U.S. Genetic Milestones
U.S. dairy has led the way in research and development of genetic evaluation methods and traits that have been adopted globally. Additionally, exports of U.S. genetics to more than 120 countries has improved dairy cows and dairy farmer livelihoods around the world.
1895
Individual cow records
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) began collecting milk and fat records of individual cows
1905
First milk recording organization
Cow Testing Association (CTA) started in Michigan
1927
DHIA became known
CTAs renamed Dairy Herd Improvement Association, or DHIA
1935
Unique identification
Eartag series developed to allow unique identification of all cows tested by DHIA
1936
First sire evaluations
Daughter-dam comparisons used to calculate first USDA sire evaluations
1937
Start of A.I. cooperatives
First U.S. artificial insemination (A.I.) cooperative organized; seven established by 1939
1950
DHIA records computerized
Faster, more accurate transfer of DHIA records enabled growth in USDA genetic evaluations
1953
Frozen semen commercialized
Allowed distribution of superior genetics around the U.S. and world
1962
Herdmate Comparison introduced
Herdmate Comparison model implemented by USDA, considering management differences when computing sire evaluations
1971
First U.S. genetic index
USDA published Predicted Difference Dollars (PD$) index to combine milk and fat
1974
Genetic trends considered in evaluations
The Modified Contemporary Comparison was adopted to calculate genetic evaluations, better accounting for genetic trends
1977
Protein evaluated
Protein and solids-not-fat evaluations first calculated by USDA
1978
Linear type evaluations
Type evaluations became available in all breeds using linear appraisal
1989
Animal Model implemented
USDA was the first to use this method, which accounted for relationships among all cows and bulls for more accurate evaluations
1994
Net Merit, Productive Life, and Somatic Cell Score launched
New Net Merit $ index combined fitness and production traits, making it unique from indexes in most countries
1999
Calving Ease traits moved to USDA
USDA assumed responsibility for calculating national Calving Ease evaluations, which had been calculated independently
1999
Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) incorporated
Collaboration began between USDA and CDCB for quality control
2000
Focus on fertility traits
Emphasis on female and male fertility increased with the launch of Daughter Pregnancy Rate (2003), Sire Conception Rate and Stillbirth (2006), and Cow and Heifer Conception Rates (2010)
2003
Sexed semen commercialized
First U.S. license for sexed semen granted
2007
Chip for genomic testing made available
First commercial genotyping chip released with set of 54,001 SNPs
2009
First official U.S. genomic evaluations
U.S. pioneered the use of genomic data, leading to remarkable genetic progress
2013
CDCB responsible for U.S. genetic evaluations
Calculation of U.S. genetic evaluations transferred from USDA to CDCB; USDA continues important role in research
2015
One million genotypes recorded
Number of dairy genotypes in National Cooperator Database hit the million mark, seven years after first U.S. Holstein bulls were genotyped
2016
Breed Base Representation developed, Livability introduced
BBR estimated the contribution from multiple breeds to crossbred animals
2017
Genotyping certification created
CDCB established certification requirements for genotyping labs and genomic nominators to enhance data quality
2018
First health traits published
Evaluations for resistance to six disorders published by CDCB for Holsteins; Jerseys gained health trait evaluations in 2020 and Brown Swiss in 2022
2019
Genomic evaluations for crossbred animals
U.S. was the first to evaluate crossbred dairy animals by applying a weighted combination of solutions estimated from purebred populations
2020
New Feed Saved trait
CDCB published Feed Saved, the first national evaluation in the U.S. to leverage genetic variation for feed efficiency
2021
Feed efficiency in national selection index
Net Merit index updated to account for feed efficiency, along with more than 40 other individual traits
2024
100 million animals in database
The 100 millionth unique animal entered the National Cooperator Database, culminating the system transformation from 8 to 9 digits in the animal key number
2024
10 million animals genotyped
The National Cooperator Database is the world’s largest storehouse of animal phenotypic and genomic data
2025
Milking Speed introduced
Milking Speed, an objective measure of efficiency using in-line milk meter sensor data, became available for Holsteins
2026
Reproductive performance traits revised
DPR, CCR, HCR, and EFC calculations updated to better reflect modern farm management choices
2026
First calf health traits available
CDCB published the first national traits for calf health, Resistance to Diarrhea (DIA) and Resistance to Respiratory Problems (RSP), for Holsteins and Jerseys