Thursday, 22 May 2025 09:55

NZAEL to update genetic base for Breeding Worth calculations

Written by  Staff Reporters
NZAEL manager, Andrew Fear NZAEL manager, Andrew Fear

DairyNZ subsidiary New Zealand Animal Evaluation (NZAEL) will update the genetic base used to calculate Breeding Worth (BW) next month.

This routine update will cause a drop of approximately $185 in BW across all cows, bulls, and herds but does not reflect any loss in genetic value or animal performance.

To assist with ranking within a population, it's helpful to have a benchmark. In animal evaluation, this reference point is called 'Base Cow'. A Base Cow change causes very minimal re-ranking among bulls, cows, herds, or breeds. It simply shifts animals up or down depending on the genetic base that is chosen. Base Cow creates the yard stick to measure how much genetic progress is being made with each passing generation.

"New Zealand's dairy herd continues to make meaningful genetic improvement. Each generation of heifers enters the herd with higher BW on average, than the previous generation, leading to higher protein, fat and greater efficiency. Updating the Base Cow ensures BW remains an important and accurate ranking tool, reflecting the performance of today's dairy animals," says Andrew Fear, NZAEL manager.

From 20 June, the BW of the average dairy animal will move from $241 to $56. This shift follows the introduction of an updated reference point, known as a Base Cow, which will now be based on 2015-born animals instead of the current 2005 cohort.

More like this

Featured

Brendan Attrill scoops national award for sustainable farming

Brendan Attrill of Caiseal Trust in Taranaki has been announced as the 2025 National Ambassador for Sustainable Farming and Growing and recipient of the Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the National Sustainability Showcase at in Wellington this evening.

National

Machinery & Products

Calf feeding boost

Advantage Plastics says it is revolutionising calf meal storage and handling, making farm life easier, safer, and more efficient this…

JD's precision essentials

Farmers across New Zealand are renowned for their productivity and efficiency, always wanting to do more with less, while getting…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Don't hold back!

OPINION: ACT MP Mark Cameron isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but he certainly calls it how he sees it, holding…

Sorry, not sorry

OPINION: Did former PM Jacinda Ardern get fawning reviews for her book?

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter