RZÖko - New breeding value for German Holsteins

on the occasion of the August breeding values estimation on the 08.08.2023 the RZÖkoRZÖko stands for Organic Relative Breeding Value in the Holstein-Schwarzbunt and Holstein-Rotbunt breeds. The RZÖko is an overall breeding value that weights the individual traits it contains (e.g. longevity or body condition) and trait complexes (e.g. the complex of health traits in the RZGesund) in the sense of an ecological breeding goal. It thus serves both breeding organizations and practical breeders as a direct selection tool for the systematic realization of an ecological breeding goal. It is comparable to the ÖZW in the Fleckvieh and Braunvieh breeds.  an ecological overall breeding value for the German Holstein breed (Black and Red Pied) is published for the first time. The breeding value developed by Ökologische Tierzucht (ÖTZ) in cooperation with the Federal Association cattle and pork (BRS) is an important milestone for the development of the ÖTZ cattle breeding sector and organic cattle breeding itself.