The new COI Tool by WGI Software combines validated genetic evaluations (inbreeding and selection indexes) into a single tool for planning matings. Once the dam, sire, and number of generations are selected, the tool returns the following values:
Linebreeding (5–7 gen.)
Refers to "recent inbreeding" produced by ancestors that repeat within the latest generations: those with the highest probability of transmitting specific traits, either positive or negative, to the puppies. It does not quantify true inbreeding because it is a partial value, showing neither correspondence nor proportionality at the DNA level (Dreger et al., 2016).
COI TOT (all gen.)
Refers to "total inbreeding", calculated across all available generations back to the breed founders. It corresponds to the inbreeding measurable via DNA analysis (F-ROH) and therefore carries scientific validation (Caniglia et al., 2018). When compared to the breed average, it tells us concretely whether the mating produces high, moderate, or low inbreeding, and it is the key parameter for managing and containing, generation after generation, the most insidious effects of inbreeding.
AVK 5/10
Ancestor Loss Coefficient, calculated at two depths: 5 and 10 generations. It measures how rich the pedigree is in diverse and unique ancestors — a value of 100% indicates that all ancestors within the considered window are unique; the higher the value, the greater the genetic diversity of the mating.
AVK5 assesses diversity in the most recent generations. AVK10, calculated using the same logic but at twice the depth, instead identifies genetic bottlenecks further upstream, beyond what the latest generations reveal: in our breed its values are markedly lower than AVK5, making it the most useful indicator for assessing the impact on future generations.
Percentiles (AVK)
A percentile indicates a value's position relative to a reference group: being at the 70th percentile means performing better than 70% of the compared cases. We use this for AVK because a "good" value today may no longer be so in a few years, as the breed population keeps evolving — comparing the simulated mating against puppies born in recent years, rather than against a fixed threshold, gives a reading that stays current and consistent over time.
Balance score
A single score, ranging from -100 to +100, combining into one number the AVK10 percentile and the COI percentile for the same mating. A positive value indicates an overall favourable balance between genetic diversity and inbreeding relative to recently born puppies; a negative value signals that, overall, the balance tips toward the unfavourable side — even when one of the two indicators looks fine on its own. It does not replace the AVK5/AVK10 indicators, it complements them with a combined reading.
Pedigree Index (HD, NBA, A, XK)
The expected average genetic value for the puppies across four traits. Zero represents the breed average: positive values indicate a potential for improvement, while negative values indicate a potential for worsening. The scale range varies from trait to trait:
- HD hip dysplasia: from -40 to +20
- NBA prolificacy of the dams: from -30 to +35
- A size, as height at the withers: from -35 to +45
- Xk bone structure robustness: from -30 to +50
Accuracy
Indicates the reliability of the indexes. In simulated matings, the indexes act as Pedigree Indexes, calculated based on the phenotypic information of the parents, ancestors, and collaterals; a Pedigree Index can reach a maximum accuracy of 60%. The minimum operational threshold is 30%: below this threshold, the indexes must be interpreted with caution and considered as a rough estimation. Accuracy depends on the heritability of the trait (the higher it is, the easier it is to achieve high accuracy), the quantity of phenotypic data used in the calculation (the number displayed to the right of each index), and how much of this data relates to close relatives of the selected parents. If the ancestors of the parents have few phenotypic records, accuracy will be low; if they have many, it will be high.
Note on dogs born in past years
If you simulate a mating using dogs born many years ago, the AVK percentiles, the Balance score, and the EBVs are likely to come out unfavourable or negative. This does not mean it was a poor mating: these indicators always compare the result against the current reference population (puppies born recently), not against the population of the era in which those dogs were actually born and mated. Since the breed has evolved over time — more unique ancestors available today, but also more closely related to one another — the same mating can read very differently depending on which population it is compared against.