Genetics

Where Crossbreds Fit in Today’s Genetic Evaluations

Fri, 01 May 2026 18:26:15 GMT

When crossbreeding started picking up steam in U.S. dairy herds, the genetic toolbox wasn’t really built for the cows’ producers had in their barns.

Genetic evaluations worked well for purebreds, but for Holstein–Jersey crosses and other combinations, the system only went so far and accuracy dropped. That gap is what the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) set out to address.

In a recent episode of the CDCB Cow Cast, George Wiggans, longtime USDA research geneticist and current CDCB technical advisor, walked through how genomic evaluations and Breed Base Representation (BBR) have changed the way crossbred dairy cattle are evaluated.

Why Crossbreds Didn’t Quite Fit

For a long time, dairy genetic evaluations were built around purebred populations, which worked well when most herds were fairly uniform and selection stayed within a single breed.

Evaluations were done within each breed, so crossbred animals didn’t always line up as well in the system and their results were less accurate. As crossbreeding became more common in commercial herds, especially in Holstein–Jersey systems aimed at balancing production and components, those gaps became more noticeable. The system could still generate numbers, but they didn’t always reflect what was happening in mixed-breed cows.

Meanwhile, the industry’s data foundation was still developing. For decades, most genetic progress came from what Wiggans calls the basics.

“We still relied on traditional evaluations, which pulled together data from farms across the country and even around the world to figure out which animals perform best,” Wiggans says. “Then we would take all that information across the traits we measure and combine it into a profile or index that would help predict how profitable an animal would be.”

That system has long been used in dairy genetics, but it didn’t always handle animals with mixed-breed backgrounds as smoothly.

Genomics Opens the Door

Genomics changed how geneticists approach evaluations. Instead of relying only on performance records, the system now uses DNA to connect specific parts of the genome to trait outcomes.

Wiggans says this is done using what are called reference populations.

“The concept is that by having a large reference population, we can assign genetic values to these segments of the chromosome,” Wiggans says. “So, when we put it all together and add it all up, we can say, we think that this is going to be the cow’s productivity for each of the traits we analyze.”

He explains genomic evaluation as building a kind of genetic mosaic, where pieces of DNA get value based on data from large groups of known animals. This worked well for purebreds, but for crossbreds there was still a missing piece: a consistent way to describe breed makeup in a way national evaluations could use directly.

BBR Gives Crossbreds a Place

To address that gap, the industry developed Breed Base Representation, or BBR.

“Recognizing that we would like to extend the genomic evaluations to crossbreds, we needed some way of identifying what the breed background was of an animal,” Wiggans says.

BBR uses genomic data to estimate how much of each breed is in an animal.

“We used kind of an interesting approach here… Why don’t we use the same idea to estimate how much Holstein, Jersey, Guernsey, and other breeds are in an animal,” Wiggans says.

Purebred animals serve as the starting point because their genetics are clearly defined.

“We treat a purebred animal as fully belonging to its breed, like giving it a ‘1’ for that breed and a ‘0’ for all other breeds,” Wiggans says. “Then we use genetic markers, called SNPs, to estimate how much of each breed is in mixed animals.”

From there, each animal gets a breed breakdown.

“So, an animal could be 75% Holstein and 25% Jersey,” Wiggans says. “That’s what Breed Base Representation, or BBR, reports.”

BBR breaks an animal’s genetics into breed percentages, giving producers a clearer way to understand and compare crossbred animals. He adds that the approach is considered highly accurate because it’s based on large amounts of genetic data from many animals.

Putting Breed Mix into One Number

BBR describes what breeds are in an animal. The next step is turning that information into a usable evaluation.

“By having this BBR that we’ve discussed, we can say, well, let’s just do a weighted average,” Wiggans says. “We’ll multiply each evaluation by the percent of each breed that it is, add it all up, then that will be our evaluation of this animal.”

Each breed contributes to the final score based on how much of that breed is in the animal. A higher percentage of a breed means it has more influence on the outcome. The final result is one evaluation number for crossbred animals that reflects their actual genetic makeup, instead of forcing them into a single-breed category that doesn’t fully represent them.

Crossbreds are Now Part of the System

As genomic testing has expanded, crossbreds have become a bigger part of the national dataset.

“So, not surprisingly, Holstein numbers were over 9 million last year, with Jersey coming in second,” Wiggans says. “But what stands out is that crossbreds are now the third largest group. So, providing evaluations for crossbred met a real need in the industry.”

Today, crossbred animals are included in the evaluation system. Tools are now in place to better reflect how they are bred and managed on today’s dairies. As genetic evaluations continue to evolve, Wiggans expects crossbreds to remain part of the picture.

“We’re working on strategies to take this into account so that the evaluation simultaneously considers both the genetics and her traditional data,” he says. “We expect that we’ll still offer evaluations for these animals, so that the BBR will continue to have a role in the evaluations.”

The result is a system that better matches the cows’ producers are working with every day, bringing crossbreds fully into the genetic conversation.

How Genetics Give This Dairy Farm a Competitive Edge

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 12:43:35 GMT

With a rich family heritage in dairy farming, Scott Ruby, managing partner at Fir Ridge Holstein Farm, has a story of tradition meeting modern innovation. Growing up, Scott’s father, Ray, encouraged him to explore different fields before returning to the farm, allowing him to gain invaluable experience in the genetic sector for more than 25 years, during which he visited over 70 countries. Ruby’s global exposure has provided him with a diverse perspective on the industry’s challenges and innovations.

Rooted in Tradition
Fir Ridge Holstein Farm, located in Scio, Ore., nestled in the beautiful Willamette Valley, has found its niche through strategic planning and innovation. Fir Ridge has two sites, one in Scio and another on the Oregon coast, which enables them to leverage the benefits of Tillamook Creamery. Their strategic expansion in 2000 allowed them to tap into branded dairy products and secure a competitive edge through higher milk prices in the region.

Ruby highlights that both farms have the same milking parlor setup: a double-14 herringbone.

“We can cross-train staff, move staff back and forth, if necessary,” he shared at the 2025 Global Dairy Conference in Chicago, Ill., earlier this summer.

Embracing Innovation
Innovation and technology have become indispensable in modern farming. Ruby highlights the incorporation of a robotic feed pusher, activity monitoring system and irrigation tech system, which have dramatically improved efficiency for the farm.

By embracing technology, Fir Ridge Holstein Farm not only increases productivity but also attracts the younger generation to return to farming, seeing it as a tech-savvy and fulfilling career path. Scott’s son, Jake, for example, effortlessly manages farm operations via apps, driving home how integral technology has become in daily operations.

“Technology is obviously a big part of the dairy industry today,” he says. “Technology is really important if we’re going to continue to be successful in the business, and also if we’re going to encourage the youth to come back to the business, because they love technology.”

The Power of Genetics
Genetic excellence is a cornerstone of Fir Ridge Holstein Farm’s success strategy. With a focus on advanced genetic programs, the farm has consistently achieved outstanding results, such as improved milk productivity and enhanced herd longevity.

“I consider genetics our ... No. 1 competitive advantage,” Ruby says. “We see it as $40,000 a year in net returns on our farms, and that’s mostly from increased productivity, longevity of our cows and less involuntary culling.”

By using the Dairy Wellness Profit Index developed in collaboration with Zoetis, the team at Fir Ridge Holsteins makes informed breeding decisions to ensure the health and productivity of their cattle.

“We just kind of gradually grew over the years to where we’re milking about 1,400 cows now, and we have plans now to go to 1,800 here,” Ruby says. “Milk production from 2000 to today has grown tremendously. We have basically seen cows that have become more efficient genetically, and then we’ve become more efficient at managing them as well.”

Continuous Improvement
Fir Ridge’s commitment to improvement is evident in their systematic approach to livestock management. By genomically testing every calf, they make precise, data-driven selection decisions that benefit their herd’s genetic progress. This dedication ensures their farm remains at the forefront of the industry, competitive not just locally, but in broader markets as well.

Scott’s long-term vision encompasses sustainable and strategic growth. By planning to expand their herd size to 1,800 cows by 2028, Fir Ridge Holstein Farm is paving the way for the future. They are carefully balancing innovation with heritage, leveraging everything from soil nutrition to cutting-edge technology to maintain their competitive edge.

Ruby says when their herd size is constant, they breed about 45% of their herd to sexed Holstein semen and the remaining 55% to beef.

“And those cows were ranked by our genomic system,” he says, noting his son, Jake, generates spreadsheet formals to decided which cow is going to get bred to what. “In April 2025 we started a plan for her expansion, and we’re going to do all that internally. So in order to do that, we plan now to have calves ready when the new facilities are built in January of 2028, so that’s kind of how the planning is going now. And we changed the to breeding to 60% sexed semen and 40% to beef-on-dairy semen.”

By fusing tradition with technological advancement, Fir Ridge Holstein Farm continues to secure its legacy in the dairy industry, inspiring future generations to carry this torch forward.

Your Next Read:
Dairy and Beef-on-Dairy Cattle Sizzling Market Has Found a New Balance - Dairy Herd Management

Young Award-Winning Dairy Producer Maximizes Cash Flow with Hot Dairy Cow Market

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 12:59:43 GMT

Entering the year with optimism, fifth-generation Virginia dairy farmer, Ben Smith, is pleased with the financial foothold his dairy farm has achieved. Reflecting on 2024, Smith notes the favorable financial conditions propelled by declining feed prices, which have been instrumental in improving farm margins.

“We had a great year in 2024,” says the young farmer from Fauquier County, noting that lower feed prices definitely helped increase their margin. “I don’t foresee milk price being quite as good as it was in 2024 this year, but we’re a whole lot better off than we were in 2023. That was a tough year for us.”

Expanding Horizons
Smith’s farm, Cool Lawn, LLC, is home to 850 cows and spans 2,000 acres. Amid expansion efforts to build a new dry-cow facility, he shares the common farmer’s challenge: stretched budgets.

“It seems like once construction starts; money just starts to disappear,” Smith says humorously.

Yet, his overall sentiment remains optimistic, especially with a respectful first quarter in 2025 for his dairy operation.

While many farmers are integrating beef-on-dairy techniques, Smith, the 2023 Milk Business Young Producer Award recipient remains focused on refining his Holstein herd. He emphasizes the use of high-quality sexed Holstein replacements, contributing to the farm’s continual growth. Despite construction delays on his dry-cow barn, he views this as an opportunity, pointing to the considerable revenue from selling fresh cows.

“While most of the industry is going the beef-on-dairy route, we’ve focused on selling high quality sexed Holstein semen,” Smith says. “That said, construction always takes longer than you think it would. We’re probably a year and a half behind on starting on another freestall barn, which has opened up other doors.”

Strategic Focus
The doors that Smith is referring to is the revenue generated from selling 350 fresh cows in 2024.

“So far in 2025, we’ve sold 200-plus dairy,” he says. “That has really helped us out on first quarter financials.”

Smith reiterates what has been reported across the U.S. — high demand for high-quality genetics, fresh, first-lactation cows.

“It might almost be a blessing that our construction and expansion has gotten pushed out due to permitting, as there’s been no shortage of dairy sales,” he says.

Smith usually sells to larger, growing dairies in New York, as well as a few smaller Mennonite herds that are adding 10 to 20 cows or even those producers who have exclusively gone the beef-on-dairy route and are now in need of fresh dairy cows.

“I smile when I think what is 35 cows to a guy milking 4,000 cows in New York,” he says. “But it was important for him to replace older cows with better, younger cows.”

Smith relies on genomic testing to determine which cows to sell for dairy replacements. He says some buyers want springers, while others want a mix of first- and second-lactation cows.

“All the cows we sell look good and average over 90 lb.,” he says, noting that he allows the buyers to look at a larger group, so they can hand pick the ones they want.

The tumultuous year of 2023 seems more manageable now for Smith due to the buoyancy provided by the surplus income from dairy replacement sales. This financial lift has allowed the young, enthusiastic farmer to revisit and reinvest in projects placed on hold before.

“When it comes to improving the genetics of my herd, I get excited,” Smith says.

The Virginia dairy farmer’s journey over the past couple of years underscores the essential optimism and strategic adjustment required to thrive in the ever-evolving dairy industry, demonstrating that even within the unpredictable nature of farming, opportunities for growth and success abound.

Your Next Read:
Growing Pains and Big Gains: A Wisconsin Dairy’s Fast-Paced Journey From 70 Cows to 700