dairy cattle | NAV - Nordic Cattle Genetic Evaluation

NAV Evaluation and NAV Beef Evaluation

04/11/2025 by Terhi Vahlsten

The fourth NAV routine evaluation for this year took place as scheduled. NAV Bull Search has been updated with new EBV’s and GEBV’s and NAV Beef Search is also updated with new beef x dairy breeding values.

In this evaluation, the single-step method was introduced for temperament, replacing the previous two-step method. The single-step approach uses all information from genotyped and non-genotyped animals simultaneously. Read more in the paper Improved breeding values for Temperament.

Several improvements were introduced in the general health evaluation.

NAV has also released breeding values for purebred beef bulls and cows as scheduled. Beef breeding values are updated to NAV Beef Search too.

Read more about the evaluation and changes:

Breeding makes a difference

27/10/2025 by Terhi Vahlsten

Breeding makes a significant contribution to efficiency improvements in Nordic cattle herds. In this article series, the focus will be on what breeding has contributed over the past 10 years. Production has the highest economic value in NTM and that is why the article series starts with production traits.

Read more from the paper Breeding has led to great improvements for production

NAV Evaluation

12/08/2025 by Terhi Vahlsten

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

NAV Beef Search is also updated with new beef x dairy breeding values.

In this evaluation weight factors were slightly modified in udder index for RDC. There is now more emphasis on teat length and thickness, while the weight on udder depth has been slightly reduced. Read more about the changes from a paper Fine-tuning of the udder index in RDC.

Myth Buster, part 2

04/08/2025 by Terhi Vahlsten

It is claimed that Nordic bulls drop more in NTM compared to foreign bulls when they become proven. Is this true or just a myth?

Find out in part two of Myth Busters!

First Nordic Methane Index

06/05/2025 by Terhi Vahlsten

In May evaluation NAV introduces the first methane index for Holstein AI-bulls. The phenotypic registration used in the methane index is the methane concentration. The idea is that a lower methane concentration from a cow indicates lower methane production. In the beginning methane index is only for Holstein AI-bulls and the results are published at NAV homepage. For the November evaluation the methane index will also be available for Holstein females and hopefully next year also for Jersey and RDC.

Read more about the new methane index from the paper First Nordic methane index and look for the index values for Holstein bulls.