Humans have sought to improve/tailor cattle since their domestication a few thousand years ago. Up until the last 40–50 years, consistent genetic improvement of cattle was a hit or miss proposition. Recent progress has been more rapid, thanks to applications of quantitative genetics to breeding schemes. With the availability of the bovine genome sequence, genetic selection and on-farm management are likely to be revolutionised yet again. Genetic association studies that were previously impossible to carry out due to a lack of markers are now possible. In addition to improved genetic mapping of economic traits, the bovine genome sequence allows us to create a common context for genetic and physiological data, which will provide novel insights into gene regulation and function.