Challenges and strategies for genetic selection of sheep better adapted to harsh environments

• Sheep production enterprises are a common choice for farming in extensive conditions, leaving sheep exposed to environmental elements such as harsh climates or low-quality forage.• It is important for animal breeding to consider adaptability to challenging environments in the genetic selection of sheep, especially given the expected effects anticipated from climate change.• Breeding animals for unpredictable environments requires attention to the issue of genotype by environment interaction. Research into these issues for sheep has not matched that seen for intensive species such as pigs or dairy, but opportunities exist both within existing breeding structures as well as from the development of new, novel phenotypes.• Health and fitness traits are likely to remain difficult to measure, but current methods and new protocols should be combined with other developments in animal breeding such as genomic selection for worth-while genetic gain.• Sheep breeding structures and economics are very different from intensive species such as dairy and thus require particular approaches to promote cooperation and investment from individual breeders and industry.