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Cited by 17Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestockAnimal Behavior and Welfare StudiesAnimal Behavior and Reproduction

A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis of Heritability Estimates for Temperament-Related Traits in Beef and Dairy Cattle Populations

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Pinto, Luís Fernando Batista, Medrado, Bruno Delphino, Pedrosa, Victor Breno, Brito, Luiz F.·2025·Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics
DOI 10.1111/jbg.12874PMC PMC11629075
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Abstract

Temperament (docility) is a key breeding goal in the cattle industry due to its direct relationship with animal welfare, cattle handler's safety and animal productivity. Over the past six decades, numerous studies have reported heritability estimates for temperament-related traits in cattle populations ranging from low to high values. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to perform a comprehensive systematic review with meta-analysis to obtain weighted estimates of heritability for temperament-related traits in worldwide cattle populations. After data editing and quality control, 106 studies were included in the systematic review, of which 29.2% and 70.8% reported estimates of heritability for temperament-related traits in dairy and beef cattle populations, respectively. Meta-analyses were performed for 95 heritability estimates using a random model approach. The weighted heritability estimates were as follow: (a) flight score at weaning = 0.23 (95% CI: 0.15-0.32); (b) flight speed at weaning = 0.30 (95% CI: 0.26-0.33); (c) joint analysis of flight speed and flight score at weaning = 0.27 (95% CI: 0.22-0.31); (d) flight speed at yearling = 0.26 (95% CI: 0.21-0.30); (e) joint analysis of flight speed at weaning and yearling = 0.27 (95% CI: 0.24-0.30); (f) movement score = 0.12 (95% CI: 0.08-0.15); (g) crush score at weaning = 0.21 (95% CI: 0.17-0.25); (h) pen score at weaning = 0.27 (95% CI: 0.19-0.34); (i) pen score at yearling = 0.20 (95% CI: 0.17-0.23); (j) joint analysis of pen score at weaning and yearling = 0.22 (95% CI: 0.18-0.26); (k) cow's aggressiveness at calving = 0.10 (95% CI: 0.01-0.19); (l) general temperament = 0.13 (95% CI: 0.06-0.19); (m) milking temperament = 0.16 (95% CI: 0.11-0.21); and (n) joint analysis of general and milking temperament = 0.14 (95% CI: 0.11-0.18). The heterogeneity index ranged from 0% to 77%, and the Q-test was significant (p < 0.05) for four single-trait meta-analyses. In conclusion, temperament is moderately heritable in beef cattle populations, and flight speed at weaning had the highest weighted heritability estimate. Moreover, between-study heterogeneity was low or moderate in beef cattle traits, suggesting reasonable standardization across studies. On the other hand, low-weighted heritability and high between-study heterogeneity were estimated for temperament-related traits in dairy cattle, suggesting that more studies are needed to better understand the genetic inheritance of temperament in dairy cattle populations.

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  • Temperament traits such as flight speed in beef cattle are heritable and directly impact an animal's response to human handling.

    “Behaviorally, temperament traits such as flight speed in beef cattle are known to be heritable [132,133], directly impacting an animal’s response to human handling during milking, transport, and calving.”

    From The Genomic Landscape of Cattle: Domestication, Dispersal, and Adaptive Evolution (2026) · cites this paper as [132]

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  1. Fordyce, G., Goddard, M. E., & Seifert, G. W. (1982). The measurement of temperament in cattle and the effect of experience and genotype. Proceedings of the Australian Society of Animal Production, 14, 329– 332.

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Authors
Pinto, L. F. B., Medrado, B. D., Pedrosa, V. B., & Brito, L. F.
Affiliations
  • Universidade Federal da Bahia (BR)
  • Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Baiano (BR)
  • Purdue University West Lafayette (US)
Corresponding author
Pinto, Luís Fernando Batista
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2024-05-29
Volume
142
Issue
1
Pages
1-23
ISSN
  • 0044-3581 (ISSN-L)
  • 0931-2668
  • 1439-0388
DOI
10.1111/jbg.12874
PMC
PMC11629075
OpenAlex
W4399130960
Cited by
17
References
96
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 2
FWCI
1.17
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
Keywords
heritability, cattle temperament, docility, beef cattle, dairy cattle, flight speed, movement score, animal welfare, genetic parameters, breeding objectives, weaning, yearlings, calving, dystocia
MeSH terms
Animals, Behavior, Animal, Breeding, Cattle, Dairying, Female, Phenotype, Temperament, Quantitative Trait, Heritable

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