News

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

April 2024 Evaluation Changes: What’s New?

CDCB and USDA Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory

March 7, 2024

CDCB and USDA AGIL announce enhancements in the U.S. dairy genetic evaluations on April 2, 2024.


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.


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.


More Breeds Need Genetic Evaluations for Stillbirth

H Duane Norman

January 6, 2022

Determining the effectiveness of genetic evaluations for stillbirth in additional U.S. dairy breeds was the research focus for CDCB intern, Anil Sigdel, in summer 2021.


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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