The aim of the current research was to evaluate the effects of behavioral reactivity on production and
reproduction performance in Dorper sheep, a meat breed. Temperament of animals was subjectively
evaluated using a 5-point scoring system at weighing, during which sheep spent 30 seconds on the scale.
The heritability of temperament was low (0.10 0.03). Estimated phenotypic (rp) and genetic (rg) correlations
between temperament and litter size in ewes were negative and negligible (P > 0.05) at 0.06
0.18 and 0.08 0.09, respectively. Significant genetic correlations were found between lamb
temperament and preweaning growth rate (rg ¼ 0.44 0.07, P 0.05) and postweaning growth till the
age of 120 days (rg ¼ 0.52 0.08, P 0.05). Significant genetic correlations were found between lamb
temperament and growth rates during their first 3 months of age. As a result, selection for calm temperaments
should translate to increased growth rates of lambs. Negative correlations between
temperament and production traits, both in ewes and lambs, suggested that selection against animals
that are highly reactive to improve welfare and ease of handling would not have detrimental impacts on
productivity.