Feed efficiency is increasingly recognised as one of the most important drivers of profitable and sustainable dairy production. Yet a fundamental question remains: what makes one cow more efficient than another, and how much of the difference is simply the cost of maintaining the animal herself?

CRV is uniquely positioned to explore this question through one of the world's largest commercial feed intake datasets, with more than 1.2 million weekly feed intake records contributing to genetic evaluation. Since 2023, CRV has complemented these data with 3D camera technology across five research and evaluation herds, continuously capturing detailed measurements on body weight, body condition, stature, chest width, body depth and locomotion.

By combining large-scale feed intake data with high-resolution phenotyping, new opportunities emerge to better understand the biological relationships between body composition, maintenance requirements and feed efficiency. This session will explore how these novel data streams can help disentangle the costs of maintaining different types of cows, reveal previously hidden sources of variation in efficiency, and provide fresh insight into the future of genetic improvement for dairy cattle.

Join us for a look at how big data, advanced imaging and genetics are coming together to redefine our understanding of efficient dairy cows and the next generation of breeding goals.

Using one of the largest commercial feed intake datasets available and cutting-edge 3D phenotyping technology, CRV is beginning to answer that question. Discover how millions of feed intake records and continuous measurements of body size, condition and movement are revealing new insights into the hidden biology of feed efficiency and what it could mean for the future of Holstein breeding.

Dr. Christopher Orrett, Global Research and Development Manager

Dr. Christopher Orrett is the Global Research & Development Manager at CRV, leading research programmes across quantitative genetics, genomics, reproductive technologies and dairy cattle breeding. With more than 15 years of experience in agricultural science, he specialises in translating advanced genetic and genomic technologies into practical solutions that deliver value throughout the dairy supply chain.

After completing a PhD in Quantitative Genetics and Genome Analysis at The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Dr Orrett has worked extensively in breeding programme design, genetic evaluation, product development and applied research. His work spans the development of breeding strategies for commercial dairy producers, assessment of emerging technologies and the economic impact of genetic improvement.

Today, he leads CRV's international research portfolio, overseeing programmes focused on profitability, sustainability and animal health. His current interests include feed efficiency, methane emissions, advanced phenotyping and the use of large-scale commercial data to accelerate genetic progress in the Holstein breed and beyond.