CDCB hosted its 10th annual Industry Meeting on October 2, 2024, in Madison, Wis. At World Dairy Expo, 155 dairy producers and industry representatives filled the seats in The Tanbark. Another 266 viewers joined the live stream, which has had 200 additional views within a week post-meeting.
The Integrated Value of the U.S. Genetic Evaluation System was the event theme, celebrating the century-long partnership of dairy producers and many organizations that collect and transmit cow data into the National Cooperator Database that fuels U.S. genetic evaluations.
2024 CDCB Annual Report
João Dürr, Ph.D., CDCB CEO
Dürr described the redefined CDCB strategy, as detailed in the new Activity Report and 2024-26 CDCB Strategic Plan. The strategy centers around five priorities: collaborative communication, data quality and integrity, technology and infrastructure, training and resources, and portfolio diversification.
The CDCB system continues to expand in scale and value, with growth possible thanks to the thousands of dairy producers who contribute to the National Cooperator Database. Through collaboration, dairy herds and organizations worldwide benefit from pre-competitive genetic evaluations and timely research for herd and genetic improvement.
“Together, we are not only preparing for the future,” Dürr concluded. “We are shaping it.”
Understanding the Integrated Value of CDCB and Its Collaborators
Amy te Plate-Church, CDCB Communications
Increasing visibility of the U.S. genetic evaluation system and highlighting the value delivered to dairy herds is a key priority for 2025 and beyond. This presentation outlined CDCB’s leadership to develop outreach and materials about the integrated system, with communications ramping up in early 2025. Read the full report here: “Data Fuels Genetic Evaluations.”
Producer Panel: Using Cow Data for Progress On and Off the Farm
Three innovative dairy producers describe how they leverage a variety of on-farm data sources that collectively improve the performance of individual cows and their dairy herds overall. Moderated by Katie Schmitt, CDCB Outreach Specialist, the panelists included:
- Skylar Gericke, Triple G Dairy, Buckeye, Ariz.
- Matt Hendel, Hendel Farms, Caledonia, Minn.
- Jordan Matthews, Rosy-Lane Holsteins LLC, Watertown, Wis.
USDA AGIL Research Updates
Asha Miles, Ph.D., Research Geneticist, USDA AGIL
Miles updated the audience on research conducted by USDA Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, highlighting these studies:
- Validation study: Evaluating predictive ability of genetic and genomic evaluations for heifers
- Milking speed: Genetic and genomic evaluations, data flow, and next steps
- Calf health: Available data, trait exploration, and development of national evaluations
- Lactation projection factors: Updating milk, fat, and protein yield predictions
CDCB Research Updates
John Cole, Ph.D., CDCB Chief Research and Development Officer
Cole described the early findings and next steps for research underway by CDCB geneticists and through partnerships with USDA AGIL and university researchers.
- Female fertility (Daughter Pregnancy Rate, Cow Conception Rate and Heifer Conception Rate) trait review
- Single-step genomic evaluations
- Lameness and foot and claw health
- 2025 base change
- Selective breeding to reduce enteric methane emissions
Interested dairy cattle breeders and producers can see the recording of the CDCB industry meeting here!