Taylor Marie McWhorter, Ph.D.
Geneticist
Taylor joined CDCB as a Geneticist in February 2023. She studied at the University of Georgia, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in animal science and doctoral degree in quantitative genetics. Her Ph.D. research consisted of developing phenotypic and genomic selection tools for U.S. dairy producers. Taylor’s dissertation evaluated beef bull fertility in beef-on-dairy matings, heat tolerance of dairy cattle, and the genomic evaluation theory: single-step genomic BLUP (ssGBLUP). During her graduate studies, Taylor interned with CDCB and USDA Animal Genomics and Improvement Lab in 2019 as well as Select Sires, Inc. in 2021-2022.
Projects & Publications
Reproductive Performance Evaluations Enter a New Era
In the August 2026 genetic evaluations, the four female reproductive performance traits (DPR, CCR, HCR and EFC) will be revised and a new reproductive trait, First Service to Conception, will debut.
Health Traits Updated, Reflecting Data Surge
The most significant change for the April 2024 triannual evaluations is an adjustment in the trait model for six CDCB health evaluations – resistance to milk fever, displaced abomasum, ketosis, mastitis, metritis, and retained placenta.
Single-step genomic predictions for heat tolerance of production yields in U.S. Holsteins and Jerseys
Journal of Dairy Science, 2023
Heat in the U.S. Dairy Industry: Addressing the Needs of Cows and Heifers Through the Development of Phenotypic and Genomic Selection Tools
University of Georgia, 2022
Onset of heat stress and development of genomic predictions for heat tolerance in US Holsteins and Jerseys
Proceedings of 12th World Congress on Genetics Applied to LIvestock Production (WCGALP), 2022
Implication of the order of blending and tuning when computing the genomic relationship matrix in single-step GBLUP
Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics, 2022
Investigating conception rate for beef service sires bred to dairy cows and heifers
Journal of Dairy Science, 2020