Behavior and genetics in fowl: Side effects of selection for production traits.
Per Jensen, Karin Schütz and Leif Andersson (Uppsala, Sweden).Since about 1960, the average production levels of farm animals have increased by about 85%. The increase in traits, such as growth and egg production, may be important with regard to the many production related health problems in modern stocks.
A possible biological explanation for increased susceptibility in highly selected animals is an altered resource allocation. Using EthoVision, it was shown that laying hens in general tend to use behavioral patterns that required less energy compared to their ancestors.
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