In the August 2025 triannual evaluations, nearly 90 million animals received a genetic evaluation. The graphic showcases the number of various types of records used for this run’s traditional evaluations. Additionally, the National Cooperator Database now holds more than 11 million genotypes for use in genomic evaluations!

Here are five takeaways from this month’s evaluations:
1. Milking Speed (MSPD) evaluations introduced

• Holsteins received their first PTA for MSPD, which is based on real parlor data.
• This first evaluation includes about 90 million records. Those are related to approximately 150,000 lactations from animals in over 200 herds.
• Evaluations are expressed in pounds per minute, with PTAs compared to a standardized average of 7 pounds per minute.

2. Calving traits received their base change

• Sire Calving Ease, Daughter Calving Ease, Sire Stillbirth, and Daughter Stillbirth underwent the routine base change that all other traits experienced in April.
• Overall, calving traits declined (indicating easier calvings) in Holsteins. Slightly more variation is expected in Brown Swiss because of a small population.
• This base change was the main driver of a general slide in Net Merit $ for Holsteins (and Brown Swiss to a lesser extent). Lower phenotypic means reduced deviations used in Calving Ability $ (CA$), reducing NM$ by about $1 per unit change in CA$.

3. Genotype submissions set a new record

• Nearly 600,000 new genotypes were added since the April 2025 evaluation.
• This cycle set the record by adding 100,000 more animals in a triannual period than the previous record (August 2024).
• The milestone of adding 2 million genotypes to the National Cooperator Database in a year is now closer than ever.

4. Gestation Length (GL) is internationally validated

• GL was validated by Interbull in May, which opened the door to the international exchange of the trait.
• The exchange involves Ayrshires, Brown Swiss, Holsteins, and Jerseys. These breeds will see significant jumps in reliability for many animals, with larger PTA variability than usual.
• This exchange does not affect NM$ as GL is not included in the index.

5. Health evaluation data expanded

• Because of more data submitted and historical corrections, evaluations for health traits experienced more variability.
• This will be most noticeable in Brown Swiss and Jerseys.

Source: CDCB