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For decades, dairy breeders have placed their bets on towering Holsteins. But in episode

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178, that genetic gamble gets a red alert. This is the Bullvine Podcast, where tradition

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collides with data-driven reality. Today, hosts Bella and Douglas dissect the billion-dollar

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showdown Shaking Barns and Show Rings worldwide. Are towering Holsteins stealing your profits?

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Are judges trading ribbons for herd health? Tune in for shocking truths, sire strategies,

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and the industry-shaking revelations rewriting Holstein history. Buckle up. This one's a

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barn burner.

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Welcome dairy enthusiasts to another episode of the Bullvine Podcast. I'm Bella, joined

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by my co-host, the ever-insightful Douglas. Today, we're tackling a hot topic that's

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been causing quite a stir in show rings and milking parlors alike.

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That's right, Bella. We're diving deep into the controversial world of Holstein stature.

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Is bigger really better, or are we breeding ourselves into a corner?

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Intriguing. So, what can our listeners expect from today's show, Douglas?

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We'll be exposing some hard truths about tall cows, examining the real costs of chasing

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height, and introducing some bulls that are rewriting the breeding playbook. Plus, we'll

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share some practical tips for breeders looking to balance show ring appeal with profitability.

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Sounds like we've got a lot to cover. Let's jump right in, shall we?

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Well, Bella, unlike some of these towering Holsteins, we won't need a stepladder to get

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started.

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Good one, Douglas. So, let's begin with the big picture. What's the deal with tall cows

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in the show ring?

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It's a trend that's been building for years, Bella. The show ring has become obsessed with

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height, spawning a generation of Holstein titans. We're talking cows topping 62 inches

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at the hip. Now, they might dazzle under the spotlights, but there's a brutal truth hiding

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behind all that glitz.

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Oh, do tell.

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According to data from the Canadian Dairy Network in 2023, every extra inch of height

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is costing farmers $1.20 per day in feed. But it gets worse. These skyscrapers on hooves

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are living 1.7 fewer lactations than their more moderate counterparts.

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Wow, that's a significant difference. But surely there must be some benefits to having

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taller cows, right? Otherwise, why would breeders pursue this trait?

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You'd think so, wouldn't you? But here's the kicker. These aren't just oversized cows.

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They're what I like to call genomic Ponzi schemes. They trade fleeting show ring applause

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for long-term problems like utter health issues and difficult calvings.

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That's quite a claim, Douglas. Can you break it down for our listeners?

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Certainly. Let's start with feed efficiency. Cornell University studies have shown that

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these 62-inch genetic skyscrapers inhale 15% more feed per pound than their more modest-sized

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herd mates.

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Kent, can you put that into perspective for us?

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Another thing. Let's take a 1,600-pound cow as an example. She's gobbling up an extra

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6 pounds of feed every single day. That's $1.20 out of your pocket, day in and day out.

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Over a standard 305-day lactation, that's $438 gone, about the cost of replacing a busted

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milking claw.

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When you put it that way, it does sound like a significant expense. But what about their

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milk production? Doesn't that offset the cost?

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You'd hope so, Bella. But the numbers tell a different story. Let's look at some data

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from the Canadian Dairy Network.

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I'm all ears.

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For every 1.5-point increase in stature TA or STA, we see a 0.45-point decrease in daughter

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pregnancy rate. In plain English, taller cows are having a harder time getting pregnant

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and staying pregnant.

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That sounds like a recipe for reproductive headaches.

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Exactly. And it gets worse. Cows over 61 inches tall are demanding 26 percent more calving

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interventions. Nothing says profitable herd quite like playing bovine midwife at 3 a.m.,

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right?

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Ouch. That's not just a financial cost, but a quality of life issue for farmers, too.

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But wait, there's more. When we compare moderate cows to tall cows, we're looking at an average

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of 3.2 lactations versus 2.5. That difference translates to over $2,400 in lost milk revenue

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per cow.

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Those are some sobering statistics, Douglas. It seems like the costs really add up.

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They do indeed. And here's a thought that should keep breeders up at night. Every lactation

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lost to your show queen's dainty longevity equals 12 fresh heifers you could have raised

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instead.

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It's clear there's a lot more to consider than just how impressive a cow looks in the

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ring. But Douglas, I'm curious. Are there any benefits at all to breeding for height?

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Well, Bella, I suppose if you're looking to start a bovine basketball team, you'd be all

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set. But in terms of practical farming, the evidence is pretty damning.

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Yet point taken. So if height isn't the answer, what should breeders be focusing on?

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Now we're asking the right questions. It's time to talk about what I call the genetic

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gladiators, bulls that are rewriting the breeding rule books.

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Genetic gladiators. That sounds exciting. Who are these bulls?

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Let me introduce you to a few key players. First up, we have DG Beshamel. This bull is

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what I like to call the connoisseur's choice.

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What makes him so special?

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Beshamel has a TPI of 2750, an STA of 1.82, and a PTA type of plus 3.1 Zim. But here's

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the kicker. His net merit, or M, is plus 820. That means his daughters are essentially turning

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show ribbons into cold hard cash.

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Those are some impressive numbers. What about his utter scores?

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Glad you asked. Beshamel's got an utter composite of plus 2.3 D. His daughters' utters are

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so tight you could bounce a quarter off them.

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Now that's a visual. Who else is on this list of genetic superstars?

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Next up is genusource eagle-eye. This bull isn't just building utters. He's engineering

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cathedrals. We're talking about a plus 2.45 utter composite.

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That sounds impressive. But what does it mean in practical terms?

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Great question. According to CDN data, every one point increase in utter composite translates

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to an 18% lower risk of mastitis. But eagle-eye is not just about utters. He's got a

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fertility index of plus 2.4, which is like giving your cows heirloom quality ovaries.

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These bulls sound like they're really changing the game. Are there more?

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Absolutely. Let's talk about genusource big kahuna. This bull is what I call a compact

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cash tsunami.

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Compact cash tsunami? That's quite a title.

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It's well earned, Bella. Big kahuna has an STA of just 1.64, shorter than your morning

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latte. But don't let that fool you. His PTA type is plus 3.3 to you, and he's sporting

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an N-ember of plus 805.

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So he's proof that good things come in small packages.

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Exactly. Big kahuna shows that dynamite really does come in small packages. And here's a

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bonus. His calves won't need chiropractors to recover from calving.

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It's fascinating to see how these bulls are balancing different traits. Is there one more

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you'd like to highlight?

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Indeed there is. Let me introduce you to Carter's Corner Charmer. This bull is what I call a

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stealth wealth prodigy.

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Stealth wealth prodigy? Now that sounds interesting.

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Charmer has an STA of just 1.49, making him practically undercover in the show ring. But

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here's where it gets exciting. He's got a PTA type of plus 3.04 and an NMLers of plus

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7.95. Top it off with a fertility index of 2.3 and you've got a bull that's basically

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bovine tinder gold.

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Douglas, your analogies are priceless. But jokes aside, these bulls seem to offer a real

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alternative to the bigger is better mindset. How can breeders start incorporating these

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genetics into their herds?

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That's the million dollar question, Bella. It all starts with a shift in mindset. Breeders

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need to stop thinking about creating Instagram worthy cows and start focusing on breeding

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biological ATMs.

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Biological ATMs? Can you elaborate on that?

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Certainly. It's all about prioritizing traits that translate directly to profitability.

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Let's start with udders for example.

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I'm listening.

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At the 2024 World Dairy Expo, 67% of winning cows scored excellent in udder depth, compared

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to only 38% for stature. That's a clear signal that judges are starting to prioritize functional

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traits over pure size.

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That's an interesting shift. What's driving this change?

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It's all about the bottom line, Bella. According to the Canadian Dairy Network, every one point

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increase in udder composite score reduces mastitis risk by 14%. That's not just good

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for the cow, it's good for the farmer's wallet too.

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So by focusing on udder quality, breeders can improve both show ring success and farm

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profitability.

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Exactly. It's like choosing to invest in a Roth IRA instead of buying lottery tickets.

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Maybe less exciting in the short term, but much more profitable in the long run.

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What other traits should breeders be focusing on?

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Fertility is another big one. Remember Eagle Eye, the bull we mentioned earlier?

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The one with the heirloom quality ovaries?

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That's the one. His fertility index of plus 2.4 isn't just a number, it translates to

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real world benefits. His daughters are averaging 12 fewer days between calvings compared to

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the breed average.

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And what does that mean in dollar terms?

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Great question. According to USDA data from 2024, that 12-day improvement equates to $480

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in additional lifetime revenue per cow. Multiply that across 100 cow herd and you're looking

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at $48,000 in extra milk checks over those cows' lifetimes.

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No thanks. Those are some significant numbers. It really puts into perspective how these

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genetic choices can impact a farm's bottom line.

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Absolutely.

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And here's something else to consider. Fertility-focused herds are reporting 36% fewer veterinary emergencies,

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according to 2024 data from CDN Herd Analytics.

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It seems like there's a real snowball effect here. Better fertility leads to fewer health

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issues, which in turn leads to better longevity and profitability.

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You've hit the nail on the head, Bella. It's all interconnected. And that's why it's so

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crucial for breeders to take a holistic approach to their breeding programs.

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Speaking of breeding programs, I know there's been a lot of debate about how showring standards

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impact breeding decisions. What's the latest on that front?

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Well, Bella, that's where things get really interesting. There's been a significant shift

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in how judges are evaluating cows, especially when it comes to stature.

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Oh? Tell me more.

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Let's look at the 2024 World Dairy Expo results. 58% of the champion cows had a stature TA

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or STA of 1.85 or lower. That's a far cry from the towering giants we used to see dominating

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the showrings.

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That's quite a change. What's driving this shift?

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It's a combination of factors. Judges are becoming more aware of the long-term implications

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of breeding for extreme height. Plus, the data on profitability and longevity for moderate-sized

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cows is becoming impossible to ignore.

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So it's not just about looks anymore?

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Exactly. Showring analytics now reveal that udders contribute 31% to overall type scores

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compared to just 19% for stature. It's a clear signal that functional traits are taking precedence

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over pure size.

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It sounds like the industry is really evolving, but I imagine there are still some holdouts

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who prefer the taller cows.

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Oh, certainly. There are always those who think bigger is better. But I like to ask

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them, when was the last time you saw a judge handing out ribbons for most likely to decapitate

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herself on a doorframe?

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Douglas, your wit never fails to entertain. But jokes aside, what advice do you have for

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breeders who are looking to adapt to these changing standards?

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It all comes down to what I call the genetic commandments. These are the rules that separate

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the profit-profits from the genetic gamblers.

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Genetic commandments? That sounds important. Can you break them down for our listeners?

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Absolutely. Let's start with bull selection. When you're choosing bulls, you need to think

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NASDAQ, not yard sale.

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What do you mean by that?

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I'm talking about focusing on key economic indicators. Look for bulls with a net merit,

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or NM dollars, of $750 or higher and a fertility index of at least plus 2.0. These aren't just

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bulls. They're biological IPOs with USDA-stamped ROI.

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Those are some specific targets. How do they translate to real-world benefits?

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Well, an NM dollars of $750 or higher means that bulls' daughters will be generating an

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extra $2.10 per day before they're even weaned. Pair that with a high fertility index, and

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you've got cows that are cycling faster than Bitcoin prices.

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Another great analogy, Douglas. What's the next commandment?

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The second commandment is all about setting a height ceiling for your herd. I recommend

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capping female STA at 2.0. No negotiations.

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And why is that specific number so important?

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Great question. According to industry data, every STA point over 2.0 siphons $147 per

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year per cow into the feedlot abyss. Let one heifer hit an STA of 2.5, and you're looking

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at $20,000 lost across her shortened career.

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Those numbers really put things into perspective. What's the final commandment?

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The last one is all about udders. We're aiming for an udder composite of plus 2.0 PTAs or

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higher. Any final advice for our listeners?

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Remember, stop the genetic arson. Herds breeding for height lose $311 per cow annually versus

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balanced program. Bottom line, breed cows that fund your legacy, not your vet's Porsche.

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If today's episode lit a fire under your breeding program, do the dairy world a favor. Hit share

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and tag a fellow farmer who needs these insights. Drop us a review. Your five stars keep the

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honest dairy dialogue alive. Follow at the Bullvine on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok

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for more uncut ag truths. Until next time, breed boldly, question harder, and remember,

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every udder tells a story.

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This has been the Bullvine Podcast. Episodes archive at www.thebullvine.com.