What Is the Elite Designation?

The Elite designation identifies animals with high genetic merit for milk, fat, and protein production.

Elite rankings are based on production genetic evaluations generated through the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding. The designation is intended primarily as a selection tool for breeders interested in improving production and the potential economic value of future offspring.

Elite status is based on an animal’s production evaluation. It is separate from the Superior Genetics designation, which combines production and type information.

How Does an Animal Qualify?

Animals are ranked within their breed using their production genetic evaluations.

To qualify:

• Does must rank within the top 5% of their breed nationally.
• Bucks must rank within the top 15% of their breed nationally.
• Does must have evidence of recent production.
• Bucks must have evidence of recent daughters.
• The animal must have the information required to receive a production genetic evaluation.

For Elite consideration, recent progeny information generally means activity within the previous:

• Two years for does
• Four years for bucks

All eligible does are included in the national ranking population, regardless of registration status, DHI test plan or breed-standard disqualifications. As a result, ADGA-registered does are ranked alongside other does that qualify for a genetic evaluation.

A percentile rank of 99 is the highest possible. For example, a buck with a percentile ranking of 85 is within the top 15% of the evaluated population.

How Is the Ranking Determined?

Elite animals are ranked using an index that considers the animal’s Predicted Transmitting Abilities for:

• Milk
• Butterfat
• Protein

These values estimate the production advantage an animal may transmit to future offspring.

Although the index was developed using dairy-industry economic values, dairy goat breeders can use the ranking to compare production genetics within a breed. The specific dollar value should not be interpreted as a guaranteed financial return for a dairy goat.

Members can review individual production traits and genetic evaluations for ADGA-registered animals through ADGA Genetics.

Explore ADGA Genetics

Search individual animals and review available production traits and genetic evaluation information.

Is Elite Status Permanent?

No. Elite status reflects an animal’s ranking during a particular genetic evaluation.

An animal may qualify during one evaluation and fall outside the Elite range during a later evaluation as:

• New records are added
• More animals enter the evaluated population
• Genetic evaluations are updated
• The animal no longer meets the recent-progeny requirement

The Elite designation appears on an ADGA pedigree only while the animal’s current ranking remains within the qualifying range.

This is different from the Superior Genetics designation, which remains permanent once earned.

Where Can Members View Elite Animals?

The current Elite lists identify ADGA-registered animals qualifying from the most recent genetic evaluation.

August 2026 Elite Bucks

View ADGA-registered bucks ranking within the top 15% of their breed and meeting the recent-daughter requirements.

August 2026 Elite Does

View ADGA-registered does ranking within the top 5% of their breed and meeting the recent-production requirements.

Previous Elite Lists

Previous buck and doe lists are available for historical reference.