Neogen® Dairy Genomics
Genomic Testing in Dairy Cattle
Genomic testing is a DNA test that verifies the genetic merit and performance of cattle. The genomic profiles developed by Neogen provide dairy producers with a strategic advantage on each generation of their herd.
- Determine which dairy females are best suited to retain for replacements
- Enhance genetic improvement by choosing elite females to breed to sexed semen
- Select the heifers that can be strategically bred to beef semen to produce beef-on-dairy calves for increased marketability
Taking a sample is as easy as tagging a calf. Learn more about how to take a tissue sample unit (TSU) or other sample options.
Determining Selection Decisions
Igenity Select
- A suite of traits available from the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB)
- Traits and indexes relative to production, feed efficiency, health, and conformation
- Provides producers the power to select, mate, and breed profitable cattle.
Igenity Essential
- Efficiently select the right heifers to retain as replacements.
- 15 key traits and indexes give the right-sized package for confident cattle selection.
Igenity Merit
Three indexes allowing for even greater selection efficiency:
- Net Merit
- Cheese Merit
- Fluid Merit
Lifetime Dairy Dollars (LD$)
Taking confident selection to a higher level.
What is LD$?
Designed by leading researchers at Neogen, LD$ is a genetic index for Holstein cattle that optimizes all-around performance. Each Holstein tested with Igenity® Select receives a value for LD$ allowing a producer to gain a true assessment of her genetic value. LD$ is formulated to increase production while enhancing health, fertility, and longevity. Using LD$ to select and breed Holstein cattle drives improvement across all the key areas that determine profitability (see Figure 1.).
Key Benefits of LD$
Producers who use LD$ for breeding and selection can expect to:
- Increase lifetime milk yield per cow
- Lower veterinary costs
- Achieve greater reproductive success
- Improve longevity and reduce cull rate
Learn more about how LD$ can lead to greater genetic improvement.
Figure 1. Relative emphasis for each major trait category in the Lifetime Dairy Dollars (LD$) index