CDCB In The News

CDC delivers the latest news on genetic improvement, research and U.S. evaluations through its monthly newsletter, dairy media, and events.

Leverage Genetic Tools to Breed Healthier Cows

Kristen Parker Gaddis

August 8, 2022

Genetic evaluations to strengthen resistance to six health disorders are available for Brown Swiss animals beginning August 9, 2022.


CDCB Health Traits Extend to Brown Swiss

Kristen Parker Gaddis

July 22, 2022

Beginning August 9, 2022, Brown Swiss animals will receive CDCB evaluations for disease resistance for six traits: milk fever (MFEV), displaced abomasum (DA), ketosis (KETO), mastitis (MAST), metritis (METR) and retained placenta (RETP).


What’s New in April’s Genetic Evaluations

Ezequiel Nicolazzi

April 4, 2022

Three times a year, genetic evaluations are calculated for all the dairy animals in the U.S. database.


We’re Making Strides on Improving Feed Saved

Kristen Parker Gaddis

December 6, 2021

One year ago, the trait Feed Saved made its debut in the December 2020 genetic evaluations published by the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB).


Lifetime Net Merit revised in August for balanced selection, profitable dairy cows

João Dürr, Ph.D. and Kristen Parker Gaddis and Paul VanRaden and Tom Lawlor and Rob Tempelman

July 2, 2021

Lifetime Net Merit (NM$) has driven genetic progress since 1994 by promoting a balanced selection of all available, economically-important traits to maximize profitability of dairy cows.


Genomics drives new trait development

Ezequiel Nicolazzi

April 5, 2021

These triannual evaluations – on April 6, August 10, and December 7 this year – incorporate genomic data along with updated performance, or phenotypic, data to assess the genetic merit of dairy animals.


Invited Review: The future of selection decisions and breeding programs: What are we breeding for, and who decides?.”

João Dürr, Ph.D. and Ezequiel Nicolazzi

March 10, 2021

Genetic selection has been a very successful tool for the long-term improvement of livestock populations, and the rapid adoption of genomic selection over the last decade has doubled the rate of gain in some populations.


CDCB Leads Efforts to Reduce Lameness with Genetics

Javier Burchard and H Duane Norman and Kristen Parker Gaddis

February 25, 2021

Progressive Dairy recently asked leading experts from the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding to provide an update on their work to better understand dairy cattle hoof health and reduce lameness via genetic solutions.


Showing page: 1 of 2