Sustainable agricultural systems have become of high importance in the current situation of an ongoing climate change. This is challenging the global agriculture and food production. In the last decades, beside an environment- and resource-friendly food production, the impact of animal welfare has been increased and has been controversially discussed in public. There is a need to revise breeding objectives, in order to provide animals that are well adapt to changing conditions. Novel trait complexes belonging to sustainability (feed efficiency, resource friendly) and animal welfare (resistance, resilience) should be implemented into well balanced breeding programs. The aim of my research is to contribute to well balanced, resource and animal-friendly breeding strategies. It is necessary to assess possible consequences if changes in breeding programs are going to be established.