The Council for Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) releases updated dairy sire summaries three times a year to help producers make informed decisions about herd genetics. Advances in genomic data and expanded trait evaluations have made it easier to identify sires that excel in health, longevity, and efficiency.
Key tools for selection include CDCB Merit Rankings, which use research-based data to emphasize economically important traits. These indexes include:
- Net Merit Dollars (NM$): Focused on production, efficiency, health, and fertility.
- Cheese Merit Dollars (CM$): Prioritizes milk components for cheese production.
- Fluid Merit Dollars (FM$): Reflects fluid milk pricing in certain U.S. regions.
- Grazing Merit Dollars (GM$): Emphasizes mobility and fertility in grazing systems.
Producers can refine their selections with breed-specific or custom indexes, address inbreeding concerns, and leverage insights from genomic testing. The ability to align selection criteria with herd goals ensures long-term profitability and animal well-being.
For more detailed information, visit the Council for Dairy Cattle Breeding.
