In August 2024, Holstein Association USA will introduce an updated Fertility Index in conjunction with the official genetic evaluations. The change was recommended by Holstein Association USA’s Genetic Advancement Committee and recently approved by the HAUSA Board of Directors.
The Fertility Index combines several reproductive components into one overall index including: ability to conceive as a maiden heifer, ability to conceive as a lactating cow, and a cow’s overall ability to start cycling again, show heat, conceive, and maintain a pregnancy.
The updated formula for Fertility Index is:
FI = (0.4 x Daughter Pregnancy Rate) + (0.4 x Cow Conception Rate) + (0.1 x Heifer Conception Rate) + (0.1 x Early First Calving)
In this update, the weighting on Daughter Pregnancy Rate was decreased from 0.7 to 0.4, and the weighting on Cow Conception Rate was increased from 0.1 to 0.4. The Fertility Index is a component in Holstein Association USA’s Total Performance Index® (TPI®). Breeding cows based on TPI results in more profit, efficiency, and fertility. It improves dairy producers’ bottom lines today, while the genetic superiority expressed by these cows will be passed on to the next generation.
To see top ranking animal lists, view the sire summaries online, or learn more about the TPI formula, visit https://www.holsteinusa.com/genetic_evaluations/GenUpdateMain.html.
