Articles | Volume 64, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-64-177-2021
https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-64-177-2021
Review
 | 
25 May 2021
Review |  | 25 May 2021

Unintended consequences of selection for increased production on the health and welfare of livestock

Este van Marle-Köster and Carina Visser

Related subject area

Subject: Husbandry | Animal: Ruminants
Polymorphisms of the kappa casein (CSN3) gene and inference of its variants in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)
Xinyang Fan, Zifang Zhang, Lihua Qiu, Yongyun Zhang, and Yongwang Miao
Arch. Anim. Breed., 62, 585–596, https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-62-585-2019,https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-62-585-2019, 2019
Short summary
Body composition and venison quality of farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus) hinds reared on grass, papilionaceous or mixed pasture paddocks
János Nagy, András Szabó, Tamás Donkó, Julianna Bokor, Róbert Romvári, Imre Repa, Péter Horn, and Hedvig Fébel
Arch. Anim. Breed., 62, 227–239, https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-62-227-2019,https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-62-227-2019, 2019
The effect of feeding system on slaughter-carcass characteristics, meat quality, and fatty acid composition of lambs
Serhat Karaca, Ayhan Yılmaz, Aşkın Kor, Mehmet Bingöl, İsa Cavidoğlu, and Gazel Ser
Arch. Anim. Breed., 59, 121–129, https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-59-121-2016,https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-59-121-2016, 2016
Short summary

Cited articles

Andersson, L.: Molecular consequences of animal breeding, Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev., 23, 295–301, 2013. 
Arthur, P.: Double muscling in cattle: a review, Aust. J. Agr. Res., 46, 1493–1515, 2004. 
Bayvel, A. C. and Cross, N.: Animal welfare: A complex domestic and International public-policy issue – Who are the key players?, Animal Welfare in Education and Research, 37, 3–12, 2010. 
Berry, D. P. and Evans, R. D.: Genetics of reproductive performance in seasonal calving beef cows and its association with performance traits, J. Anim. Sci., 92, 1412–1422, 2014. 
Berry, D. P., Buckley, F., Dillon, P., Evans, R. D., Rath, M., and Veerkamp, R. F.: Genetic relationships among body condition score, body weight, milk yield, and fertility in dairy cows, J. Dairy Sci., 86, 2193–2204, 2003. 
Download
Short summary
Selection for increased production in intensive and extensive livestock production systems caused animal health and welfare to deteriorate. This is observed in reduced fertility, lameness and claw health in dairy cattle and pigs, resulting in unnecessary culling. In addition, inbreeding has resulted in a number of genetic defects in cows, sheep and pigs. Accurate recording and an increased awareness of welfare traits are necessary to find sustainable solutions.