Analysing dominance relationships by sociometric methods—a plea for a more standardised and precise approach in farm animals (original) (raw)
Related papers
Identifying the social dominance order in a mixed breed herd: A practical methodology
Revista …, 2010
Con el objetivo de identificar un método simple y confiable para evaluar diferencias en el status social, se compararon 3 métodos para estimar el valor de dominancia (DV) en vacas de tres razas cárnicas: Angus (A; n=10), Brahman (B; n=10) y Senepol (S; n=10). Las vacas fueron distribuidas en dos grupos de 15 animales, en potreros separados y conteniendo cada grupo la misma cantidad de animales de cada raza. Las interacciones agonistas ocurridas durante cada período de suplementación fueron recopiladas durante 45 d, en sesiones de 1 h y dos veces al día, usando el método del orden competitivo ganador/perdedor. Los métodos para estimar DV incluyeron: I) Proporción entre individuos dominados y total de enfrentados, II) proporción entre encuentros ganados y total de encuentros, III) proporción de individuos dominados y total de individuos en el rebaño. Debido a los diferentes niveles de interactividad evidenciados entre animales, así como entre y dentro de categorías sociales, el método III con subsiguiente transformación Arc-sin fue considerado el más práctico y preciso, tanto para la estimación de DV como para la posterior organización de un orden de dominancia social. Adicionalmente, se halló que la dominancia social fue influenciada por la raza. Las vacas Senepol (1.24 ± 0.08) obtuvieron mayores valores de dominancia que las Angus (0.97 ± 0.08; P<0.03) y Brahman (0.76 ± 0.08; P<0.005).
2005
Con el objetivo de identificar un método simple y confiable para evaluar diferencias en el status social, se compararon 3 métodos para estimar el valor de dominancia (DV) en vacas de tres razas cárnicas: Angus (A; n=10), Brahman (B; n=10) y Senepol (S; n=10). Las vacas fueron distribuidas en dos grupos de 15 animales, en potreros separados y conteniendo cada grupo la misma cantidad de animales de cada raza. Las interacciones agonistas ocurridas durante cada período de suplementación fueron recopiladas durante 45 d, en sesiones de 1 h y dos veces al día, usando el método del orden competitivo ganador/perdedor. Los métodos para estimar DV incluyeron: I) Proporción entre individuos dominados y total de enfrentados, II) proporción entre encuentros ganados y total de encuentros, III) proporción de individuos dominados y total de individuos en el rebaño. Debido a los diferentes niveles de interactividad evidenciados entre animales, así como entre y dentro de categorías sociales, el método III con subsiguiente transformación Arc-sin fue considerado el más práctico y preciso, tanto para la estimación de DV como para la posterior organización de un orden de dominancia social. Adicionalmente, se halló que la dominancia social fue influenciada por la raza. Las vacas Senepol (1.24 ± 0.08) obtuvieron mayores valores de dominancia que las Angus (0.97 ± 0.08; P<0.03) y Brahman (0.76 ± 0.08; P<0.005).
2008
The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which the classical properties of social dominance describe the pattern of feeder-related displacements with groups of cattle. We also compared the advantages and disadvantages of three dominance indices for describing the competitive success at the feeder. We observed displacements at the feeder within six groups of 12 lactating dairy cows over 72 h per group. We demonstrated that the cattle in our experiment established a quasi-linear hierarchy at the feeder where many dominance relationships were bi-directional (52.0 AE 5.9%); namely, dominance relationships were significantly linear (P < 0.05 in five of the six groups) but contained many circular triads (45.0 AE 5.6%). Dominance rank influenced the milk production (r = 0.36, P = 0.002) and the time budget of the animals: high-ranking cows were found spending more time at the feeder during the 120 min following provision of fresh food than low-ranking cows (P = 0.022), but dominance indices based on the occurrence of displacements at the feeder did not correlate with actual time spent at the feeder. The presence of numerous circular triads and bi-directional relationships suggests that the classical properties of social dominance do not correspond to the pattern of displacements that occur at feeders within small groups of cattle. Instead, the competitive success may also be affected by motivation or persistence by the animal to gain access to the food resource. #
Social behaviour of buffalo heifers during the establishment of a dominance hierarchy
Livestock Science, 2012
This study investigated the social behaviour of buffalo heifers during the establishment of a dominance hierarchy under conditions that differed in space availability (pen, small pasture and large pasture), food competition and in the presence or absence of an intact bull. The herd consisted of 21 Mediterranean-Murrah crossbreed buffalo heifers and one bull. During the establishment of dominance hierarchy, one observer recorded all of agonistic interactions occurring in the pen, in the small pasture and in the large pasture. For the food competition test, the females were first separated into groups (G) of seven animals and the behavioural interactions within these groups were observed. The group levels were determined by the sociometric parameters (h′: Landau linearity index and DCI: directional consistency index). The percentage of unknown, one-way and two-way dyadic relationships; a social index, hierarchical position and correlations among feeding duration, latency, social index and hierarchical position were calculated. In the large pasture, the DCI value was 55.24% of the dyadic relationships were one-way and 36.19% were unknown; whereas in the small pasture and pen most of the dyads were unknown (54-63%) or one-way (33-41%). The social indexes observed were low (0.004 and 0.122). In the food competition test, h′ values were not significant for groups G1, G2, G3 and G6, and significant for Groups G4 and G5. The percentages of twoway dyadic relationships were high in G4 (80.95%) and G6 (100%) groups. Correlations among feeding duration and latency, social position and social index were all negative and significant. There were no significant correlations between body weight and social index or hierarchy position. This study showed that buffalo heifers established social dominance relationships among several of the herd members, but because there were several unknown dyads, the hierarchy is classified as semi-linear hierarchy. Two factors seemed to affect the establishment of social dominance and a hierarchy: adjusting to a new environment and the presence of an adult intact male, and the dominant females had advantage over the subordinate females during feeding in a trough. To reduce agonistic encounters between buffalo heifers suggest provide more space in the trough during feeding.
Dominance in relation to age, sex, and competitive contexts in a group of free-ranging domestic dogs
Behavioral Ecology, 2010
Current knowledge about social behavior of free-ranging domestic dogs is scarce, and the possibility that they could form stable social groups has been highly debated. We investigated the existence of a social-dominance hierarchy in a free-ranging group of domestic dogs. We quantified the pattern of dyadic exchange of a number of behaviors to examine to what extent each behavior fits a linear rank-order model. We distinguished among agonistic dominance, formal dominance, and competitive ability. The agonistic-dominance hierarchy in the study group shows significant and substantial linearity. As in random assortments of captive wolves, there is a prominent but nonexclusive male agonistic dominance in each age class. The agonistic rank-order correlates positively and significantly with age. Submissive-affiliative behavior fulfills the criteria of formal submission signals; nevertheless, it was not observed among all dogs, and thus, it is not useful to order the dogs in a consistent linear rank. Agonistic-dominance relationships in the dog group remain stable across different competitive contexts and to the behaviors considered. Some individuals gain access to food prevailing over other dogs during competitions. Access to food resources is predicted reasonably well by agonistic rank order: High-ranking individuals have the priority of access. The findings of this research contradict the notion that free-ranging dogs are ''asocial'' animals and agree with other studies suggesting that long-term social bonds exist within free-ranging dog groups. by guest on September 21, 2016 http://beheco.oxfordjournals.org/ Downloaded from Formal dominance Aggressive conflicts are rare. A subordinate dog acknowledges the higher dominance status of the other by showing formalized submissive signals, thus by showing submissive-affiliative behavior. Therefore, formal and agonistic dominance relationships coincide. Submissive-affiliative behavior is shown by dogs in each context. Submissive-affiliative behavior is always direct from 1 dog toward another one; therefore, this behavior is unidirectional Competitive ability Agonistic dominance rank in one context does not necessarily correspond to the agonistic dominance rank in another context. The access to resources does not necessarily correspond to the agonistic dominance rank. Age-graded dominance hierarchy model The dominance relationships are influenced by age: Adult dogs dominate over subadult dogs, and subadult dogs dominate over juvenile dogs. Males dominate over females within each age classes. 444 Behavioral Ecology by guest on September 21, 2016 http://beheco.oxfordjournals.org/ Downloaded from Cafazzo et al. d Dominance in relation to age, sex, and competitive contexts 445 by guest on September 21, 2016 http://beheco.oxfordjournals.org/ Downloaded from 448 Behavioral Ecology by guest on September 21, 2016 http://beheco.oxfordjournals.org/ Downloaded from Displayed
Test of social dominance in dogs
Veterinarski Arhiv
This paper presents the theoretical basis of the test of social dominance according to Campbell. The aim of the study was to draw attention to the need for an exact understanding of social behaviour of dogs during their ontogenesis. This is linked to the prediction of social dominance in adult dogs from their early ontogenesis, as well as to their social adaptation to a new breeding environment. It also contributes to a reduction in the risk of abnormal forms of behaviour and behavioural problems in the man-dog relationship. The study deals with the basic questions of the social behaviour of dogs with regard to the test method. The present test contributes to a deeper penetration of applied ethology into veterinary medicine and practice. It also creates additional space for future research of this complex testing approach of social behaviour in dogs.