Dairy farmers appointed by the CDCB Board provide grassroots input for strategy, policy, future priorities and opportunities through this committee established in 2019.
In 2024, the committee grew from six to nine members, adding diversity in the herds and regions represented. Recent discussion topics have included sustainability metrics, female fertility traits, calving ease, mobility and more.
Greg Andersen
American Falls, ID
Kent Buttars
Lewiston, UT
Mack Drees
Peshtigo, WI
Spencer Hackett
Rice, MN
Matt Hendel
Caledonia, MN
Tom Kestell
Waldo, WI
David Lawrence
Muleshoe, TX
Guy Vogel
Reedsville, WI
Before the triannual releases in April, August and December, an independent validation process is conducted by genetic industry leaders through objective and confidential early reviews of results. This improves evaluation accuracy by identifying potential issues before public release.
Sam Comstock
Holstein Association USA
Tom Lawlor
Holstein Association USA
Mehdi Sargolzaei
Select Sires, Inc.
Ryan Starkenburg
ABS Global, Inc.
Bob Welper
PEAK Genetics
The GEM group provides independent counsel, impartial advice and strategic guidance to CDCB and USDA AGIL staff as they develop dairy genetic evaluations.
Christian Maltecca, Chair
North Carolina State University
Tom Lawlor
Holstein Association USA
Daniela Lourenco
University of Georgia
Ezequiel Nicolazzi
Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding
Ryan Starkenburg
ABS Global
Robert Tempelman
Michigan State University
Paul VanRaden
USDA AGIL
Kent Weigel
University of Wisconsin-Madison
EFTF was convened to prepare a cost-benefit analysis of increasing the frequency of full genetic evaluations and to develop an implementation strategy (if current frequency is modified).
Chuck Sattler, Chair
Select Sires, Inc.
Angie Coburn
Dairy Records Management Systems
João Dürr
Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding
Tom Lawlor
Holstein Association USA
Ezequiel Nicolazzi
Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding
Steven Sievert
National Dairy Herd Information Association
Neal Smith
American Jersey Cattle Association
Steven Smith
Amelicor
Andy Stiefel
ABS Global
Paul VanRaden
USDA AGIL
The MS-TF was appointed to review the potential for implementing genetic evaluations for milking speed in all dairy breeds and make recommendations to ensure data flow, data quality and publication standards.
Asha Miles, Chair
USDA Animal Genomics Improvement
Laboratory
Jeffrey Bewley
Holstein Association USA
João Dürr
Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding
Sophie Eaglen
National Association of Animal Breeders
Robert Fourdraine
Dairy Records Management Systems
Kristen Gaddis
Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding
Steven Sievert
National Dairy Herd Information Association
