Laying hens frequently develop damaging behaviour, such as feather pecking and cannibalism. It has been found that the likelihood of a bird to develop damaging pecking is related to its personality traits (fearfulness, stress sensitivity). Bas Rodenburg studies the effects of genetic selection on low mortality and of maternal care on development of these personality traits and of damaging behaviour to answer the question: is it a matter of nature of nurture?
Dr. Bas Rodenburg
Assistent Professor Animal Breeding and Genetics Group
Department of Animal Sciences
‘Hens behaving badly: a matter of nature or nurture?’
co-referee
Dr. Hans Komen
Animal Breeding and Genetics Group
Zodiac academic lectures are an initiative of the Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University. On every first Tuesday of the month, an invited speaker will present a topic related to animal sciences. Speaker and topic will, and are meant to, provoke discussion among the audience of staff, postdocs, PhD and MSc students, and guests.
Drinks after the presentation and discussion.
Calendar 2009: 1 Sep HMI, 6 Oct HAP