“When it comes to genetic selection for fertility, it’s not easy. It is quite slow compared to more straightforward traits like milk production or fat or protein content. This is a complex thing,” said Christine Baes at the Western Canadian Dairy Seminar.

More than 120 producers and industry stakeholders sat in on Lactanet’s first open industry session of 2026 to learn of the organization’s directions relating to genetics and evaluations. Five presentations provided updates and research highlights geared to streamlining reporting processes and identifying quality- and trait-related trends within the industry.

While messages in our industry about inbreeding can be mixed, the facts are clear. Published trends show a steep upward trajectory in inbreeding. This is a natural consequence of high selection intensity and rapid genetic gain. That gain has brought significant genetic progress, which, by current estimates, often outweighs the financial costs of inbreeding depression.

Inbreeding is thought to be a big problem. But is it? 

Inbreeding results when two related animals, with a shared ancestor in their pedigree, mate. The degree of inbreeding, or homozygosity, is a measure of how closely related the ancestors were along the sire and dam lines.