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.


Research Updated: Pipeline for Hoof Health Data

Javier Burchard

March 23, 2022

The Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) is implementing a project to provide dairy producers with state-of-the-art knowledge and technologies to enhance hoof health and promote productivity and sustainability of the dairy enterprise.


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.


April 2021: Changes to Evaluation System

Jana Hutchinson and Paul VanRaden

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

Kristen Parker Gaddis and Paul VanRaden

December 1, 2020


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