Podcasts

The CDCB Cowcast

Listen to dairy geneticists, farmers, industry leaders, and more translate the science, data, and research of dairy cattle genetics into real-world applications. The CDCB CowCast is brought to you by the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB), a nonprofit organization providing premier dairy genetic information services through the collaboration of more than 60 organizations worldwide. CDCB stewards the National Cooperator Database, the world's largest storehouse of animal information.

Latest Episode

Ep. 8: A Summer of Research

In this episode of The CDCB CowCast, CDCB’s 2026 research interns discuss their projects, results, and what they learned working with the CDCB team this summer. Featuring Ph.D. students Sergio Sanchez (University of Georgia), Adebisi Ogunbawo (Purdue University), and Alejandra Álvarez (University of Georgia). To view the slides shared in this discussion, watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Ex8zU5BP_qE Learn more and sign up for the monthly email newsletter, the CDCB Connection, at uscdcb.com To get notified of new episodes, subscribe here or follow the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding on Facebook or LinkedIn.

September 8 • 29m 50.1s

Episodes

Ep. 8: A Summer of Research

September 8 • 29m 50.1s

Ep. 7: Recapping the August Evaluations

In this episode of The CDCB CowCast, CDCB’s Ezequiel Nicolazzi, Ph.D., and Taylor McWhorter, Ph.D., discuss the calculation of the August 2026 official genetic evaluation, including how the three new traits (DIA, RSP, and FSC) and four revised traits (DPR, CCR, HCR, and EFC) performed. For reminders about the changes to reproductive performance traits that occurred in this month’s evaluations, listen to Episode 4, “Reproductive Tools for Today’s Dairies.” For details on the new calf health traits, listen to Episode 1, “Healthier Calves From the First Breath.” To view the slides shared in this discussion, watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cPfdEnhL9Vw Learn more and sign up for the monthly email newsletter, the CDCB Connection, at uscdcb.com To get notified of new episodes, subscribe here or follow the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding on Facebook or LinkedIn.

August 18 • 43m 15.7s

Ep. 6: How Dairy Producers Influence Genetic Direction

In this episode of The CDCB CowCast, Matt Hendel of Hendel Farms in Caledonia, Minn., discusses the impact that attention to genetic selection has had on his herd of 425 Holsteins and Brown Swiss, the value of accurate data, and what he’s learned over the years by surrounding himself with knowledgeable people. Learn more and sign up for the monthly email newsletter, the CDCB Connection, at uscdcb.com To get notified of new episodes, subscribe here or follow the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding on Facebook or LinkedIn.

July 14 • 36m 6.7s

Ep. 5: What Semen Sales Tell Us About Dairy's Future

In this episode of The CDCB CowCast, National Association of Animal Breeders (NAAB) President Jay Weiker discusses 2025 semen sales, international demand for U.S. genetics, and what could lie ahead. Learn more and sign up for the monthly email newsletter, the CDCB Connection, at uscdcb.com To get notified of new episodes, subscribe here or follow the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding on Facebook or LinkedIn.

June 9 • 34m 32.7s

Ep. 4: Reproductive Tools for Today's Dairies

In this episode of The CDCB CowCast, CDCB Geneticist Taylor McWhorter, Ph.D., discusses updates coming to the four female reproductive performance traits (Daughter Pregnancy Rate, Cow Conception Rate, Heifer Conception Rate, and Early First Calving) in the August 2026 genetic evaluations as well as a new trait that will be introduced, First Service to Conception. To view the slides shared in this discussion, watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vxjfDTTauT0 View the summary document of all reproductive performance changes: https://uscdcb.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Reproductive-Performance-Traits-Summary-Final-1.pdf Find statistics, descriptions, and more of all the August changes: https://uscdcb.com/august-2026-evaluations/ Learn more and sign up for the monthly email newsletter, the CDCB Connection, at uscdcb.com To get notified of new episodes, subscribe here or follow the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding on Facebook or LinkedIn.

May 12 • 44m 35.6s

Ep. 3: How Dairy Crossbred Animals Receive a Genetic Evaluation

In this episode of The CDCB CowCast, CDCB Technical Advisor George Wiggans, Ph.D., discusses the development of crossbred evaluations, the use of Breed Base Representation, and what we see in this system today. To view the slides shared in this discussion, watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eroKCiUVikg Learn more and sign up for the monthly email newsletter, the CDCB Connection, at uscdcb.com To get notified of new episodes, subscribe here or follow the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding on Facebook or LinkedIn.

April 14 • 24m 23.3s

Episode 2: The National Herd Behind the National Evaluations

In this episode of The CDCB CowCast, CDCB Livestock Data Analytics Expert Fiona Guinan, Ph.D., explains what U.S. dairy cattle statistics are aggregated in the National Performance Metrics available through CDCB and demonstrates how to use the website. Go to the National Performance Metrics: https://webconnect.uscdcb.com/#/national-performance-metrics Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bohe0MoZ3-c Learn more and sign up for the monthly email newsletter, the CDCB Connection, at uscdcb.com To get notified of new episodes, subscribe here or follow the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding on Facebook or LinkedIn.

March 10 • 31m 23.8s

Episode 1: Healthier Calves From the First Breath

In this episode of The CDCB CowCast, CDCB Geneticist Kristen Parker Gaddis, Ph.D., discusses the research and application of two new genetic selection traits for dairy calves, resistance to diarrhea and resistance to respiratory disease. To view the slides shared in this discussion, watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4Sd0mDKfYT8 Find summary statistics and trends for any trait at https://webconnect.uscdcb.com/#/summary-stats/genetic-trend Learn more and sign up for the monthly email newsletter, the CDCB Connection, at uscdcb.com To get notified of new episodes, subscribe here or follow the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding on Facebook or LinkedIn.

February 10 • 29m 54.3s