Genotype by environment interactions in production traits of sheep.
1998
Mavrogenis, A.D. | Papachristoforou, Chr. | Papastylianou, I. (Agricultural Res. Inst. (Cyprus))
Three purebred and two crossbred groups of ewes were evaluated for production and reproductive traits under two environments (semi-intensive and extensive prodution systems). The genetic groups were the Cyprus Fat-tailed (L.), the Chios (C) and the Awassi (A) breeds and the C X L crossbreds. Litter size and litter weight at birth and at weaning and milk production after weaning, adjusted for lactation length, were the traits evaluated. Lambing season significantly affected litter size at birth (P0.05) and milk yield (P0.01). Systems had a significant effect on litter at weaning (P0.05) and milk yield (P0.01). Breed group and ewe lactation number significantly affected all traits studied. Genotype by environment interactions were important for litter size and litter weight at weaning and for milk yield. Poor management, and especially poor feeding conditions, affect more adversely the more productive genotypes.
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