The Superior Genetics program recognizes ADGA-registered bucks and does that rank among the highest animals in their breed based on a combination of production and type information.
Animals that qualify receive the permanent prefix SG or SGCH. Once earned, the designation remains part of the animal’s name and may appear on registration certificates, performance pedigrees and other official ADGA records.
What Is the Superior Genetics Award?
The Superior Genetics designation recognizes animals with strong genetic evaluations for both production and type.
The award is based on an animal’s Production Type Index, commonly called PTI. PTI combines information from DHIR production records and Linear Appraisal evaluations to provide a balanced measure of genetic merit.
The award is not based directly on show placings or a one-day milking competition.
How Does an Animal Qualify?
To earn the SG designation, an animal must:
- Rank within the top 15% of animals of the same breed and sex that have PTI values
- Have a PTI value of zero or greater
- Meet the requirement in either the PTI 2:1 ranking or the PTI 1:2 ranking
- Meet the qualification requirements at least once during its lifetime
An animal does not have to rank in the top 15% under both PTI formulas.
Once the SG designation is earned, it is permanent. The animal keeps the designation even if its ranking changes during a later genetic evaluation.
What Is the Difference Between SG and SGCH?
SG identifies an animal that has met the Superior Genetics qualification requirements.
SGCH identifies an animal that has both:
- Earned the Superior Genetics designation
- Earned a permanent championship
The two achievements may be earned in either order and during different years.
For example, an SG animal that later completes its permanent championship will become SGCH.
How Does an Animal Receive a PTI Ranking?
An animal must have genetic evaluations for both production and type at the time Superior Genetics awards are determined.
Genetic evaluations may be based on information from:
- The animal’s own DHIR and Linear Appraisal records
- Its offspring
- Its parents and ancestors
- Other related animals
In some cases, a doe that has never personally participated in DHIR may still receive a genetic evaluation when sufficient reliable information is available from her relatives or offspring.
A one-day milking competition does not generate the production evaluation required for PTI. Production genetic evaluations are based on standard lactation records from the animal and its relatives.
Understanding PTI Rankings
Two PTI formulas are used:
- PTI 2:1 places greater emphasis on production.
- PTI 1:2 places greater emphasis on type.
An animal may qualify by ranking in the top 15% under either formula.
The top 15% is calculated separately for each breed and sex using animals that currently have PTI values. Because the number of evaluated animals and their genetic information change over time, the PTI value required to qualify may also change.
Current breed cutoff values should not be permanently listed on this page because they change as new genetic evaluations are released.
When Are Awards Applied?
Superior Genetics awards are generally applied after ADGA completes updated production and type genetic evaluations.
An animal receiving its first Linear Appraisal evaluation may not immediately receive a type genetic evaluation. That information may become available during a later evaluation cycle.
Animals that already hold the SG designation may become SGCH after completing the requirements for a permanent championship.
Can an Animal Lose the Designation?
No. An animal only needs to rank within the top 15% and meet the PTI requirement once during its lifetime.
After the designation is awarded, SG or SGCH remains a permanent part of the animal’s name, even if later rankings change.
Are Experimental Animals Eligible?
Experimental animals do not currently receive the Superior Genetics designation.
PTI calculations rely on breed-specific production averages and statistical values. Because Experimental animals may represent many different breed combinations, a consistent breed average cannot be established for the calculation.
Updating a Registration Certificate
Owners may return an animal’s registration or recordation certificate to have the SG or SGCH designation added.
Certificates submitted within the designated period following ADGA’s award notification may be revised without charge. Certificates submitted after that period are subject to the standard certificate revision fee listed in the ADGA Schedule of Rates.
Awards based on evaluations completed before 2006 are also subject to the standard revision fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q – In a nutshell, what is the program?
A – For Superior Genetics (SG), the animal must be in the top 15% (85th percentile ranking or higher) of their breed according to the Production/Type Index (PTI) ranking at least once during the life of the animal. To qualify, the ranking may be just in one area (PTI 2:1 or PTI 1:2) or in both areas. Once earned, the SG or SGCH becomes a permanent prefix to the animal’s name and replaces show prefixes that may have already been a part of the animal’s name.
Q – How does an animal get a PTI ranking?
A – By having genetic evaluations in both production and type (DHI and LA) at the time when SG is being determined. Additional information on PTI.
Q – How are PTIs caculated?
A – The formulas for calculating PTIs are listed in the Sire Development pamphlet.
Q – Does the PTI have to be in the top 15% in each ratio?
A – No – the award may be earned by being in either the top 15% of the 2:1 ratio (emphasizing milk production) or in the top 15% of the 1:2 ratio (emphasizing type).
Q – How is the 15% determined?
A – The top 15% of the total number of animals in each breed, by gender, that have PTI values.
Q – Do show records contribute?
A – No, the award is based on a combination of DHIR and LA. But if you have a permanent champion, the animal will have a SGCH rather than a SG designation only.
Q – Does a one-day milk test count toward this?
A – No, genetic evaluations for production only come from year around testing of the animal and relatives. This provides the basis for calculating the PTIs from production.
Q – Can a doe have a SG or SGCH without having ever been on DHIR?
A – Yes, in some circumstances, if offspring, ancestors and other relatives of that doe have evaluations records and the reliability is high enough, a genetic evaluation on the doe is can be generated on the basis of her progeny and relatives, similar to how it works for bucks.
Q – How often are awards applied?
A – PTIs generally change twice per year, after the genetic evaluations are run by ADGA. Production evaluations come out in the summer and type comes out at the end of the year along with another production evaluation. New SG will appear at those times. Animals having an appraisal for the first time will not have an evaluation to use towards SG until the December evaluation. Animals already with SG can have a SGCH appear after earning it through show wins at any time. For example, “SG Betsy” that becomes a permanent champion will still have a show letter generated. A certificate generated would then change the name to “SGCH Betsy”.
Q – When do you get a free certificate revision?
A – Animals earning SG are eligible for free revision if they apply within 60 days of receiving notification about the award.
Q – Can you lose the SG designation?
A – While your animal may drop below the 85th percentile at some time during their life, once the designation is earned it stays with the animal. The requirement is that the animal be in the top 15% at least once during their lifetime.
Q– Why are there no Experimentals with this designation?
A – The PTI calculation relies on breed constants for fat % and standard deviations for fat corrected milk. It isn’t possible to come up with a “breed” average for Experimentals when there are so many combinations.
Q – Can you give me a simple example of how the cutoffs and rankings work?
A – You have 20 does in a breed with the following current PTI rankings:
| 2:1 Rank/PTI | 1:2 Rank/PTI | |||
| Brownie | #1 | 100 | #1 | 125 |
| Angel | #2 | 92 | #5 | 63 |
| Daisy | #3 | 61 | #4 | 82 |
| Molly | #4 | 54 | #7 | 41 |
| Elsie | #5 | 53 | #2 | 100 |
| #6 | 49 | #6 | 62 | |
| #7 | 34 | #8 | 37 | |
| #8 | 21 | #9 | 22 | |
| #9 | 13 | #10 | 15 | |
| Clara | #10 | 11 | #3 | 93 |
| #11 | 10 | #12 | 9 | |
| #12 | 8 | #14 | 7 | |
| #13 | 7 | #15 | 5 | |
| #14 | 6 | #16 | 3 | |
| #15 | 5 | #18 | 0 | |
| #16 | 3 | #11 | 11 | |
| #17 | 0 | #13 | 8 | |
| #18 | -3 | #19 | -30 | |
| #19 | -20 | #17 | 2 | |
| #20 | -30 | #20 | -40 | |
There are 20 animals in this breed so three animals make up the top 15%. In the first 2:1 rankings column, Brownie gets an SG as she is #1. She also would receive it from being the top rank in the 1:2. Angel and Daisy receive it because they are #2 and #3 in the 2:1 ranking.
Elsie and Clara will also get an SG award because if you ordered the second column of 1:2 rankings, they would be in the top three (15%), along with Brownie.
Molly might have a chance to earn SG next time when more information is available and her rankings may go up based on new information on her, or on her relatives from being on DHIR or from additional appraisal information.
Q – What are the cutoff rankings for all breeds?
A – As animals earn PTI’s, and genetic evaluations are released, the cutoff values will change over time. But remember, that once earned, the SG stays even if the PTI falls below the current cutoffs. As of November 2020, the cutoffs (rounded to two significant figures) are:
| Doe 2:1 | Doe 1:2 | Buck 2:1 | Buck 1:2 | |
| Alpine | 79 | 160 | 64 | 132 |
| LaMancha | 87 | 155 | 64 | 123 |
| Nigerian Dwarf | 70 | 54 | 51 | 32 |
| Nubian | 22 | 30 | 3 | 0 |
| Oberhasli | 32 | 38 | 7 | 0 |
| Saanen | 72 | 141 | 47 | 104 |
| Sable | 83 | 106 | 34 | 64 |
| Toggenburg | 133 | 218 | 120 | 186 |