The latest NAV routine genomic evaluation took place as scheduled. NAV carried out genomic prediction for Holstein, RDC and Jersey. Genomic breeding values of bulls are updated to NAV Bull Search after each evaluation.
NAV has also released breeding values for purebred beef bulls and cows. Beef breeding values are updated to NAV Beef Search.
Read more from the NAV newsletter.
NAV organized a webinar on 27 May 2026 about methane index and its current status and strategic direction. The presentations provided an overview of the methane data collection in all three countries and how raw data changes to phenotypes and genetic evaluation. The webinar attracted over 100 participants from all three countries.
Links to the presentations are below and the recording is here: NAV Methane webinar
Introduction, Haifa Splittorff
Data collection Denmark, Jakob Lykke Voergaard
Data collection Finland, Enyew Negussie
Data collection Sweden, Elisenda Rius Vilarrasa
From raw data to phenotype, Trine Villumsen
Current evaluation of the methane index, Helen Schneider
NAV tools: homepage, bull search and results, Terhi Vahlsten
NAV published the methane index for Holstein AI bulls in May 2025. The next step is now taken, with the methane index also being published for Holstein females, as well as for both bulls and females in RDC and Jersey. The methane index is included in NAV Bull search.
Methane is currently an information trait and is not part of NTM. At present, methane has no defined economic value, and therefore it is not relevant to include methane in NTM.
Read more about methane index:
The second NAV routine evaluation this year took place as scheduled. The NAV Bull Search has been updated with the new EBV’s and GEBV’s. NAV Beef Search is also updated with new beef x dairy breeding values.
In this evaluation, the weight of saved feed in NTM was adjusted for all breeds. In the February 2025 evaluation, a new Saved feed index was introduced. Saved feed is based on dry matter intake (DMI), production (ECM) and weight change over the lactation. Due to changes in the saved feed evaluation, its economic value was also updated. Based on this revised economic value, the weight of saved feed in NTM also needed adjustments. For all breeds, the weight of saved feed has increased, as well as the correlation between NTM and saved feed. The correlations between old and new NTM are still very high, meaning that only minor reranking in a year group is seen.
In the May 2025 evaluation, NAV published the methane index for Holstein AI-bulls. Now it is time to publish methane index for Holstein females, as well as for both bulls and females in RDC and Jersey. Methane index is also included in NAV Bull search.
Read more about the changes:
NAV organized NTM Revision Webinar on 21 April. The webinar attracted over 70 participants from all three countries. The discussion was very active and it continued in the country-specific groups.
Links to the presentations are below and the recording is here: NTM Revision webinar
NTM revision 2028 – Current status – Haifa Splittorff
Updating of NTM – Future production circumstances – the next step – Ida Hansson
Biological assumptions – current status – Kevin Byskov