The Dairy Industry Good Animal Database (DIGAD) holds pedigree and performance information for every recorded dairy cow in New Zealand. It is led by NZAEL, which uses the data to keep improving the sector’s efficiency and productivity.

Economic Values (EV's) are an estimate of the dollar value to a NZ dairy farmer of a unit change in each trait. Ten traits have been identified as having a measurable economic value to NZ farmers.

Breeding Worth (BW) is an index that ranks cows and bulls on their ability to breed profitable, efficient replacements. This page explains how BW is used to create herds resilient to changes and disease, therefore increasing farm profits.

A breeding value is an estimate of an animal's genetic merit for a particular trait. Using breeding values to select cows and bulls to be the parents of the next generation is the most effective way to achieve genetic improvement.

Genomics is the use of DNA to predict the future potential and profitability of dairy animals.

The page tracks genetic trends in the national herd, noting improvements in economically important traits.

Cow performance measurement lets you identify the most and least productive cows in your herd.

Effective cow data recording and performance measurement on your farm can make the difference in breeding decisions.

Inbreeding in cattle is when an animal's DNA is identical because it comes from a common ancestor on both parents' sides. This page explains how inbreeding coefficients estimate the expected degree of inbreeding, but these aren't always precise.

This page covers the concept of a base cow. Breeding Worth (BW) and Breeding Values (BV) are presented as the difference between an animal’s genetic merit and the average genetic merit of the 'base cows’.

This page covers the concept of genetic reliability, highlighting the confidence in an animal's breeding value and worth.