The Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme (ADHIS) is an Australian Dairy Farmers' initiative which is backed by Dairy Australia through a Dairy Service Levy and government funds. ADHIS is run by a Board of Management appointed by the Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF).

ADHIS’ owns and manages Australia’s national independent dairy genetic evaluation service, on behalf of Australian dairyfarmers, with the aim of maximising the rate of genetic improvement. This is achieved via the production of and extension around Australian Breeding Values (ABV’s) and related genetic improvement services.

ADHIS maintains a national database of performance and pedigree details for individual dairy animals. This is regularly updated with data collected by milk recording organisations and breed societies. The database is used to assist genetic improvement in the dairy industry by artificial breeding companies and dairy farmers.

The scheme was established in 1982 and the first ABVs released the following year. In 1984 ADHIS released ABVs based on an animal model – this was the first time an animal model was used in a national dairy evaluation anywhere in the world.

The genetic evaluation is now conducted with an animal model for all yield, conformation, workability and survival traits. ABVs are released twice yearly (April and August) for all traits and all animals. ADHIS participates in international evaluations with Interbull and releases ABV(i)s for foreign bulls three times per year (January, April, August).

The rate of genetic gain has increased significantly since 1983 when farmers began utilising ABVs. Each year the genetic merit of artificially bred cows is increasing by about 1%. The value of these gains to the industry is approximately $20 million per year.