News

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

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.


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.


April 2022: Changes to Evaluation System

Ezequiel Nicolazzi

April 4, 2022

Three times a year, genetic evaluations are calculated for all the dairy animals in the U.S. database.


April 2022: Changes to Evaluations

Ezequiel Nicolazzi

March 8, 2022

CDCB announces updates to the genetic evaluation system, effective with the April 5, 2022, triannual evaluations. Five enhancements are detailed on the CDCB website.


August 2020: Changes to Evaluation System

Ezequiel Nicolazzi and Paul VanRaden

August 1, 2020


December 2019: Changes to evaluation system

Ezequiel Nicolazzi and Paul VanRaden and George Wiggans

December 1, 2019


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