The numbers, letters and acronyms on a proof sheet can be confusing and overwhelming, even for the genetic enthusiasts. Here you’ll find an explanation of the separate indexes, as well as definitions and explanations of proof and linear traits.
Click on a proof trait or selection index below to find the definition for that trait or index.
While we advocate that each producer sets their own customized genetic plan to put emphasis only on the traits that matter to them, the following are industry standard indexes used to help the average dairy producer increase profitability on their farm.
TPI = Total Performance Index
TPI is calculated by the Holstein Association USA (HA-USA) and includes the following trait weightings.
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| Trait weights for Total Performance Index (TPI) |
NM$ = Net Merit Dollars
NM$ is a value that describes the expected lifetime profit per cow as compared to the base of the population born in 2005. Trait weightings are updated approximately every five years and include emphasis on the following traits.
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| Trait weights for the Net Merit $ (NM$) Index |
CM$ = Cheese Merit Dollars
CM$ is an index calculated to account for milk sold to be made into cheese or other products. The following trait weights are considered.
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| Trait weights for the Cheese Merit $ (CM$) Index |
MACE = Multiple-trait Across Country Evaluation
Denotes that a bull’s proof evaluation includes daughter information from multiple countries
CDCB = Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding, calculates production and health trait proof information
GFI% = Genomic Future Inbreeding percentage
aAa = Read more about this breeding guide HERE.
DMS = Dairy Mating Service. Read more about it HERE.
PTA = Predicted Transmitting Ability
The estimate of genetic superiority or inferiority for a given trait that an animal is predicted to transmit to its offspring. This value is based on the animal’s own records and the records of known relatives.
PTAM = Predicted transmitting ability for milk
PTAP = Predicted transmitting ability for protein, shown in pounds and percent
PTAF = Predicted transmitting ability for milk fat, shown in pounds and percent
CFP = Combined fat and protein
PRel = the percent reliability for a sire’s production proof
PTAT = Predicted transmitting ability for type, also referred to as conformation
UDC = Udder composite index, which is comprised of the following trait weights:
- 35% Udder Depth
- 16% Fore udder attachment
- 16% Rear udder height
- 12% Rear udder width
- 9% Udder Cleft
- 7% Rear teat placement
- 5% Front teat placement
FLC = Foot and leg composite index, which is comprised of the following trait weights
- 50% foot and leg classification score
- 24% foot angle
- 18.5% rear legs rear view
- 7.5% rear legs side view
TRel = the percent reliability for a sire’s conformation/type proof
PL = Productive life
Measured as the total number of additional or fewer productive months that you can expect from a bull’s daughters over their lifetime. Cows receive credit for each month of lactation, with more credit given to the first months around peak production, and less credit given for months further out in lactation. More credit is also given for older cows than for younger animals.
DPR = Daughter pregnancy rate
Daughter Pregnancy Rate is defined as the percentage of non-pregnant cows that become pregnant during each 21-day period. A DPR of ‘1.0’ implies that daughters from this bull are 1% more likely to become pregnant during that estrus cycle than a bull with an evaluation of zero. Each increase of 1% in PTA DPR equals a decrease of 4 days in PTA days open.
SCS = Somatic cell score
The log score of somatic cells per millilitre.
SCE = Sire calving ease
The percentage of births of bull’s calves that are considered difficult in first lactation animals
DCE = Daughter calving ease
The percentage of a bull’s daughters who have difficult births during their first calving
SSB = Sire stillbirth
The percentage of a bull’s calves that are born dead to first lactation animals
DSB = Daughter stillbirth
The percentage of a bull’s daughters who give birth to a dead calf in their first lactation
HRel = the percent reliability for a sire’s health trait proof numbers
HCR = Heifer Conception Rate
A virgin heifer’s ability to conceive – defined as the percentage of inseminated heifers that become pregnant at each service. An HCR of 1.0 implies that daughters of this bull are 1% more likely to become pregnant as a heifer than daughters of a bull with an evaluation of 0.0
CCR = Cow Conception Rate
A lactating cow’s ability to conceive – defined as the percentage of inseminated cows that become pregnant at each service. A bull’s CCR of 1.0 implies that daughters of this bull are 1% more likely to become pregnant during that lactation than daughters of a bull with an evaluation of 0.0.
PO = Observed polled | PC = Tested heterozygous polled | PP = Homozygous Polled
RC = Carries recessive gene for red hair color | DR = Carries dominant gene for red hair color
Undesirable Recessives, Tested Free codes, and haplotypes
BY = Brachyspina | TY = Tested free of Brachyspina
BL = Bovinve Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency (BLAD) | TL = Tested free of BLAD
CV = Complex Vertebral Malformation (CVM) | TV = Tested free of CVM
DP = Deficiency of the Uridine Monophosphate Synthase (DUMPS) | TD = Tested free of DUMPS
MF = Mulefoot | TM = Tested free of Mulefoot
HH1
HH2
HH3 = Holstein haplotypes that negatively affect fertility
HH4
HH5
Source: Alta Genetics
