The most significant change for the U.S. genetic evaluation system since the introduction of genomics in 2008 is approaching. For the past five years, the team at CDCB has been investigating how to apply single-step genomic evaluations to the expansive National Cooperator Database to make the best use of available pedigree, genotype, and phenotype information.
As this work gets closer to implementation, it also creates an opportunity for a complete modernization of how U.S. genetic evaluations are produced, including monthly evaluations, an annual genetic base change, and a streamlined publication and distribution policy.
“While these initiatives represent substantial adjustments, they are not simply change for the sake of change. They are strategic investments designed to strengthen the genetic evaluation system, accelerate innovation, and provide dairy producers with the tools needed to make informed breeding decisions in an increasingly data-driven environment,” wrote Jay Weiker, chair of the CDCB Board of Directors, in the 2026 Activity Report.
CDCB Chief Research and Development Officer John Cole, Ph.D., presented the details and applications of this change at the CDCB Industry Meeting. Watch his presentation to understand what the move to single-step means for how evaluations will be calculated.
CDCB CEO João Dürr, Ph.D., discussed the need for modernization and what it will mean for the dairy industry in the October episode of The CDCB CowCast, “The Next Generation of Genetic Evaluations.”
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