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Genetic and physiological factors influencing feather pecking in chickens

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 December 2010

M. WYSOCKI ,
W. BESSEI ,
J.B. KJAER  and
J. BENNEWITZ
M. WYSOCKI*
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Husbandry and Animal Breeding, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
W. BESSEI
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Husbandry and Animal Breeding, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
J.B. KJAER
Affiliation:
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Federal Research Centre for Animal Health, Institute of Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry, 29223 Celle, Germany
J. BENNEWITZ
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Husbandry and Animal Breeding, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
*
Corresponding author: Michal.Wysocki@uni-hohenheim.de
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Abstract

Feather pecking is a major welfare problem in egg production. It may be caused by endogenous (genetic and physiological) and environmental (feeding, density and housing conditions) factors. Despite the number and variety of experiments performed over past years, it is still not possible to define a genetic background for this trait. A possible reason is the complex nature of feather pecking, but also the lack of a homogenous approach in the studies conducted. The present paper summarizes recent findings regarding genetic and physiological components of feather pecking. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for complex study combining a selection experiment together with the power of molecular biology and bioinformatics.

Keywords

feather peckinggeneticsphysiologybehaviourchicken
Type
Review Article
Information
World's Poultry Science Journal , Volume 66 , Issue 4 , December 2010 , pp. 659 - 672
Copyright
Copyright © World's Poultry Science Association 2010

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