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Autumn Calving Index £ACI
The Autumn Calving Index (£ACI) is suitable for autumn block-calving herds and reflects the costs of feeding for winter milk production and the higher milk price per litre received at that time of year.
It favours a greater weight of milk than £SCI but has less emphasis on fat health and protein percentages. £ACI has a slightly greater emphasis on female fertility than £PLI, which is for year-round-calving herds.
£ACI is an across-breed index, which means you can use it to compare bulls of different breeds.
Search for a bull by name or herdbook number
Autumn block calving breeding index reports
The £ACI:
- Promotes milk quality, with more weight on volume than the £SCI
- Places strong emphasis on fertility
- Selects for reduced maintenance cost
- Improves udder and leg health
- Places strong emphasis on longevity
- Promotes easier calving
- Improves functional type – Feet and Legs and Udders
The £ACI value represents the additional profit a high £ACI bull is expected to return from each of its milking daughters over her lifetime compared with an average bull of zero £ACI.
The pie chart below shows the breakdown of the individual weightings of traits in the £ACI.
Four simple steps when selecting the right bulls for your breeding programme:
- Select bulls with a higher £ACI value than your best cow
- Select fitness traits to maintain your strengths and address herd weaknesses (Fertility, Lifespan, etc.)
- Match type to suit your herd
- Selected calving ease for maiden heifers
Related content
Profitable lifetime index £PLI
Dairy breeding and genetics homepage
Bull and cow genetic reports explained and a glossary of terms