February 10, 2021

Your genetic decision today IS your future herd

In April 2025, the US dairy genetic base was updated to reflect the amount of genetic progress made since the last base change five years ago.

Your genetic decision today IS your future herd

The future of your herd is more than just your youngstock. It’s found inside your semen tank.

Think about the semen just delivered to your dairy and added to your tank. It’s an investment. And it’s a decision that will impact your operation for years to come. Your genetic decision today becomes the calves, heifers, and milking cows of your future herd.

The BIG decisions

When it comes to making big decisions – the type that affect your livelihood, your future, or your financial well-being – most people work with a trusted advisor to make the best possible choice.

When you buy a house, you work with a realtor. To deal with your retirement investments, you likely work with a trusted financial advisor. Decisions about both types of investments have a major impact on your life for years down the road.

Your dairy herd is no different. The genetics you use have a lasting impact on your livelihood, your future, and your operation’s financial well-being.

Your Alta advisor can help ensure that your investment creates genetic progress aligned with your farm’s situation and future goals. That means everything from setting the right customized genetic plan to selecting the right investment level to fit your long-term strategy. Because when it comes to genetics, you get what you select for.

Find your proof

How can we be sure that genetics make a difference? We know from countless examples of what we call ‘Proof in the Numbers’ that what you breed for today is directly correlated to the results you see in your future milking herd. Want to see real samples to understand more? Check them out HEREHERE, or HERE.

Just remember, the results these herds realize for production, fertility, and health stem from the genetic decisions they made more than 3 years ago.

With that in mind, don’t make light of the BIG decisions. Work with your trusted Alta advisor to ensure your genetic investments and strategy align with your situation and future goals. Because the genetic decision inside your semen tank is your future herd.

How does this genetic base change compare to previous base changes?

We’ve made more genetic progress in the past five years than during any other five-year span in recent history.

The charts below show the base change numbers for 2025, 2020, 2015, and 2010. As you can see from the charts, the base change in 2025 is significantly more for most traits than it was for previous base changes.

That means we’ve made more progress over the last five years than during any other five-year span in recent history.

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