Parent education programs were introduced nearly 30 years ago with a primary focus on teaching parents strategies to identify and reduce incidences of noncompliance in their children, and have been the single most successful treatment approach for reducing problem behavior. However, few parent education programs address emotion regulation and its role in children's development despite the fact that research has consistently demonstrated that children who are unable to successfully regulate emotions are more likely to develop behavioral problems. Specifically, most programs fail to address the concepts of effortful control and negative affectivity, two important components of child temperament, and their effects on children's behavior. Research has suggested that children who are emotionally regulated develop greater social competence, resulting in better, more positive, relationships. Thus, parents who teach their children to express and regulate their emotions in socially appropriate ways promote the development of prosocial behaviors in their children. In response, the goal of this study was to examine whether adding an emotion component aimed at teaching parents successful strategies for socializing children's emotions would affect overall parenting and children's emotion regulation above and beyond a traditional behavioral model. Twenty-five parents participated in a three-week parent education program. Parents learned strategies for managing their children's misbehavior. Moreover, parents learned about temperament, how these dispositional traits affect children's behavior, and successful strategies for aiding children in emotion management. At each session, parents completed measures designed to assess their children's temperament and behavior. Additionally, parents completed measures regarding their parenting practices and styles as well as feelings of parental efficacy. Repeated measures ANOVAs were run to determine whether changes in children's temperament or parenting emerged over time. Hierarchical multiple regressions were also computed to determine the effects of parents' practices, styles and efficacy on change in children's levels of effortful control and negative affectivity. Results suggest that parents' choice of disciplinary strategies affects children's ability to regulate their emotions, and that participation in the emotion module positively affected overall parenting and children's emotion regulation.

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A series of in vivo and in vitro approaches were followed to assess the inter-relationships of temperament, stress responsiveness and immune function in beef bulls and steers. In experiment one, Brahman bull calves were weaned at approximately six months of age when pen score and exit velocity were measured to sort calves into groups with extremes in temperament (calm n = 10 and temperamental n = 10). The calves were vaccinated on day 0 and 42 of the study with serial blood samples colleted for 11 weeks. Calm calves tended to have higher primary and secondary immune responses as indicated by increased serum concentrations of immunoglobulin G following Clostridial vaccination. In vitro lymphocyte cultures were performed on day 0 and 42 to measure proliferation and IgM production. Calm calves had significantly higher proliferative responses on both day 0 and 42. Lymphocyte IgM production was significantly higher in calm calves on day 0 and tended to be higher on day 42 than temperamental calves. In experiment two, weaned and yearling steers were arrayed by pen score and exit velocity, to assign steers to groups with extremes in temperament (trial 1: calm n = 7 and temperamental n = 5; trial 2: calm n = 5 and temperamental n = 5). In both trials, temperamental steers had higher proliferative responses than calm steers. Immunoglobulin M production did not differ in either trial. The effects of stress responsiveness on animal performance and health are considerable because they affect the profitability of the cattle industry. Investigations into animal temperament can help cattle producers identify animals that may be more susceptible to decreased performance and immunosuppression. The effectiveness of vaccines given to calves is important in conferring immunity to common diseases at times when they are at a higher risk for infection. If we can identify temperamental animals that will not perform as well as their cohorts, management procedures can be altered to reduce the risks associated with decreased performance and morbidity.

Feed efficiency in fed F2 Nellore-Angus steers produced through embryo transfer was evaluated using two methods: residual feed intake (RFI) and NRC-based model predicted residual consumption (MPRC). Sire and family(sire) both contributed to differences in model predicted residual consumption (P = 0.036 and P < 0.001, respectively), but not in RFI (P = 0.117 and 0.455, respectively). This indicates that variation exists among the sires and families studied, and the opportunity exists to improve MPRC through selection; it also indicates these 2 evaluation methods could result in different conclusions about feed efficiency. Five aspects of temperament were also evaluated (aggressiveness, nervousness, flightiness, gregariousness, and overall temperament) on a 9-point scale shortly after weaning. Sire had a significant effect on all 5 aspects of temperament evaluated, but family was only responsible for variation in aggressiveness, nervousness, and overall temperament. Contemporary group had no effect on aggressiveness, but did contribute significantly to variation in all other temperament traits. All temperament traits were highly correlated with one another (r = 0.81 to 0.98). Recipient dam temperament was lowly correlated with gregariousness and overall temperament (r = 0.16 and 0.15, respectively), and the correlations with recipient dam temperament approached significance for aggressiveness, nervousness and flightiness. This suggests that the temperament of the recipient female may have a small effect on the temperament of the calf. This population was structured to identify QTL for economically important traits and appears to be useful to identify genetic markers for feed efficiency and animal temperament.

Feed efficiency in fed F2 Nellore-Angus steers produced through embryo transfer was evaluated using two methods: residual feed intake (RFI) and NRC-based model predicted residual consumption (MPRC). Sire and family(sire) both contributed to differences in model predicted residual consumption (P = 0.036 and P < 0.001, respectively), but not in RFI (P = 0.117 and 0.455, respectively). This indicates that variation exists among the sires and families studied, and the opportunity exists to improve MPRC through selection; it also indicates these 2 evaluation methods could result in different conclusions about feed efficiency. Five aspects of temperament were also evaluated (aggressiveness, nervousness, flightiness, gregariousness, and overall temperament) on a 9-point scale shortly after weaning. Sire had a significant effect on all 5 aspects of temperament evaluated, but family was only responsible for variation in aggressiveness, nervousness, and overall temperament. Contemporary group had no effect on aggressiveness, but did contribute significantly to variation in all other temperament traits. All temperament traits were highly correlated with one another (r = 0.81 to 0.98). Recipient dam temperament was lowly correlated with gregariousness and overall temperament (r = 0.16 and 0.15, respectively), and the correlations with recipient dam temperament approached significance for aggressiveness, nervousness and flightiness. This suggests that the temperament of the recipient female may have a small effect on the temperament of the calf. This population was structured to identify QTL for economically important traits and appears to be useful to identify genetic markers for feed efficiency and animal temperament.

Temperament in cattle, defined as an animals response to handling by humans, had been associated with production traits such as average daily gain and meat quality, and can also be considered a welfare issue. Temperament is a stress response trait, and therefore the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis likely plays a role in determining individual animals responses. The purpose of this study was to examine whether there are associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms in two genes involved in both the HPA axis and growth, Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and Leptin (LEP), and various measurements of temperament in beef cattle. In this study, 400 crossbred beef steers were evaluated over three sessions using a traditional subjective score and three objective measurements of response to handling: Strain Gauge (absolute strain force, ASF), Movement Measurement Device and Exit Time (ET) as well as habituation for all measurements (session 3 values session 1 values). Backgrounding growth and final carcass data were also collected. The steers were genotyped at three previously reported SNPs: CRH 22C>G, CRH 240C>G and LEP 73C>T by PCR-RFLP. Subsequently, the genotypes and two-way interactions between LEP and each CRH SNP were analyzed as effects on the various temperament, growth and carcass measurements. There was a significant interaction between LEP and CRH 240C>G for ASF 1, ET 3 and ET 3-1, with the LEP CC/CRH 240C>G CC genotype appearing favorable. Additionally, the LEP CC/CRH 22C>G GG genotype appears to be favorable for ASF 1. These results indicate that it may be possible for cattle producers to select for favorable temperament using these SNPs, however these results should first be validated in additional populations.

Temperament in cattle, defined as an animals response to handling by humans, had been associated with production traits such as average daily gain and meat quality, and can also be considered a welfare issue. Temperament is a stress response trait, and therefore the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis likely plays a role in determining individual animals responses. The purpose of this study was to examine whether there are associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms in two genes involved in both the HPA axis and growth, Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and Leptin (LEP), and various measurements of temperament in beef cattle. In this study, 400 crossbred beef steers were evaluated over three sessions using a traditional subjective score and three objective measurements of response to handling: Strain Gauge (absolute strain force, ASF), Movement Measurement Device and Exit Time (ET) as well as habituation for all measurements (session 3 values session 1 values). Backgrounding growth and final carcass data were also collected. The steers were genotyped at three previously reported SNPs: CRH 22C>G, CRH 240C>G and LEP 73C>T by PCR-RFLP. Subsequently, the genotypes and two-way interactions between LEP and each CRH SNP were analyzed as effects on the various temperament, growth and carcass measurements. There was a significant interaction between LEP and CRH 240C>G for ASF 1, ET 3 and ET 3-1, with the LEP CC/CRH 240C>G CC genotype appearing favorable. Additionally, the LEP CC/CRH 22C>G GG genotype appears to be favorable for ASF 1. These results indicate that it may be possible for cattle producers to select for favorable temperament using these SNPs, however these results should first be validated in additional populations.

A series of in vivo and in vitro approaches were followed to assess the inter-relationships of temperament, stress responsiveness and immune function in beef bulls and steers. In experiment one, Brahman bull calves were weaned at approximately six months of age when pen score and exit velocity were measured to sort calves into groups with extremes in temperament (calm n = 10 and temperamental n = 10). The calves were vaccinated on day 0 and 42 of the study with serial blood samples colleted for 11 weeks. Calm calves tended to have higher primary and secondary immune responses as indicated by increased serum concentrations of immunoglobulin G following Clostridial vaccination. In vitro lymphocyte cultures were performed on day 0 and 42 to measure proliferation and IgM production. Calm calves had significantly higher proliferative responses on both day 0 and 42. Lymphocyte IgM production was significantly higher in calm calves on day 0 and tended to be higher on day 42 than temperamental calves. In experiment two, weaned and yearling steers were arrayed by pen score and exit velocity, to assign steers to groups with extremes in temperament (trial 1: calm n = 7 and temperamental n = 5; trial 2: calm n = 5 and temperamental n = 5). In both trials, temperamental steers had higher proliferative responses than calm steers. Immunoglobulin M production did not differ in either trial. The effects of stress responsiveness on animal performance and health are considerable because they affect the profitability of the cattle industry. Investigations into animal temperament can help cattle producers identify animals that may be more susceptible to decreased performance and immunosuppression. The effectiveness of vaccines given to calves is important in conferring immunity to common diseases at times when they are at a higher risk for infection. If we can identify temperamental animals that will not perform as well as their cohorts, management procedures can be altered to reduce the risks associated with decreased performance and morbidity.

Feed efficiency in fed F2 Nellore-Angus steers produced through embryo transfer was evaluated using two methods: residual feed intake (RFI) and NRC-based model predicted residual consumption (MPRC). Sire and family(sire) both contributed to differences in model predicted residual consumption (P = 0.036 and P < 0.001, respectively), but not in RFI (P = 0.117 and 0.455, respectively). This indicates that variation exists among the sires and families studied, and the opportunity exists to improve MPRC through selection; it also indicates these 2 evaluation methods could result in different conclusions about feed efficiency. Five aspects of temperament were also evaluated (aggressiveness, nervousness, flightiness, gregariousness, and overall temperament) on a 9-point scale shortly after weaning. Sire had a significant effect on all 5 aspects of temperament evaluated, but family was only responsible for variation in aggressiveness, nervousness, and overall temperament. Contemporary group had no effect on aggressiveness, but did contribute significantly to variation in all other temperament traits. All temperament traits were highly correlated with one another (r = 0.81 to 0.98). Recipient dam temperament was lowly correlated with gregariousness and overall temperament (r = 0.16 and 0.15, respectively), and the correlations with recipient dam temperament approached significance for aggressiveness, nervousness and flightiness. This suggests that the temperament of the recipient female may have a small effect on the temperament of the calf. This population was structured to identify QTL for economically important traits and appears to be useful to identify genetic markers for feed efficiency and animal temperament.

Feed efficiency in fed F2 Nellore-Angus steers produced through embryo transfer was evaluated using two methods: residual feed intake (RFI) and NRC-based model predicted residual consumption (MPRC). Sire and family(sire) both contributed to differences in model predicted residual consumption (P = 0.036 and P < 0.001, respectively), but not in RFI (P = 0.117 and 0.455, respectively). This indicates that variation exists among the sires and families studied, and the opportunity exists to improve MPRC through selection; it also indicates these 2 evaluation methods could result in different conclusions about feed efficiency. Five aspects of temperament were also evaluated (aggressiveness, nervousness, flightiness, gregariousness, and overall temperament) on a 9-point scale shortly after weaning. Sire had a significant effect on all 5 aspects of temperament evaluated, but family was only responsible for variation in aggressiveness, nervousness, and overall temperament. Contemporary group had no effect on aggressiveness, but did contribute significantly to variation in all other temperament traits. All temperament traits were highly correlated with one another (r = 0.81 to 0.98). Recipient dam temperament was lowly correlated with gregariousness and overall temperament (r = 0.16 and 0.15, respectively), and the correlations with recipient dam temperament approached significance for aggressiveness, nervousness and flightiness. This suggests that the temperament of the recipient female may have a small effect on the temperament of the calf. This population was structured to identify QTL for economically important traits and appears to be useful to identify genetic markers for feed efficiency and animal temperament.