The Total Merit Index will show a high score for bulls that excel in production, fertility, health, and udder conformation. It also underlines excellent results in functional traits such as calving ease, livability, and claw health.
The score also suggests excellent genetics that helps improve farmers' profitability with good health and low use of antibiotics. The medium-sized cow also offers excellent feed efficiency.
Table 1. Trait averages and standard deviations for purebred Norwegian Reds in units converted from breed average of 100 and standard deviation (SD)* of 12.
| Trait | Definition | Average proof in units (kg, %, etc.) | Expected difference from average when Norwegian proof is +1 SD (or +12 index points) above 100 |
| Milk yield | Average milk per lactation for lactations 1-3 (kg) | 8,090 | 276 |
| Protein yield | Average protein per lactation for lactations 1-3 (kg) | 287 | 8.6 |
| Fat yield | Average fat per lactation for lactations 1-3 (kg) | 337 | 10.0 |
| Protein percent | Average % protein per lactation for lactations 1-3 (%) | 3.55 | 0.06 |
| Fat percent | Average % fat per lactation for lactations 1-3 (%) | 4.18 | 0.09 |
| Stature | Rump height in lactation 1 (cm) | 137.8 | 1.16 |
| Temperament | Lact 1 daughters classified with good temperament (%) | 92.2 | 2.2 |
| No. of inseminations, heifers | Number of inseminations in heifers until pregnant | 1.45 | -0.05 |
| No. of inseminations, cows | Number of inseminations in cows until pregnant | 1.59 | -0.05 |
| Calving to first insemination (CFI) | Days from calving to first insemination for lact 1-4 (days) | 76.3 | -2.2 |
| Calving ease, direct | No calving problems when bred to 1st lact heifers (%) | 88.5 | 2.6 |
| Clinical mastitis | Lact 1-3 daughters not treated for clinical mastitis (%) | 90.2 | 1.8 |
| Somatic cell count (SCC) | SCC for lactation 1-3 daughters (cells/ml) | 66,362 | -17,269 |
| Feed$aved™ | Daily dry matter intake compared to 700 kg cow (kg) | -0.65 | -0.18 |
| Body weight | Average mature (live) body weight (kg) | 610 | 12.4 |
*68% of the population is within ±1 SD (±12 points) of the average, 95% within ±2 SD (±24 points) of the average, etc.
Example Milk yield
The average kg of milk for lactations 1-3 is 8,090kg (17,798 lbs.). For Milk yield=112 expect +276kg (607 lbs.) for a total milk yield of 8,366kg (18,405 lbs.) per lactation.
Example Calving ease, direct
88.5% of calvings of 1st lactation heifers, attributed to the sire of the calf, have no difficulty. For a bull with direct calving ease=112 expect 2.6% better or 91.1% of calvings of 1st lactation heifers with no calving difficulty due to sire of calf.
Example Stature
Average 1st lactation cows have a rump height of 137.8 cm (54.3”). For a bull with Stature=112 expect an average daughter to be 1.16 cm (0.46”) taller. For Stature=88 an average daughter would be 1.16 cm (0.46”) shorter.
