Dairy Evaluations

NAV Evaluation

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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 Genomic Evaluation and NAV Beef Evaluation

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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. A new approach is implemented to estimate reliabilities for AAN, CHA, HER, LIM, and SIM for weight, growth, and carcass traits. This method includes genomic information directly into the reliability calculations, rather than relying only on pedigree and performance records.

Read more from the NAV newsletter.

NAV Evaluation

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The first 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.

Results from three new genetic traits were added to NAV Bull Search. Holstein Haplotype 5 (HH5) and Cholesterol deficiency (HDC) for Holstein and Trimethylaminuria, also called shrimp gene (FMO3) for RDC. More information about genetic traits is found on NAV homepage.

Currently AMC results for RDC are not available in NAV Bull Search. False carrier results have been detected and problem with the wrong results is not yet solved. The results will return to NAV Bull Search when the reliability of the results is guaranteed.

Read more of the newest breeding evaluation from the NAV newsletter.