News
CDCB delivers the latest news on genetic improvement, research and U.S. evaluations through its monthly newsletter, dairy media, and events.
August 2025 Evaluation Changes: What’s New?
July 10, 2025
The August 2025 triannual genetic evaluations include the introduction of a new trait for Holsteins, the implementation of the five-year base change for calving traits, and updates to two other traits.
National Dairy Genetic Index Update, Base Change Set for April 2025
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.
April 2024 Evaluation Changes: What’s New?
March 7, 2024
CDCB and USDA AGIL announce enhancements in the U.S. dairy genetic evaluations on April 2, 2024.
New Research Published on Residual Feed Intake
November 1, 2022
Research by collaborators from five universities, CDCB and USDA AGIL was published in the November 1, 2022, Frontiers in Genetics: Impact of epistasis effects on the accuracy of predicting phenotypic values of residual feed intake in U.S. Holstein cows.
December 2018: Changes to Evaluation System
December 1, 2018
December 2017: Changes to Evaluation System
December 1, 2017
Starting December 2017, the CDCB will publish the second Ayrshire haplotype affecting fertility. The publication of this important information for the Ayrshire breed is possible thanks to the research led by AGIL researches and the cooperation with CDN, who confirmed the preliminary results obtained in the US population.
August 2017: Changes to Evaluation System
August 1, 2017
Genetic evaluations of males and genomic predictions of both sexes are now provided for gestation length (GL) as a new trait expressed in days.
April 2017: Changes to Evaluation System
April 1, 2017
Cow livability (LIV) was introduced as a new trait in August 2016 and is now included in lifetime net merit dollars (NM$). Cows that die are assumed to generate $1,200 less income than those sold for beef.
CDCB Connection
A monthly newsletter, details genetic evaluation updates and industry news.
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