Milking Speed (MSPD) is calculated for Holsteins using objective data collection from in-line sensor technology from parlors. Milking Speed (MSP) is evaluated for Brown Swiss and Milking Shorthorn animals utilizing subjective data collected by breed classifiers.
Learn more about the newest trait Powered by CDCB with these FAQs.
Genetic and genomic evaluations are published in April, August, and December after new phenotypic data has been added to the evaluation system. Between these major triannual evaluations, CDCB also produces weekly and monthly evaluations for management decision-making, dependent on animal status.
The United States expresses the actual predicted value that a bull, cow or heifer transmits to its offspring, which is 50% of the animal’s own genetic merit. The other half comes from the opposite parent, which is unknown until revealed.
CDCB publishes 4 lifetime merit indexes that are similarly expressed but differ in the emphases assigned to individual traits. Many people identify Lifetime Net Merit Dollars (NM$) as the universal U.S. national selection index. All four lifetime merit indexes are built using publicly available economic values to predict cow profitability. Composite selection indexes are valuable tools in modern dairy cattle breeding because they enable information from many traits to be combined into a single value for ranking animals, thus simplifying selection decisions. All four merit indexes combine information from about 40 traits, including yield, conformation, health and fitness, feed efficiency and fertility.
Farmers can choose their ideal selection index based on their milk market.
Cheese Merit $ – Places additional economic value on fat and protein production to mimic milk pricing meant for cheese production (component pricing).
Fluid Merit $ – Places economic value on pounds of fluid production to align with milk pricing in the fluid market.
Grazing Merit $ – Economic values are assigned based on grazing production. Focus on fertility and longevity.
If a farmer doesn’t market milk into one of these specialized markets, NM$ is a great tool for cow profitability on the “average” U.S. dairy farm. Net Merit $ simulates a dynamic pricing model based on how total milk volume is marketed in the U.S. and produced in a typical U.S. management system.
CDCB introduced Feed Saved (FSAV) in December 2020. Feed Saved represents the expected pounds of feed saved per lactation, above or below the breed average, based on body weight composite (BWC) and residual feed intake (RFI) evaluations. Feed Saved is measured in pounds of dry matter intake. Larger, positive values are more favorable. Predicted Transmitting Abilities (PTAs) for Feed Saved are provided for Holstein males and females.
Residual Feed Intake (RFI) is a measure of feed efficiency and is defined as the difference between an animal’s actual feed intake and its expected feed intake based on its size and growth compared to the breed average base. RFI is independent of the level of production. The lower the RFI value, the more efficient the animal is. RFI was incorporated into the CDCB lifetime merit indices in August 2021.That depends. If the bull is not an A.I. bull, then the costs would only be the nomination fees at CDCB.
If semen is collected and the bull is marketed on values from the U.S. genomic evaluation, the bull is subject to fees from CDCB and National Association of animal Breeders (NAAB).
Genomic tests are offered by a variety of companies, including breed associations, laboratories such as Zoetis and Neogen, and most A.I. companies. Company websites offer detailed information on their testing product, and company representatives can help you get started. You will most likely be sent a testing kit upon purchase with directions on how to take the biological sample and where to send it.
Genomic testing of dairy animals is offered from a variety of organizations, including breed associations, genetic providers and genotyping labs. The price for a genomic test generally ranges from $20 to $50 (US$). Testing at a higher density may come at a higher price.
All A.I. bulls enrolled in thedairy cross reference database managed by National Association of Animal Breeders (NAAB) have a bull status code. This code represents the activity status of the bull. Bulls with the A (Active), F (Foreign) or G (Genomic) code are actively being collected and marketed, so they will appear on industry ranking lists in CDCB WebConnect and from other sources.
Although there are many dairy breeds represented in the U.S., the main breeds are Holstein (and Red Holstein), Jersey, Brown Swiss, Ayrshire, Guernsey and Milking Shorthorn. These breeds have their own base for genetic and genomic evaluation. Any animal of a different dairy breed that receives a genetic or genomic evaluation will generally have the values presented on the base of the most closely related main breed.
Inbreeding levels have been increasing over the past few decades. While this is a situation that must be monitored, there have not been signs of serious inbreeding depression. In essence, inbreeding has the same biological consequence as selection which is an increase of homozygosity. The homozygosity by selection is more targeted than that by inbreeding. Geneticists around the world, including in the U.S., are working hard to answer the question of how we maintain the same rate of genetic progress without concern for potential future consequences of higher inbreeding. In the meantime, the CDCB and USDA are actively monitoring any potential new genetic defects that may affect our cattle population.
In 2013, the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) assumed full responsibility to maintain the national cooperator database, compute results, and distribute genomic and genetic evaluations. Previously the United States Department of Agriculture performed these service functions. A Non-funded Cooperative Agreement implemented on March 27, 2013, clarified that USDA would focus on world-class genetic research and CDCB was responsible for the U.S. database and genetic evaluations.
USDA has a critical role in dairy genetics – providing cutting-edge research for continuous improvement. USDA is the federal department that provides U.S. leadership on agriculture, food and related topics based on public policy and the best available science. USDA’s Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory (AGIL) discovers improved methods for the genetic and genomic evaluation of economically important traits of dairy animals and small ruminants and conducts fundamental genomics-based research aimed at improving their health and productive efficiency. This research supports top-quality genetic evaluations, data integrity and implementation of technology and new scientific learnings.
Other USDA agencies provide additional support, through research funding, economic analysis and current dairy herd health information.
Until 2013, USDA also performed the service functions related to the U.S. dairy database and genetic evaluations. The Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) assumed full responsibility in 2013 to maintain the national cooperator database, compute results and distribute genomic and genetic evaluations.
