Genetic influences on adaptation and feeding behaviour : available data in pigs

Abstract

Adaptation to environmental challenges involves behavioural and neuroendocrine mechanisms, with specific components such as feeding, sexual and social behaviours, and more general processes known as emotional or stress responses. Every such mechanism has been shown to be influenced by genetic factors, most often with a polygenic inheritance, with the noticeable exception of the porcine stress syndrome that follows a monogenic autosomal recessive inheritance. Numerous papers document the differences between breeds in general behavioural reactivity, social and feeding behaviours, and adrenocortical axis function. Some information about heritability is also available. Finally, more recent approaches using molecular genetics allow the exploration of molecular mechanisms underlying the genetic influences. These approaches led to the identification of a mutation in the ryanodyne receptor gene, responsible for the porcine stress syndrome. In the near future, QTL studies may provide molecular markers linked to adaptation traits, for animal selection.