News

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

Workshop Brings Together Industry Collaborators

Katelyn Allen

September 2, 2025

The 2025 National Cooperator Database Workshop hosted 106 people from 30 collaborating organizations in Milwaukee, Wis., August 26 to 28.


What Else Can We Do With a Milk Sample?

Katelyn Allen

May 5, 2025

Milk samples already provide incredible insight — but it’s possible they could do even more. During the CDCB Producer Exchange, Malia Caputo, Ph.D., discussed the health, nutrition, and fertility opportunities of milk sample infrared spectrometry.


CDCB Producer Exchange Connects the Industry

Katelyn Allen

April 4, 2025

On the eve of the April 2025 triannual evaluations, CDCB held its first Producer Exchange in Reno, Nev., in conjunction with the Western Dairy Management Conference. The event brought together dairy farmers, scientists, and industry collaborators to discuss the role genetics plays in a profitable farm operation — plus how new traits and research will continue to benefit producers.


Constructed ID’s: Eliminating Pedigree Dead Ends

Lillian Bacheller and José Carrillo and Ezequiel Nicolazzi and George Wiggans

February 1, 2023

Knowing an animal’s ancestry several generations back is certainly the goal for breeders; however, there are instances where animals have a gap in their pedigree. To fill in more pedigree gaps, CDCB is implementing a new solution starting in February 2023.


6 Million Genotypes!

José Carrillo

February 20, 2022

The national cooperator database hit a new mark on February 19, 2022, with six million genotypes recorded.


December 2021: Changes to Evaluation System

Kristen Parker Gaddis and Paul VanRaden

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

Mahesh Neupane and Kristen Parker Gaddis and Paul VanRaden and Rob Tempelman

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.


December 2020: Changes to Evaluation System

Kristen Parker Gaddis and Paul VanRaden

December 1, 2020


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CDCB Connection

A monthly newsletter, details genetic evaluation updates and industry news.