Interactions between heredity and environment in the Australian Merino. III. Sire X Environment interactions

Abstract

Interactions between sire and year (age), sire and drop (year), and sire and station in clean wool weight were estimated in data from five Merino strains at three stations. In general, interaction terms were small and non-significant, this being particularly so in the first two categories. Sire x station interactions were, in a few cases, of appreciable size. On the average the sire x station interaction component was approximately half as large as the component between sires. It was concluded that interaction will seldom appreciably hinder genetic progress from individual selection.