Methane

NAV webinar – Methane index, current status and strategic direction

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NAV invites you to a webinar providing an overview of the methane index and its current status within the Nordic genetic evaluation.

The webinar will cover the full path from raw data to phenotypes and evaluation. It will describe the current methane index and place it in a broader context together with other traits. Special emphasis will be given to transparency and interpretation, highlighting both current knowledge and known limitations.

Date: 27 May 2026
Time: 10:00–12:00 (DNK & SWE), 11.00-13.00 (FIN)
Location: Online via Microsoft Teams
Teams link: Join the webinar here

Programme

  • Opening and welcome – Haifa Splittorff
  • Introduction – Haifa Splittorff
  • Data collection: Denmark, Finland and Sweden – Jakob Lykke Voergaard, Enyew Negussie, Patricia Ask Gullstrand
  • From raw data to phenotypes – Trine Villumsen
  • Short break
  • Current evaluation of the methane index – Helen Schneider
  • Methane and other traits: where does knowledge stand today? – Patricia Ask Gullstrand
  • NAV tools: homepage, bull search and results – Terhi Vahlsten
  • Wrap‑up and questions

The webinar will be held in English and is open to everyone interested in Nordic genetic evaluation.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Methane index is published for all breeds

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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:

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:

First Nordic Methane Index

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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.