June 5, 2025
CDCB has certified its first sequencing-based laboratory for data submission.
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.
February 25, 2025
Updates for the April 1, 2025, CDCB evaluations include the every-five-year base change, revision to the merit indexes, Breed Base Representation (BBR) reference population update and normalization of type trait reliability calculations in non-Holstein breeds.
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.
June 6, 2024
For the eighth year, CDCB is providing internships for the next generation of animal scientists. Welcome Agustin Chasco, Gabriella Dodd and Gaurav Dutta, who will conduct research with scientists from CDCB and USDA AGIL during the summer of 2024.
A monthly newsletter, details genetic evaluation updates and industry news.