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Dairy genetic evaluation reset reflects component gains

An economist says dairy cattle genetics have made major strides over the past five years.

Corey Geiger with CoBank says since 1965, the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding has regularly adjusted genetic base evaluations to reflect progress.

“Butterfat in Holsteins will shift by 45 pounds, and protein by 30 pounds, and that butterfat number’s almost double any number that’s taken place in the past,” he shares.

He says rapid adoption of genomic testing has allowed dairy farmers to breed for cows that have produced year-over-year record levels of butterfat since 2020.

“They’re getting paid on those pounds of butterfat and protein, so it’s a direct correlation and the prices do vary by month based on market demand, but both are strong,” he says.

He says while milk volumes have remained steady, milkfat on a percentage and per-pound basis increased to a record 4.23 percent in 2024 and protein levels grew to 3.29 percent.

Geiger says he’s bullish butterfat levels have a lot of room for growth based on current consumer demand and could pass five percent in the next decade.

Brownfield’s Larry Lee interviews Corey Geiger with CoBank