bovenhuis",

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year = "2004",

month = jul,

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language = "English",

volume = "34",

pages = "407--415",

journal = "Behavior Genetics",

issn = "0001-8244",

publisher = "Springer",

number = "4",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Genetic and phenotypic correlations between feather pecking and open-field response in laying hens at two different ages.

AU - Rodenburg, T. B.

AU - Buitenhuis, A. J.

AU - Ask, Birgitte

AU - Uitdehaag, K. A.

AU - Koene, P.

AU - van der Poel, J. J.

AU - van Arendonk, J. A. M.

AU - Bovenhuis, H.

N1 - Paper id:: 0001-8244/04/0700-0407/0

PY - 2004/7/1

Y1 - 2004/7/1

N2 - The object of this research was to study the relationship between feather pecking and open-fieldactivity in laying hens at two different ages. A population of 550 birds of a laying hen cross wassubjected to an open-field test at 5 and 29 weeks of age and to a social feather pecking test at6 and 30 weeks of age. Factor analysis was used to identify underlying factors for each test:pecking behavior (social test) and open-field activity (open-field test). In young birds, a positivephenotypic correlation of 0.24 was found between high open-field activity and high levelsof pecking behavior (ground pecking, preening, gentle feather pecking, and wall pecking). Inadults, a similar genetic correlation of 0.62 was found. At adult age, the factor pecking behaviorconsisted mainly of gentle and severe feather pecking. Between ages, a strong, negative geneticcorrelation of -0.65 was found between open-field activity at young age and peckingbehavior at adult age, indicating that open-field activity levels in young birds may predict peckingbehavior in adult hens.

AB - The object of this research was to study the relationship between feather pecking and open-fieldactivity in laying hens at two different ages. A population of 550 birds of a laying hen cross wassubjected to an open-field test at 5 and 29 weeks of age and to a social feather pecking test at6 and 30 weeks of age. Factor analysis was used to identify underlying factors for each test:pecking behavior (social test) and open-field activity (open-field test). In young birds, a positivephenotypic correlation of 0.24 was found between high open-field activity and high levelsof pecking behavior (ground pecking, preening, gentle feather pecking, and wall pecking). Inadults, a similar genetic correlation of 0.62 was found. At adult age, the factor pecking behaviorconsisted mainly of gentle and severe feather pecking. Between ages, a strong, negative geneticcorrelation of -0.65 was found between open-field activity at young age and peckingbehavior at adult age, indicating that open-field activity levels in young birds may predict peckingbehavior in adult hens.

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0001-8244

VL - 34

SP - 407

EP - 415

JO - Behavior Genetics

JF - Behavior Genetics

IS - 4

ER -

Genetic and phenotypic correlations between feather pecking and open-field response in laying hens at two different ages.

Abstract

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