The Growth index in the Nordic Total Merit index (NTM) describes the genetic growth ability of male offspring in terms of daily carcass gain and carcass conformation score.
The growth index has a relative weight of 3% for VikingHolstein and VikingRed, and 0% for VikingJersey in NTM.
Data are registered by slaughterhouses for male calves. Because of the unique ID, we get carcass classification on each male offspring of our bulls. Depending on the prices for meat, this index is important to consider.
The index includes breeding values for:
- Daily carcass gain (g/day)
- Short intensive fattening period (less than 550 days)
- Long extensive fattening period (more than 550 days)
- Carcass conformation score (performed according to Beef carcass classification system - EUROP classification) classified in 15 classes
We also have breeding values for carcass fat score.
