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Genetic Trends in the National Herd

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2 min read

National improvements Breeding Worth Production Efficiency traits Robustness traits Farmer Opinion traits Body and Dairy Conformation traits Udder Conformation traits Additional traits

This page tracks genetic trends in the national herd, noting improvements in economically important traits. The genetic merit of the national herd has improved or held steady across a range of economically important traits. The traits covered are Breeding Worth, Production Efficiency, Robustness traits, Farmer Opinion traits, Conformation traits and Additional traits. Breeding Worth (BW) and Production Worth (PW) are valuable tools you can use to make sound decisions about breeding, culling, and buying. BW reflects a cow's potential to breed profitable offspring, while PW focuses on a cow's lifelong profit-making ability.

 

Is New Zealand's national herd genetic merit improving? 

The genetic merit of the national herd has improved or held steady across a range of economically important traits.

More information on what the breeding values are and how they are calculated.

Genetic trends

The graphs below show how the genetic merit of cows in the national herd is trending for individual traits, updated December 2024.

The colours and abbreviations are as follows:

  • Ayrshire = A in yellow
  • Holstein-Friesian = HF in blue
  • Holstein-Friesian-Jersey crossbred = HFJ in dark green
  • Jersey = J in green

Breeding Worth

The rate of genetic gain in Breeding Worth for the past 10 years is $15.73 for Jerseys, $19.04 for Holstein-Friesians, $19.11 for Holstein-Friesian-Jersey cross and $8.60 for Ayrshires.

Genetic trend in Breeding Worth ($).

Production Efficiency traits

Genetic trend in Liveweight (kg).

1 / 4 images

Genetic trend in Milk Protein Yield (kg).

2 / 4 images

Genetic trend in Milk Volume (L).

3 / 4 images

Genetic trend in Milk Fat Yield (kg).

4 / 4 images

Robustness traits

Genetic trend in Body Condition Score (BCS).

1 / 6 images

Genetic trend in Fertility (% calved in the first 42 days).

2 / 6 images

Genetic trend in Functional Survival (% surviving to next lactation).

3 / 6 images

Genetic trend in Somatic Cell Score.

4 / 6 images

Genetic trend in Udder Overall (score).

5 / 6 images

Genetic Trend in Gestation Length (days).

6 / 6 images

Farmer Opinion traits

Genetic trend in Shed Temperament (score).

1 / 4 images

Genetic trend in Adaptability to Milking (score).

2 / 4 images

Genetic trend in Milking Speed (score).

3 / 4 images

Genetic trend in Overall Opinion (score).

4 / 4 images

Body and Dairy Conformation traits

Genetic trend in Stature (score).

1 / 6 images

Genetic trend in Capacity (score).

2 / 6 images

Genetic trend in Dairy Conformation (score).

3 / 6 images

Genetic trend in Rear Legs set (score).

4 / 6 images

Genetic trend in Rump Angle (score).

5 / 6 images

Genetic trend in Rump Width (score).

6 / 6 images

Udder Conformation traits

Genetic trend in Udder Support (score).

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Genetic trend in Fore Udder (score).

2 / 6 images

Genetic trend in Front Teat Placement (score).

3 / 6 images

Genetic trend in Rear Teat Placement (score).

4 / 6 images

Genetic trend in Rear Udder (score).

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Genetic trend in Teat Length (score).

6 / 6 images

Additional traits

Genetic trend in Heifer Calving Difficulty (%)

1 / 2 images

Genetic trend in Cow Calving Difficulty (%)

2 / 2 images

Try out the breeding decisions tools below...

Last updated: Feb 2024
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