Relationship Between Temperament and Some Production Traits and Possibility of Using Temperament as a Selection Criteria in Sheep

Abstract

Increased effort to enhance both animal production and welfare, indicates that new approaches are needed in this subject. Animal welfare is a subject of increasing concern in many countries around the world, and this concern causes animal users to change the ways of keeping and of treating their animals. In this context, selection of individuals which are less affected by various environmental stress factors related to management practices, depending on their temperament can be seen as an alternative method to obtain desired flock in animal production, to protect animal welfare and to improve productivity. In this review, stress response mechanism has been investigated in relation to temperament in sheep, and the existing methods used to evaluate temperament have been summarized. In addition, the relations between various behavioral characteristics and production were examined and the usage possibilities of temperament as a selection parameter were considered. © 2017, Centenary University. All rights reserved.