Divergent selection for social reinstatement behaviour in Japanese quail: Effects on sociality and social discrimination

This review describes some of the consequences of a genetic selection progr amme for low (LSR) or high (HSR) levels of social reinstatement (SR) behavi or in a treadmill in Japanese quail when the goal box contained other quail chicks. Line divergence was rapid and marked; indeed the absence of overla p between the standard deviations of the selection index strongly suggests that HSR and LSR quail now represent distinct genetic lines. Furthermore, q uail of the HSR line typically show greater affiliation, social facilitatio n of feeding, socio-sexual behaviour and isolation distress than LSR ones. Thus, genetic selection for high or low SR behaviour has correspondingly in fluenced underlying sociality. However, selection affected only one aspect of social discrimination and then only in LSR quail. Thus, quail of both li nes showed strong species-specificity of SR behaviour as well as the abilit y to discriminate between cagemates and strangers, but a preference for con specifics from the same rather than a different line was apparent only in H SR quail. Our results have important strategic implications, particularly i n terms of identifying and assessing appropriate genetic strategies intende d to reduce social stress and thereby improve poultry welfare and productiv ity.