genoBreeding of dairy cattle has long been focused on increasing milk production. The result has been not only an increase in yield but also a deterioration in indicators of biological fitness, such as health, hardiness, fertility and longevity of dairy cows. The dairy cattle sector faces other challenges, including the impact of climate change, efficient use of resources (land, water), emission mitigation and the decline in genetic diversity. In response to this situation, selection indices are being expanded and new phenotypes are being defined. Indicators of health, welfare, environmental efficiency, general resilience and longevity are gaining greater prominence. Genomics is an important tool for efficient breeding, which has enabled higher prediction accuracy, shorter generation interval and higher genetic gain.