Can you afford to ignore genetic diversity?
As herds grow larger and genetic selection intensifies, one foundational concept deserves renewed attention: genetic diversity.
While it may not dominate headlines or industry top 100 lists, genetic diversity plays a critical role in protecting herd performance, minimizing risk and preserving future opportunities. In today’s dairy environment, genetic diversity is not optional. It is a herd’s insurance policy.
What is genetic diversity?
In practical terms, genetic diversity refers to the number of different bloodlines represented within a herd or within a genetics company’s breeding program. It is influenced by how many different sires are used, how closely related those sires are and how much overlap exists at the maternal grandsire and great-grandsire levels.
Adrianne Trennepohl
June 16, 2026
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