Zoetis Expands Genetic Innovations for Sustainable Dairy Farming

New traits focused on environmental stewardship and heat resistance added to Dairy Wellness Profit Index®

Apr. 8, 2026 at 7:04am

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A photorealistic studio still life featuring a polished metal milk can, a glass beaker, and a pile of feed pellets, conceptually representing the innovations in dairy farming genetics that promote sustainability and profitability.Zoetis' latest genetic innovations empower dairy farmers to breed cows that are more profitable, efficient, and environmentally sustainable.Parsippany Today

Zoetis, the world's leading animal health company, has announced updates to its CLARIFIDE® Plus genetic testing service, including the addition of new traits focused on environmental stewardship and heat resistance. These updates are part of the 2026 version of the Dairy Wellness Profit Index® (DWP$®), which aims to help dairy producers improve profitability, animal well-being, and environmental sustainability.

Why it matters

The new traits in CLARIFIDE Plus and DWP$ 2026 will give dairy producers more tools to breed cows that are profitable, efficient, and sustainable. This aligns with growing consumer and market demands for environmentally responsible dairy production, while also maintaining strong economic performance for dairy farms.

The details

The key new traits in DWP$ 2026 include Zoetis Residual Feed Intake (Z_RFI) to measure feed efficiency, RUMiN to predict enteric methane production, Fertility Heat Resilience (Z_FR) and Milk Heat Resilience (Z_MR) to improve heat tolerance. These new elements reinforce Zoetis' strategic partnership with Danone to advance sustainable dairy practices through genetics and selection.

  • Zoetis announced the updates to CLARIFIDE Plus and DWP$ 2026 on April 7, 2026.
  • The new traits are now available to dairy producers through the CLARIFIDE Plus service.

The players

Zoetis

The world's leading animal health company, providing innovative solutions in precision animal health to dairy producers.

Danone

A global food and beverage company that has partnered with Zoetis since 2024 to drive sustainable practices on dairy farms through the power of genetics.

Nick Randle

Sr. Marketing Manager, U.S. Dairy Productivity and Milk Quality at Zoetis.

Brett Bristol

Head of Precision Animal Health at Zoetis.

Anco van Schaik

Global Director of Procurement at Danone.

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What they’re saying

“The 2026 updates to DWP$ and CLARIFIDE Plus provide dairy producers with additional precision in breeding for cows that are profitable, efficient and sustainable.”

— Nick Randle, Sr. Marketing Manager, U.S. Dairy Productivity and Milk Quality

“By integrating Z_RFI and RUMiN alongside wellness and production traits, DWP$ 2026 empowers producers to advance both environmental stewardship and overall herd profitability within a single, comprehensive index.”

— Brett Bristol, Head of Precision Animal Health

“Genomic testing of our farmers' herds plays an important role in our global methane reduction strategy. By integrating genomic testing into our breeding decisions, we can select animals with higher productivity, greater resilience and improved feed efficiency, which can directly reduce methane intensity.”

— Anco van Schaik, Global Director of Procurement

What’s next

Zoetis recommends that dairy producers in regions experiencing heat stress for 20% of the year or more should consider using the new DWP$ Heat index, which incorporates the Fertility Heat Resilience (Z_FR) and Milk Heat Resilience (Z_MR) traits.

The takeaway

Zoetis' latest genetic innovations empower dairy farmers to breed cows that are more profitable, efficient, and environmentally sustainable, aligning with growing consumer and market demands for responsible dairy production.