{"id":1589,"date":"2026-06-10T21:42:56","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T21:42:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drms.org\/?page_id=1589"},"modified":"2026-09-17T13:12:49","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T17:12:49","slug":"your-data-in-action-milking-speed-becomes-a-genetic-evaluation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/drms.org\/index.php\/products-and-services\/herd-hq\/milking-speed-evaluation\/your-data-in-action-milking-speed-becomes-a-genetic-evaluation\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Data in Action: Milking Speed Becomes a Genetic Evaluation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

By Asha Miles, PhD, DRMS Director<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Milking Speed (MSPD) is actively used by many herds to improve parlor efficiency and guide economic decisions. Starting in August 2025, a new genetic evaluation trait for MSPD will be available from the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB). This novel tool is the result of years of industry collaboration and research. As a trusted data partner, DRMS is proud to have provided 100% of the data used in the research and development of this new trait. We thank dairy producers for contributing their data to support genetic progress. Our non-profit mission means we are built to serve; we are passionate about generating science-led, producer-focused tools and powering research and innovation through collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The DRMS development and operations teams worked closely with CDCB’s Milking Speed Evaluations Task Force<\/a> and researchers at USDA’s Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory (AGIL) to turn raw, sensor-generated data into valuable insights. This is the first U.S. genetic evaluation utilizing sensor-based data\u2014a transformative moment for dairy breeding and selection. We are excited to have collaborated with CDCB in pioneering the development of a new format<\/a> for transmitting sensor-based MSPD data and the associated information required to standardize measurements from a wide range of parlor configurations across the USA. Standardized formats and rigorous quality control are central to generating data that works. All dairy records processing centers can use this new format, empowering producers from all over the country to participate in dairy genetic improvement for MSPD. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new MSPD trait will be available for Holstein males and females and is expressed on a phenotypic scale with the breed average of 7 lbs\/min. For example, daughters of a bull with a MSPD Predicted Transmitting Ability (PTA) of 8 lbs\/min would be expected to milk faster than the average cow in the population. More information on the development and interpretation of MSPD can be found below1,2,3,4,5,6<\/sup>.Log in to HerdHQ today<\/a> and see how the new MSPD trait can work for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additional Resources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For more on the Milking Speed trait and its development, explore the resources below:
1<\/sup>CDCB FAQs<\/a>
2<\/sup>Miles 2022. Is there a genetic piece to milking speed?<\/a>
3<\/sup>Miles et al., 2023. System and biological effects on quantitative milking speed phenotypes from inline milk meters<\/a>
4<\/sup>Miles et al., 2024. Genetic and genomic evaluations of quantitative milking speed phenotypes<\/a>
5<\/sup>Select Sires 2025. Milking speed trait coming August 2025<\/a>
6<\/sup>Dairy Herd Management 2025. How fast can you milk a cow? A new genetic tool measures milking speed<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

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