January 31, 2025
The Lifetime Net Merit (NM$) index by CDCB ranks dairy animals based on their combined genetic merit for economically important traits. The 2025 NM$ update revises some methods to estimate trait values and many income and cost variables, such as milk prices, feed requirements, and reproductive options. The 2025 revision does not include genetic evaluations for any new traits.
December 21, 2024
A remarkable milestone – 10 million animal genotypes in the National Cooperator Database – was recorded on December 14 as 2024 was winding down.
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.
November 1, 2024
The CDCB and USDA AGIL team describes changes implemented for the triannual genetic evaluations on December 3, 2024, including updated calculations for Residual Feed Intake, integration of foreign evaluations with the new Rear Teat Placement in Brown Swiss, and exclusion of some crossbred animals in Net Merit $ trends.
March 7, 2024
CDCB and USDA AGIL announce enhancements in the U.S. dairy genetic evaluations on April 2, 2024.
April 3, 2023
Researchers at Penn State University have been collaborating with colleagues at USDA’s Agricultural Research Service to study a new genetic defect in Holstein cattle. This defect is characterized by otherwise healthy animals that are unable to stand. This condition, currently called calf recumbency, has proven to be more complex than other known genetic defects.
March 7, 2023
The Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding and USDA Animal Genomics Improvement Laboratory are implementing a series of changes with the triannual U.S. evaluations on April 4, 2023.
February 10, 2023
CDCB has been re-accredited as a DNA Data Interpretation Center for parentage verification by ICAR. This certification is part of CDCB’s service to U.S.-based genomic nominators and facilitates the export of U.S. genetics.
A monthly newsletter, details genetic evaluation updates and industry news.