Net Merit: Key Breeding Index for Dairy Cattle to Be Updated in April 2025
What is Net Merit?
Net Merit (NM$) is an index used to rank dairy cattle based on economically important traits, assessing their overall genetic value. Selection using this index is considered the most effective method for improving herd profitabilityacross generations. NM$ consolidates economic indicators from 12 individual traits and five composite sub-indicesinto a single value, guiding breeding decisions for optimal productivity and sustainability.
History of Net Merit
The first version of Net Merit was published in 1994 by the Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory (AGIL)of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Since then, the index has been regularly updated every three to four years to reflect the latest advancements in dairy genetics and economic modeling.
The development of NM$ is led by Paul VanRaden (USDA) in collaboration with universities and industry experts. The fundamental principle behind Net Merit is the use of an economic model that accurately represents revenues and expenses over a cow’s lifetime. The data used to calculate the index are sourced from publicly available records whenever possible, such as milk prices from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. When such data is unavailable (e.g., semen costs), expert estimates are used to ensure realistic projections.
Net Merit 2025: A Major Update
The upcoming Net Merit 2025 version is the result of months of research and refinement. The initial draft was prepared in summer 2024 by the Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory (AGIL) at USDA. Following public discussions at the World Dairy Expo and consultations with university researchers through the S-1096 project, modifications were made to improve the accuracy and economic relevance of the index.
In November 2024, the updated version was presented to the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) committees, and by December 2024, it was approved by the CDCB Board of Directors. Future updates to the Net Merit index will continue to be coordinated by CDCB, in partnership with USDA, academic institutions, and industry stakeholders.
As the April 2025 update approaches, dairy producers and breeding organizations worldwide anticipate how the refinements in Net Merit will impact genetic selection strategies and profitability in dairy herds.
