Terhi Vahlsten | NAV - Nordic Cattle Genetic Evaluation

Genetic traits on the NAV homepage

01/09/202013/03/2019 by Terhi Vahlsten

Genetic traits are not a new area in cattle breeding, but because of intensive use of genomic test, it is now possible to derive results for many traits for both bulls and cows. Therefore, it is now possible to see available test results genetic traits, for all bulls on the NAV Bull Search. International standards and names for genetic traits have been adapted in the Nordic countries. We will therefore introduce changes in presented genetic traits and their names and codes, both on the NAV homepages and how traits are shown nationally – for instance on printouts.

Read more about the possibilities with Genetic traits.

What does the breeding values mean in practice – now available for more traits!

01/09/202011/03/2019 by Terhi Vahlsten

Phenotypic tool is updated and now it also includes values for calving traits and milkability. You can find the phenotypic values from NAV Bull Search in bull’s own page.

Webinar about beefxdairy breeding values

01/09/202006/03/2019 by Terhi Vahlsten

On Wednesday the 6^th of March, NAV hosted a webinar about beef x dairy breeding values, for interested beef breeders from Denmark, Finland and Sweden.
Beef x dairy breeding values can be used to select the best beef sires, for crossbreeding with dairy cattle. The webinar explained the principles behind the beefxdairy breeding values, and how to utilize them in practice.

If you are interested in learning more about beef x dairy breeding values, the webinar has been recorded and is accessible for all.

Click here if you would like to see the webinar.

NAV Genomic Evaluation

01/09/202005/03/2019 by Terhi Vahlsten

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 Evaluation

01/09/202005/02/2019 by Terhi Vahlsten

The first NAV routine evaluation for this year took place as scheduled. The NAV Bull Search has been updated with new EBV’s and GEBV’s.

In the udder health evaluation a change in editing procedure for Swedish herds was implemented which implied that lactations were removed from herds for which veterinary reporting of diseases was incomplete. Similar editing is in place also for general health evaluation and for the other countries. The change in included information from Sweden had the effect that some bulls lost information from daughters previously included. The average change of udder health index for most bulls and cows was however minor, but some animals showed considerably larger changes.

At this evaluation, NAV published updated breeding values for beef sires based on data on beef × dairy crossbreds. This type of values were published for the first time in December 2018, but from now on they will be published in connection with the ordinary NAV evaluations four times per year. Information about BxD EBVs and publication list can be found under Beef Cattle and BeefxDairy publication.