News
CDCB delivers the latest news on genetic improvement, research and U.S. evaluations through its monthly newsletter, dairy media, and events.
August 2025 Evaluation Changes: What’s New?
July 10, 2025
The August 2025 triannual genetic evaluations include the introduction of a new trait for Holsteins, the implementation of the five-year base change for calving traits, and updates to two other traits.
National Dairy Genetic Index Update, Base Change Set for April 2025
December 20, 2024
Two significant updates will be implemented in the April 2025 dairy genetic evaluations published by the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) – a revision to the lifetime merit indices and a genetic base change. The CDCB Board of Directors approved these revisions at their December 18, 2024 meeting.
April 2024 Evaluation Changes: What’s New?
March 7, 2024
CDCB and USDA AGIL announce enhancements in the U.S. dairy genetic evaluations on April 2, 2024.
New Research Published on Residual Feed Intake
November 1, 2022
Research by collaborators from five universities, CDCB and USDA AGIL was published in the November 1, 2022, Frontiers in Genetics: Impact of epistasis effects on the accuracy of predicting phenotypic values of residual feed intake in U.S. Holstein cows.
December 2021: Changes to Evaluation System
December 1, 2021
Genetic evaluations for Residual Feed Intake (RFI) were improved using variance adjustments and a higher estimated heritability. The RFI records are now adjusted to have equal variance across herds and across first versus later parities.
August 2021: Changes to Evaluation System
August 1, 2021
The new Lifetime Net Merit (NM$) including Feed Saved (FSAV), Heifer Livability (HLIV) and Early First Calving (EFC), along with a number of new parameters and assumptions, will be introduced in the August 2021 evaluation.
April 2021: Changes to Evaluation System
April 1, 2021
Several small adjustments to fertility traits editing will be introduced with the April 2021 evaluation to better account for late-term abortions. Fertility credits for traits Heifer Conception Rate (HCR) and Cow Conception Rate (CCR) now treat the last service as a failure instead of success if the next calving is coded as an abortion.
December 2020: Changes to Evaluation System
December 1, 2020
CDCB Connection
A monthly newsletter, details genetic evaluation updates and industry news.
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