Effects of Environmental Factors on Animal Performance: A Focus on the Occurrence of Genotype–Environment Interaction and Epigenetic Effects

Dear Colleagues,

Global challenges such as climate change, limited nutritional sources, and diseases have been imposed on animal performance. To adequately deal with these challenges, selecting genetically suitable animals for production and reproduction in extreme environmental conditions is one of the most promising alternatives for breeders, genetic improvement programs, and industry to meet their demands. In this sense, better knowledge of the relationship between animal performance and the environment is essential for developing strategies to optimize production systems and ensure animal production in the present and future.

We encourage authors to submit their contributions on (but not limited to) the following topics: thermal stress, photoperiod, nutritional sources, diseases, parasites, production environment, geographic location, and any other environmental factors that provide background for the occurrence of genotype–environment interaction and epigenetic effects on traits of economic interest in domestic animals. Selection strategies, advanced approaches, field and experimental data analysis, and quantitative and/or genomic tools are welcome.

Dr. Mário Luiz Santana Júnior
Dr. Rodrigo Junqueira Pereira
Dr. Annaiza Braga Bignardi
Guest Editors

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