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.


What Role Does Inbreeding Play in Genetic Base Changes?

John Cole

April 3, 2025

Genetic base changes include both corrections for observed genetic trends in the population and adjustments to account for future inbreeding. After the April 2025 base change, observed changes in Predicted Transmitting Abilities (PTAs) for individual animals may not match the base change values as closely as they have in the past. This is not due to any errors in the evaluation. It reflects Expected Future Inbreeding (EFI) changes in the population that are larger than they’ve been in the past.


August 2024 Changes: Impact on Evaluations

Ezequiel Nicolazzi

August 13, 2024

In the August 2024 evaluations, implemented changes had effects on all yield traits (Milk, Fat and Protein) and Heifer Livability, along with correlated traits of Productive Life and Cow Livability in some cases. Breed Base Representation (BBR) values were updated, with the annual reference population update and introduction of a revised SNP list.


Introduction of HMW: The Haplotype Call for Early Onset Muscle Weakness Syndrome

CDCB and Holstein USA and National Association of Animal Breeders

November 15, 2023

The December 5, 2023, dairy cattle genetic evaluations will contain a new haplotype call for Early Onset Muscle Weakness Syndrome (HMW).


Announcing QDisc

Ezequiel Nicolazzi

February 10, 2023

CDCB announces a new service, QDisc, or quick discovery of close relatives. This quick-turnaround service uses the ICAR-defined parentage SNP to discover close relatives.


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.


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