Canada’s dairy genetics are about to be shaken up. Is your herd ready for the LPI revolution coming in April 2025? Find out who wins and who loses.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Canada’s Lifetime Performance Index (LPI) is undergoing a major overhaul, set to launch in April 2025. This modernization introduces six new subindexes, including an innovative Environmental Impact Index for Holsteins. The changes aim to address drift in the current formula and align genetic selection with sustainability goals. Producers can expect a significant reranking of bulls, with some top sires potentially dropping over 150 LPI points. Lactanet has released an LPI Estimator tool to help breeders navigate the transition. The new system promises a more transparent, trait-focused selection that balances production with health, longevity, and environmental efficiency.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• The modernized LPI introduces six subindexes: Production, Longevity & Type, Health & Welfare, Reproduction, Milkability, and Environmental Impact.
• Genetic rankings will shift dramatically, with only 74% of the top 50 proven Holstein sires maintaining their status.
• Producers can now preview how their animals will rank under the new system using an Excel-based LPI Estimator tool.
• The Environmental Impact Index, currently for Holsteins only, signals a strong industry commitment to sustainability.
• Breeders should review their genetic strategies to align with the new framework before the April 2025 implementation.

Implementing the modernized Lifetime Performance Index (LPI) on April 1, 2025, will mark an important milestone for the Canadian dairy industry. This significant update to Canada’s premier selection index represents the culmination of a thoughtful two-year development process, transforming the index from a mathematical formula to a transparent, trait-focused framework that aligns with contemporary sustainability goals and production realities.

Understanding these upcoming changes allows dairy producers making breeding decisions today to adapt and optimize their genetic selection strategies before the official launch date.

Why Your Current Genetic Strategy Needs Updating

The path to modernization began in October 2023, when producer Wayne Dickieson of Prince Edward Island noted during an industry session that the existing LPI formula no longer respected its intended emphasis ratios. Subsequent Lactanet analysis confirmed his observation—the current system had gradually drifted to a 49:34:17 distribution (Production:Durability: Health & Fertility) rather than the intended 40:40:20 balance.

“This mathematical drift created an unintended bias in selection toward production traits at the expense of durability and health,” explains Brian Van Doormaal, Lactanet’s Chief Services Officer. “The modernization addresses this fundamental issue by standardizing each subindex to a common scale before applying weights, preventing future drift and ensuring the index delivers its promised emphasis.”

This discovery initiated a comprehensive reevaluation of the entire LPI framework, guided by four primary objectives:

• Expanding beyond the three current components to incorporate sustainability traits
• Eliminating the mathematical formula approach to improve transparency
• Creating official subindexes to be published alone and combined in LPI
• Clarifying relative emphasis on traits while focusing on expected responses for key correlated traits

Breaking Down the Six Revolutionary Subindexes Reshaping Dairy Selection

The modernized LPI replaces the three-component structure with six distinct subindexes, each focusing on specific trait clusters with economic and functional significance. For Holsteins, these receive precise weightings: Production Index (40%), Longevity & Type Index (32%), Health & Welfare Index (8%), Reproduction Index (10%), Milkability Index (5%), and Environmental Impact Index (5%).

Table 1: Lifetime Performance Index (LPI) Subindex Weightings by Breed (%)

Each subindex will be standardized to a Relative Breeding Value (RBV) scale with an average of 500 and a standard deviation of 100—an important innovation that prevents the mathematical drift affecting the previous formula. This standardization ensures the intended trait emphases remain stable over time, creating a more reliable and predictable selection tool.

Production Index (PI): The Economic Foundation

While maintaining its position as the cornerstone of economic selection, the PI introduces refinements that reflect long-term market realities rather than short-term price fluctuations. Holsteins’ fat-to-protein ratio is fixed at 60:40, prioritizing fat yield while maintaining adequate protein emphasis. This approach reflects butterfat’s stable economic value in the current and projected marketplace.

Jersey cattle place a greater emphasis on fat production than on protein than Holsteins (50% fat emphasis versus 40% protein), honoring the breed’s traditional strength in butterfat-rich product markets. Across all breeds, the focus remains on absolute yields rather than compositional percentages, ensuring selection drives increased production efficiency per animal.

Longevity & Type Index (LTI): Building Cows That Last

This subindex merges direct longevity measurements with conformational attributes contributing to extended productive life. A notable shift includes reducing emphasis on Dairy Strength from 10% to 5% while increasing focus on Feet and legs to 33% in Holsteins. The Mammary System receives significant weight (37% in Holsteins), reflecting its critical importance to functional productivity and udder health throughout lactation.

Table 2: Longevity & Type Index (LTI) Composition by Breed (%)

Breed-specific adaptations maintain the uniqueness of each population—Ayrshires place 40% emphasis on Herd Life directly. In comparison, Canadienne cattle allocate 55% of the LTI to the Mammary System, reflecting the breed’s traditional excellence in udder traits.

Health & Welfare Index (HWI): Science-Based Disease Resistance

The HWI integrates disease resistance traits using a scientifically derived economic weighting system developed through consultation with AbacusBio. The Holstein formula incorporates Mastitis Resistance (47%), Metabolic Disease Resistance (27%), Hoof Health (21%), and Cystic Ovaries (5%), with weightings determined through rigorous analysis of heritability, disease prevalence, and treatment costs.

This science-based approach ensures that selection emphasis aligns with the economic impact of each health challenge, maximizing the return on genetic investment in disease resistance. Including Hoof Health within this index—previously part of the Durability component—creates a more logical organization of health-related traits.

Reproduction Index (RI): Focusing on Fertility

The RI dedicates a dedicated focus to fertility, with 90% emphasis on Daughter Fertility and 10% on Daughter Calving Ability across all breeds. This thoughtful prioritization of reproductive efficiency acknowledges its critical role in lifetime productivity and farm profitability.

The consistent 90:10 weighting across breeds reflects the universal importance of fertility regardless of breed specialization, clearly signaling to breeders the value of reproductive traits in all production systems.

Milkability Index (MI): Labor Efficiency in the Parlor

This innovative addition to the LPI framework addresses an increasingly important dimension of dairy operation—labor efficiency and milking system compatibility. For Holsteins, it incorporates Milking Speed (25%), Milking Temperament (18%), Udder Floor (-6%, with negative values being desirable), Udder Depth (15%), and Teat Length (36%).

Table 3: Milkability Index (MI) Composition by Breed (%)

Including this index reflects the increasing automation of milking systems and the economic significance of efficient milk harvesting. Negative weights for traits like Udder Floor indicate selection toward more desirable values for these traits (higher udders with less pronounced floor), requiring careful interpretation by breeders.

Environmental Impact Index (EI): Breeding for Sustainability

Exclusive to Holsteins initially, this forward-looking index combines Feed Efficiency (25%), Methane Efficiency (37%), and Body Maintenance Requirement (38%). Its introduction signals the industry’s commitment to sustainability objectives and positions Canadian genetics advantageously in climate-conscious dairy production.

The EI represents the most forward-looking aspect of the modernized LPI. It aligns genetic selection with Dairy Farmers of Canada’s goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The decision to restrict this index to Holsteins initially reflects limitations on data availability for other breeds, but it establishes a framework that can expand as research progresses.

Winners and Losers: How Your Herd’s Genetics Will Be Reranked

The transition to the modernized LPI will lead to a noticeable reranking of genetic merit. An analysis of December 2024 evaluations reveals that changes in Holstein LPI values can exceed ±300 points in some cases. Among the top 50 proven Holstein sires, 74% remain in the top 50 under the new system, with an average change of +12.6 LPI points (maximum increase of 172, maximum decrease of 189).

Table 4: Impact of Modernized LPI on Holstein Genetic Rankings

Genomically-tested animals show more significant variability, with only 56% of the top 50 genomic bulls maintaining their top 50 status under the new system. This suggests that early adaptation may offer opportunities to identify previously undervalued genetics that excel in newly emphasized traits.

The impact varies by breed—Jersey-proven sires show an average decrease of 39.3 LPI points among the top 50 bulls, with 90% maintaining their top 50 status. Ayrshires see an average reduction of 16.2 points among top sires, with 94% remaining in the top 50.

Table 5: Examples of Significant Changes in Holstein Proven Sire Rankings

Navigating the Transition: Tools You Can Use Today

To facilitate this transition, Lactanet has developed and publicly released an Excel-based LPI Estimator tool (available since February 12, 2025) that calculates modernized LPI values based on current genetic evaluations. This tool allows producers and industry professionals to preview how their animals will be valued under the new system and make informed breeding decisions accordingly.

The estimator accepts manual input of 21 trait values for individual animals or can process data files for companies receiving weekly updates from Lactanet. Each subindex receives a percentile rank alongside its RBV value, providing immediate context for an animal’s standing relative to the population.

For forward-thinking breeders, this tool creates an opportunity to identify valuable genetics before the April implementation—potentially acquiring animals that will appreciate in ranking once the new system takes effect.

Preparing Your Breeding Program for April 2025

The modernized LPI presents both challenges and opportunities for Canadian dairy farmers. Thoughtful producers may wish to:

1. Identify breeding stock excelling in newly emphasized traits, particularly those involving health, reproduction, and environmental efficiency
2. Review current genetic strategies against the new subindex framework, adjusting emphasis areas to align with operational priorities.
3. Use the LPI Estimator to evaluate current and potential breeding stock under the new system.
4. Consider prioritizing Pro$ or LPI based on specific operation goals and market positioning.

From a practical standpoint, standardizing subindexes to a standard scale (Average=500, SD=100) will improve clarity regarding an animal’s genetic profile. A bull at the 90th percentile for the Health & Welfare Index (HWI around 628) offers meaningful disease resistance compared to population averages, regardless of its ranking in other categories.

The inclusion of the Environmental Impact Index positions Canadian genetics advantageously in an increasingly sustainability-conscious global market. As carbon pricing mechanisms evolve and consumers seek climate-friendly products, genetics that reduce methane emissions while maintaining production efficiency may offer additional value domestically and internationally.

Looking Forward: Breeding for Tomorrow’s Market Realities

The modernized LPI significantly enhances Canada’s genetic evaluation system. By expanding beyond traditional production and conformation traits to embrace health, fertility, labor efficiency, and environmental impact, Lactanet has created a selection framework aligned with the multifaceted challenges of modern dairy operations.

Canadian producers now have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with this new genetic landscape before implementation. Those who study the new subindexes, utilize the LPI Estimator tool and thoughtfully adjust breeding strategies will be well-positioned to thrive in an industry increasingly defined by efficiency, sustainability, and animal welfare excellence.

As April 1, 2025, approaches, the Canadian dairy industry continues its tradition of genetic innovation. The modernized LPI provides a robust framework for selecting genetics that will perform successfully in tomorrow’s dairy farms’ economic, social, and environmental contexts.

Learn more

• Modernized LPI to Focus on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Milkability Enhancements for Canadian Dairy Cows
• Lactanet’s LPI April 2025 Update: What It Means for Dairy Farmers
• Lactanet to Enhance Lifetime Performance Index for Canadian Dairy Cows: Focus on Sustainability and Milkability by April 2025

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