---
title: "3.16 The breeding goal in the CRV Belgian white-blue breeding program (2024)"
canonical: "https://wiki.groenkennisnet.nl/space/TAB/282820635/3.16%20The%20breeding%20goal%20in%20the%20CRV%20Belgian%20white-blue%20breeding%20program%20(2024)"
format: markdown
---
The Belgian white-blue cows are kept as suckler cows in Belgium. The aim is to have the cows calving for the first time at the age of 24 months. After the third calf, they reach their adult weight. Then, their own growth is finished. The heifer calves are used to replace the suckler cows and the majority of the bull calves grow into heavy beef bulls. The picture below shows the great importance of the growth capacity in the revenue model for keeping suckler cows. After bringing the first calf, the suckler cow must be able to grow 100 kg every year in the next three years, the calf 450 kg per year and a weight of 50 kg is desired for the calf at birth

![image](media://b121e1b0-b559-4185-85f0-1cd043a737e5)

In the breeding of the Belgian white-blue cattle, 78 different characteristics of the animals are registered. In consultation with the breeders, the breed committee of the Flemish Belgian white-blue cattle herdbook has selected 7 traits that are used for the selection of the bulls and cows, the animals that may deliver the next generation of calves. These are the following seven traits, with in brackets the weighting factor (as a percentage) used to compile the index: age at first insemination (20), carcass weight of the cow (30), feet and legs (10), mortality of the calves at birth (10), death up to 14 months (5), muscularity (10) and final assessment (15).

> ℹ️ The weighing factors in combination with the genetic parameters yield the following index (BV = Breeding Value):
> ℹ️ 
> ℹ️ BWB index = 1.23 x (BV<sub>Age 1st insemination</sub> - 100) + 1.85 x (BV<sub>Carcass weight cow</sub> - 100) +
> ℹ️ 
> ℹ️ 0.28 x (BV<sub>Feet and legs</sub> - 100) – 0.28 x (BV<sub>Mortality at birth </sub>-100) –
> ℹ️ 
> ℹ️ 0.14 x (BV<sub>Mortality at 14 months</sub> - 100) + 0.28 x (BV<sub>Muscularity</sub> - 100) +
> ℹ️ 
> ℹ️ 0.42 x (BV<sub>Final Rating</sub> - 100) + 100

The use of this index with these weighing factors will mainly lead to a reduction in the age at first insemination and a higher carcass weight of the cow. This index will therefore clearly improve the revenue model of the Belgian white-blue breed.