Photo from GENEX Cooperative

Premier Dairy Genetic Information Services and Collaboration

The Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) manages the National Cooperator Database, calculates and distributes the U.S. genetic evaluations and genomic predictions, and aggregates dairy cattle data.

Join us in Reno!

Be prepared for the changes coming with the April 2025 genetic evaluations by joining the CDCB Producer Exchange, held in conjunction with the Western Dairy Management Conference in Reno, Nevada. Speakers will cover what to watch for when evaluations are published the next morning and researchers will dive into new genetic selection traits on the horizon – including calf health, milking speed, and a new female fertility option.

Producers from across the country will join us on stage to discuss genetic strategies for profitability and the value they see in contributing cow data to the National Cooperator Database.

Welcome to CDCB

The Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) collaborates with U.S. and global partners to produce premier dairy genetic evaluations and data services. These CDCB results benefit dairy farmers worldwide as they work to improve the health and productivity of their cattle. CDCB stewards the National Cooperator Database – the world’s largest animal database – that integrates genomic information and more than 80 years of recorded U.S. dairy animal performance data. Through strategic partnerships with USDA-Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory and universities across the country, CDCB works to move the dairy industry forward with new genetic selection traits and evolving methodologies.

CDCB strives to embody its key values:

Dairy-driven
Science-based
Cooperative
Transparent
Data-driven

April 2025 Genetic Evaluation Changes

2025 Merit Index Revision

The Lifetime Net Merit (NM$) index ranks dairy animals based on their combined genetic merit for economically important traits. The 2025 NM$ update revises some methods to estimate trait values and many income and cost variables, such as milk prices, feed requirements, and reproductive options. The 2025 revision does not include genetic evaluations for any new traits.  

2025 Genetic Base Change

In April 2025, the genetic base population will move from cows born in 2015 to cows born in 2020. Routine base adjustments, which happen every five years in the United States, allow new evaluations to be easily compared with previous evaluations.

How CDCB Supports Dairy Farmers

1.Provides premier dairy genetic information services, genetic and genomic evaluations, and management performance benchmarks.
2.Manages the National Cooperator Database of dairy phenotypic and genomic data, the world’s largest animal database.
3.Leverages cutting-edge research, working with USDA AGIL to produce quality genetic evaluations and indexes as Net Merit $.
4.Expands the foundation of more than a century of recorded U.S. dairy cattle performance and research.
5.Empowers continuous improvement and sustainability progress in dairy herds worldwide.

CDCB by the Numbers

10 million

Genotypes in National Cooperator Database (Dec 2024)

93%

percent of genotyped animals are female (Sep 2024)

87 million

Animals receiving CDCB evaluations (Dec 2024)

49

Traits calculated by CDCB


Latest News from CDCB

April 2025: Net Merit Revision, Base Change

CDCB will implement revisions to the lifetime merit indices and a genetic base change in the April 1, 2025, genetic evaluations.

2025 Evaluation Schedule, Deadlines

See deadlines and timelines for CDCB genetic evaluations, released weekly, monthly and triannually.

10M Genotypes in National Database

A remarkable milestone – 10 million animal genotypes in the National Cooperator Database – was recorded on December 14, 2024.