The Normande TPI has a strong emphasis on beef value, functionals and feet & legs for a well balanced cow
The French Normande Association (OS Normande) along with the Selection Centers and the National Livestock Research Unit introduced a new ISU (the French TPI) in 2018. This new ISU (TPI) tips the criteria balance towards beef value and functional traits (more specifically udder health, fertility and feet & legs). A new beef value composite index has been developed. combining newly analyzed veal and steer quality traits as well as the previous muscularity and frame indexes. See below a comparison between the 2012 ISU with the new 2018 one. To the right is the 2012 ISU with English terms and a slightly different sorting of the various traits. More information to come.
The production share has been reduced to 26% and the formula is entirely based on almost equal quantities of lbs of protein (14%) and fat (12%) as opposed to privilege protein in the previous index. Udder health, which has been given a much larger share, by combining the somatic cell count and the new ‘clinical mastitis’ index. Fertility has also received a boost and is now a composite index made of the new ‘calving-1stAI interval’ index and the previously introduced cow and heifer fertility indexes. Finally, udder and feet & legs get the lion share. In addition, the Feet & Legs index is the composite of more criteria such as locomotion, bone quality, etc…In conclusion, with this new TPI, the Association is developing a much better, sounder Normande cow. There are talks about including calving ease and genetic variability in the future, as well as developing a specific grazing TPI. But the newly revised criteria should confirm your choice of the Normande for its sustainable and added value qualities.
Here is the break down of the new TPI:
ISU = French Normande TPI = 26% production (12% F + 14% P) + 21.25% type (4.5% muscularity + 3% frame + 6.5% feet & legs composite + 7.25% udder composite) + 12.5% veal & steer value + 16% udder health (9.5% cell + 6.5% mastitis) + 13.5% fertility + 6% longevity + 4.75% milk speed
Feet & Legs = 20% rear legs rear view + 10% bone quality + 30% foot angle + 20% rear legs side view + 20% locomotion
Beef value composite: 15% frame + 22.5% muscularity + 11.25% veal growth + 10% veal conformation + 2.25% veal color + 11.25% steer growth + 27.5% steer conformation (Note: muscularity and frame reflect the beef value of cull cows)
Production = Protein (14%) and Fat (12%)
Udder Health = 50% Somatic Cell Count + 50% Clinical Mastitis
Fertility = 50% Fertility Cows + 25% Fertility Heifers + 25% Calving-1st AI Interval
Type = 45 % Udder + 25% Feet & Legs + 15% Frame + 15% Muscularity
Udder = 25% Udder Depth + 20% Ligament + 20% Udder Balance + 15% Front Teat Placement + 10% Fore Attachment + 5% Rear Udder Height + 5% Teat Direction
Frame = 30% Chest Depth + 30% Chest Width + 30% Rump Width + 10% Stature
Muscularity = 25% Top + 25% Loin + 50% Round
For additional information on the new ISU and its development process, you can look at this powerpoint document (work document in French).
A few tips to understand our proofs
ISU = French Normande TPI = 26% production (12% F + 14% P) + 21.25% type (4.5% muscularity + 3% frame + 6.5% feet & legs + 7.25% udder) + 12.5% veal & steer value + 16% udder health (9.5% cell + 6.5% mastitis) + 13.5% fertility + 6% longevity + 4.75% milk speed
Beef value composite: 15% frame + 22.5% muscularity + 11.25% veal growth + 10% veal conformation + 2.25% veal color + 11.25% steer growth + 27.5% steer conformation (Note: frame and muscularity reflect the beef value of cull cows)
Feet & legs composite: 20% rear legs rear view + 10% bone quality + 30% foot angle + 20% rear legs side view + 20% locomotion
Sire and daughter calving ease: average equals 89. 90 is a better calving ease; 88 is less calving ease.
For all criteria below, “0” is optimum.
• rump angle: + is sloped.
• back line: + is curved up.
• rear legs side view: + is posty.
• rear legs rear view: + is straight.
• foot angle: + is steep.
• udder balance: + is high rear quarters.
• teat direction: + is internal.
Functional traits: positive values are desirable for all.
2025 yearly rolling base adjustment
Each year, France does three proof calculations and readjusts its rolling base once with the first proofs of the year. The rolling base is the population of cows from which indexes are calculated. Since the genetic level of the base increases as the population itself changes, all indexes naturally drop. In contrast with France, the United States recalculates its base every five years (last adjustment: 2025). Numbers have consistently been good over the past few years for the Normande. And this year again, the Normande sees a spectacular rise of its base values and also a higher increase than the most other French dairy breeds (Holstein, Montbeliarde): 200 lbs. for milk, 8 lbs. of protein, 10 lbs. of fat, .009 for protein %, .012 for fat %, and 6.5 for ISU (French Normande TPI). But also .10 for feet & leg composite, .13 for udder composite, .02 for muscularity, .14 for udder health, .05 for fertility, .15 for somatic cell count, .07 for mastitis resistance, .08 for longevity. Those are significant adjustments. This means that a bull whose milk index drops by 200 lbs actually remains stable in relation to the population. A smaller drop would indicate an improvement, while a deeper drop would point to decrease of the index. Altogether, these important changes indicate that the Normande population is improving and the selection program is efficient. However, when you look at the evaluations, you might get the impression that most bulls went down. The numbers went down, but their genetics value did not. The selection program is working.
Complete pedigree and current indexes for all Normande bulls, past and present
The French Animal Production Institute’s website will provide you information on all bulls, including very old ones. The pages are in English, but you may find some terms or abbreviations to be different from the ones we use.
Please note that all breeding values are in kg (1 kg = 2.2 lbs) and % are 0/00 (for F% and P%, please divide French numbers by 10 to get the % value). Feel free to contact us if you have any question.
Please click of the screen shot below and enter the name of bull you are looking for:
aAa codes:
Alma: 423156 Caramba: 513462 Nivea: 315246 Redondo: 513462 Roucoups: 432516 Royal Holl: 351246 SaintYorre: 516342 Uvray: 432516 Infinity 423516 Jefroid 543162 Jesse 342516 Lamier 531426 Landel 345216 Licorice 453216 Loky 531426
For more info on aaa numbers, please visit: aaa123456.com.
A2A2 genotype: the Normande is one of the top breeds for A2A2 prevalence. Most of our bulls are A2A2.
A2A2: Alma, Aubray, Attenay, Banania, Camembert, Caramba, Casto, Creole, Dairy Expo, Girophare, Haliba, Heroes, Honess, Infinity, Icarius, Interpool, Jefroid, Jesse, Jorino, Lithium, Licorice, Lacanau, Landel, Lamier, Lepanto, Loky, Maanonu, Monza. Nivea, Redondo, Royal Holl, Telerama, Tricorne, UTC, Viveco.
A2A1: Calvados, Chouchen, Curcumin, Greman, Guimares, Hollydays, Idris, Lancaster, Loumis, Medellin, Mercure, Roucoups, SaintYorre, Tetrapack, Ucany, Unog, Ulozon, Uvray.
A1A1: Iceton, Singleton
