DairyTalk 323: Cow Families in the Genomic Era: Why Maternal Lines Still Matter in Dairy Breeding - by Helmut Demmelhuber

DairyTalk by Helmut Demmelhuber · Mar 14, 2026 · 21m

This podcast episode draws on a technical article examining the role of cow families in modern genomic dairy breeding. The underlying analysis argues that while genomic evaluations enable highly precise selection, maternal line information still provides practical context for breeding decisions. Cow families can support the interpretation of genetic relationships, help identify inbreeding risks and assist in structuring bull selection. They also add herd-level insight into the consistency of performance and health traits across generations. The article positions cow family knowledge as a…