Genetics

Reproductive performance evaluations enter a new era

taylor.mcwhorter@uscdcb.com — Fri, 22 May 2026 16:32:07 -0400

Ateam from the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) and the USDA’s Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory (AGIL) began a review process to find a way to modernize the traits to make sure genetic ability was being accurately measured.

Why embryo production is a worthy investment for your operation

raegan.jacobsbell@transova.com — Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

If your herd looks the same year after year, your genetics – and your profitability – are standing still. In today’s dairy landscape, standing still isn’t neutral. It’s falling behind. Reproductive strategy in dairies is no longer just about pregnancy rates; it’s about compounding progress across generations.

From the experts: A genetic planning guide for dairy producers

matti@agproud.com — Thu, 14 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Progressive Dairy interviewed genetic experts from across the industry with one goal in mind: to arm you with the knowledge and questions needed to make an effective genetic plan.

Today’s measurements build tomorrow’s cows: Why one dairyman invests in data

atie.schmitt@uscdcb.com — Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Idaho dairyman Greg Andersen elevates herd efficiency with better production, fertility and fitness. For him, the most successful way to do this is through genetic selection, backed by quality data.

Real Producer Exchange Episode 4: Skylar Gericke

walt.cooley@agproud.com — Thu, 07 May 2026 08:16:39 -0400

Ohio native Skylar Gericke quickly learned how brutal Arizona summers can be on conception rates and getting cows pregnant. He did his best to get cows bred, and when he was done for the day, he started noticing other improvement areas on the dairy.

New calf traits will allow producers to select for disease resistance

kristen.gaddis@uscdcb.com — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Genetic and genomic evaluations for Resistance to Diarrhea (DIA) and Resistance to Respiratory Problems (RSP) will represent the expected resistance of an animal’s offspring to these issues in a herd with average management conditions. Final approvals are being wrapped up, with the goal of introducing these traits for Holstein and Jersey breeders soon.

Create the next generation with more precise data from genomics

adrianne.trennepohl@genusplc.com — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

If a herd chooses to genomic test, the benefit of the tool is the access to data that will assist you in making better breeding decisions.

Protecting value in beef-on-dairy calves starts at birth

cparsons@lallemand.com — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Beef-on-dairy calves are one of the most valuable outcomes of modern dairy production. Protecting the value of these calves depends on how well rumen and gut health are supported from the start.

The story of fat and the future of protein: How genetics influence components

kevin.ziemba@stgen.com — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The modern Holstein is a component machine. That kind of progress does not happen by accident; it is the combined force of genomics, index-driven selection and breeders who started giving fat the respect the market was begging for.

From assumptions to actuals: What farm data can tell us about heifer supply

romulo.germano@parnell.com — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Higher beef prices have created opportunities for dairy operations to generate additional revenue through dairy-beef crosses, raising an important and recurring question: Should I be breeding more beef semen or more dairy sexed semen in my herd?

A reference guide for the inbreeding discussion

seaglen@naab-css.org — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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.

Is this the best dairy in the world?

alvaro@dellait.com — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Is this the best dairy in the world? That depends on how excellence is defined. If success is measured by scale or throughput, perhaps not. But if it is measured by how long cows remain healthy, comfortable and economically productive, this family-scale herd makes a compelling case.

Progressive mating strategies drive genetic progress: Results from recent study

lb5624@psu.edu — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Herds that genotyped and used all semen types had heifers with more than a $100 advantage in net merit than those that used all semen types but did not genotype heifers.

Genomics, meticulousness help repro shine at Blue Star Dairy Farms

matti@agproud.com — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

“Building a better herd gives you more options,” says Dean Meinholz, herdsman at Blue Star Dairy Farms in DeForest and Arlington, Wisconsin. Dean is referring to the decision made eight years ago to genomic test the Holstein herd – creating more flexibility with incoming heifers and additional revenue with beef-on-dairy calves.

From days to dollars: How beef gestation length impacts your dairy

lkimble@selectsires.com — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

With the ever-changing value of both replacement heifers and beef-on-dairy crosses at the front of many producers’ minds, optimizing inventory of both streams of calves has become a crucial element of producer strategy. Effectively managing the interplay of the two begins in the dry cow pens.

Securing the right number of replacements: Every heifer matters

bvincent@immucell.com — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Are you disciplined and strategic in the way you manage your beef-on-dairy calves these days? With dairy replacement heifers in short supply and expected to remain that way until 2027, your management expertise matters more than ever.

From vision, GenoSource LLC develops a herd of premium genetics to market worldwide

audrey@agproud.com — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

In 2014, a bold vision took shape in Blairstown, Iowa, to build a dairy farm with the goal of creating a modern, efficient cow capable of excelling in freestall environments with few health issues and high feed efficiency. That idea became GenoSource LLC, which stands as a testament to vision, persistence and the power of collaboration.

Behind every straw: The story of safe artificial insemination

dgomez@naab-css.org — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Not all domestic semen is required to be certified by CSS. Consequently, semen straws from bulls with unknown health status that may also be produced with less-than-ideal practices, abound. They cross state lines; they hop from one semen tank to another; and they can introduced an unwanted disease to your herd.

Passion and vision fuel the future for Holstein Association USA’s 2025 Distinguished Young Breeder

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 16:10:44 -0500

Tim Rauen took his passion for pedigrees, excitement for genomics and a vision for genetic success to grow a dairy operation and influence the A.I. industry.

Use of polled genetics builds momentum

cgsattler@selectsires.com — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Breeding for polled animals is the only real way to effectively manage the pain caused by disbudding. It also is an effective way to eliminate this problematic calf management chore.

The value of genomics in dairy cattle

aling@neogen.com — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Advancements in technology are the fuel behind every leap in dairy efficiency. Just like the machines in the field and the barn, today’s cows carry more power under the hood than cows of a decade ago – more milk, better fertility and stronger resistance to disease.

[Podcast] Making Health Insurance Simple: What You Need to Know to Choose the Right Coverage with Confidence

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

This session explores current market trends and key considerations when evaluating insurance coverage options.

Dairy producers’ guide to growing, finishing beef-on-dairy steers

sblez@verizon.net — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Proper planning and sound implementation are critical to making beef-on-dairy programs work, and the results can improve overall farm income and can complement the dairy operation as a whole.

The economics of breeding for more dairy replacements: Striking the right balance

vcabrera@wisc.edu — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

This article outlines the economic outcomes of alternative breeding strategies that combine sexed, beef and conventional semen. Using both short-term decision support tools and long-term simulation models, we explored how reproductive performance and semen use strategies interact to shape profitability on dairy farms.

Maximizing profits from dairy steers

tamilee.adolph@adm.com — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Understanding the major factors influencing the profitability of a steer-raising operation are key to making good decisions that help increase the potential for greater profits. Let’s explore the top factors that impact profitability when raising dairy steers.

Beef-on-dairy: Best management practices

kramsey@neogen.com — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The utilization of beef semen on dairy cattle to create higher value crossbred calves has proven to be an effective strategy for dairy producers. Dairy producers who focus on creating quality beef-on-dairy calves will have the edge as the market dynamics shift.

Genomic tools help us manage genetic defects

john.cole@uscdcb.com — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

There is perhaps nothing more discouraging on the farm than visiting the maternity pen and finding a calf that displays an abnormality. Developmental defects like this can be caused by something in the environment. Other times, they’re caused by changes in an animal’s DNA that can be passed on from parent to offspring.

Striking a balance: Genetic superiority vs. age

jziegler@selectsires.com — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The days of just making dairy replacement females as fast and furious as possible have taken a back seat to making just enough of the “right” replacement heifers to minimize rising raising costs and maintaining the proper heifer inventories for replacing milking cows that leave the herd.

Selecting for greater parlor efficiency is possible

kristen.gaddis@uscdcb.com — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Dairy farmers now have a more powerful, long-term tool to affect the milking time of their herds with a new trait developed by the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB): milking speed, which became available for Holsteins in the August triannual genetic evaluations.

A good start sets up beef-on-dairy calves for a strong finish: A case study

garland@iastate.edu — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

When fed aggressively, beef-on-dairy calves are hard to differentiate from native beef cattle by an untrained eye; however, these calves tend to be plagued with a fairly high incidence of liver abscesses, and this occurrence was the basis for our investigation.