Data-Driven Genetics for the Ideal Commercial Cow |
The next big thing in Jersey cattle genetics is here! It's the Ideal Commercial Cow (ICC$) index, a sire ranking tool published exclusively by GENEX that uses real-time economic indicators and science-based genetic principles to address the needs of commercial dairy producers.
Why was this index needed?
Producer surveys revealed that today's progressive commercial herds want a more complete index that specifically looks genetic selection focused on yield, sustainability and fertility. Formulated to encompass these three critical areas, the ICC$ index for Jerseys truly represents GENEX customers' breeding goals.
What traits are included in this new index?
The ICC$ index for Jerseys includes three sub-indexes: Cheese Maximizer (ChMAX$), Sustainability (SUST$) and Fertility (FERT$). With this makeup, producers can easily customize their genetic selection by first selecting for the ICC$ index and then narrowing their emphasis to a specific sub-index.
 | Cheese Maximizer (ChMAX$) focuses on component yields and provides equal weightings on Fat and Protein. Unique among indexes, the index is neutral on milk. » 50% Fat | |
 | Sustainability (SUST$) emphasizes udder health, longevity, functional udder traits and calf survivability. Included is a new GENEX proprietary trait called Calf Survivability (CSRV). The udder traits included are those that have an impact on culling rate (30% Udder Depth, 35% Udder Cleft, 25% Fore Udder and 10% Teat Length). » 35% Productive Life | |
 | Fertility (FERT$) contains five measures of cow and heifer fertility, among them is a new proprietary trait called Age at First Calving (AAFC) which meets the needs of producers looking to emphasize reproductive efficiency. Selection of sires with high FERT$ rankings results in optimal age at first calving, reduced days open and shorter calving interval. » 50% DPR |
Where does the data come from?
Data included is directly tied to economic impact on the farm. The data sources include the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB), the Canadian Dairy Network (CDN) and the Cooperative Resources International (CRI) dairy research database.
The CRI dairy research database, used to calculate the proprietary traits, includes genomic profiles, health and fertility records and real-time production records. The database includes 54 million health records on nearly 12 million cows as well as AgSource Dairy records (milk testing and herd management information) from more than 720,000 cows tested monthly.
The index was collaboratively calculated with research scientists from the CRI International Center for Biotechnology.
When you choose sires based on the ICC$ index, you will get:
» Milk component yield
» Emphasis on female fertility
» Focus on functional udder traits
» Udder health improvement
» More intense health and longevity selection
The ICC$ index illustrates our commitment to providing commercial herds
with innovative excellence in genetics and profit-impacting proprietary traits.