WEBVTT 00:00:10.689 --> 00:00:13.669 Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast. I'm your host, 00:00:13.750 --> 00:00:16.089 Bella, and today we're diving into what might 00:00:16.089 --> 00:00:19.129 be the most transformative story in modern dairy 00:00:19.129 --> 00:00:21.969 genetics. We're talking about a man who's been 00:00:21.969 --> 00:00:25.890 called the Steve Jobs of our industry, Juan Moreno. 00:00:26.010 --> 00:00:28.699 And I'm Douglas. Today's episode is particularly 00:00:28.699 --> 00:00:31.359 special because we're exploring how one individual 00:00:31.359 --> 00:00:33.600 fundamentally changed dairy breeding worldwide. 00:00:34.299 --> 00:00:37.119 From gender -sorted semen to genomic testing, 00:00:37.600 --> 00:00:40.179 Juan Moreno's innovations have reshaped how every 00:00:40.179 --> 00:00:43.200 dairy farmer makes breeding decisions. We'll 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:45.500 trace his journey from a Colombian cattle farm 00:00:45.500 --> 00:00:48.719 to becoming this year's World Dairy Expo International 00:00:48.719 --> 00:00:52.780 Person of the Year. You know, Douglas, when people 00:00:52.780 --> 00:00:55.619 say bull in a china shop, they usually mean something 00:00:55.619 --> 00:00:57.869 destructive. But that's not what we're talking 00:00:57.869 --> 00:01:01.990 about today, is it? Not at all, Bella. We're 00:01:01.990 --> 00:01:04.950 redefining that metaphor completely. Moreno is 00:01:04.950 --> 00:01:07.829 like a bull who knew exactly which outdated practices 00:01:07.829 --> 00:01:11.109 needed breaking to build something better. Let's 00:01:11.109 --> 00:01:14.409 dive in. So how exactly does a kid from Colombia 00:01:14.409 --> 00:01:17.349 end up transforming the entire dairy genetics 00:01:17.349 --> 00:01:21.030 industry? It's actually a fascinating story that 00:01:21.030 --> 00:01:24.069 begins on his family's cattle operation. Moreno 00:01:24.069 --> 00:01:26.930 himself has said, quote, It all started on my 00:01:26.930 --> 00:01:29.989 family's cattle operation, where an early fondness 00:01:29.989 --> 00:01:33.870 for animal husbandry took root. Those early experiences 00:01:33.870 --> 00:01:36.450 shaped my understanding of the practical challenges 00:01:36.450 --> 00:01:41.150 farmers face every day. What I find incredible 00:01:41.150 --> 00:01:44.329 is that from the beginning, Moreno wasn't satisfied 00:01:44.329 --> 00:01:47.230 with how things had always been done. He had 00:01:47.230 --> 00:01:50.230 this constant curiosity about why practices existed 00:01:50.230 --> 00:01:53.640 and whether they could be improved. That curiosity 00:01:53.640 --> 00:01:56.560 led him to The Ohio State University, where he 00:01:56.560 --> 00:01:58.760 earned his Bachelor of Science in Dairy Science. 00:01:59.859 --> 00:02:03.219 But he didn't just focus on academics. Moreno 00:02:03.219 --> 00:02:05.439 was actively involved with The Ohio State University 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:08.879 Dairy Judging Team. Anyone who's been around 00:02:08.879 --> 00:02:11.620 dairy judging knows that's where you develop 00:02:11.620 --> 00:02:15.319 that critical eye. You learn to see what makes 00:02:15.319 --> 00:02:19.990 a truly exceptional animal. Absolutely. And Moreno 00:02:19.990 --> 00:02:22.710 continued building his expertise at Texas A &M 00:02:22.710 --> 00:02:25.189 University with graduate work in reproductive 00:02:25.189 --> 00:02:28.810 physiology. That specialized training became 00:02:28.810 --> 00:02:31.590 the foundation for his later innovations. But 00:02:31.590 --> 00:02:34.330 making the leap from academia to entrepreneurship 00:02:34.330 --> 00:02:38.129 is huge. How did that transition happen? After 00:02:38.129 --> 00:02:40.870 his education, Moreno took the gutsy step of 00:02:40.870 --> 00:02:44.150 founding Sexing Technologies, or ST for short. 00:02:44.469 --> 00:02:46.849 Can you imagine those early investor meetings? 00:02:47.870 --> 00:02:50.009 We're going to revolutionize dairy breeding by 00:02:50.009 --> 00:02:53.409 sorting sperm cells. It wasn't exactly a conventional 00:02:53.409 --> 00:02:56.349 business plan. I would have loved to be a fly 00:02:56.349 --> 00:02:59.349 on the wall during those pitches. But clearly, 00:02:59.530 --> 00:03:02.590 he was on to something big. Let's talk about 00:03:02.590 --> 00:03:05.889 what made Moreno's work so revolutionary. Before 00:03:05.889 --> 00:03:07.990 his innovations, dairy breeding was essentially 00:03:07.990 --> 00:03:12.009 a coin flip. That's right. Before gender -sorted 00:03:12.009 --> 00:03:14.930 semen, farmers had no control over whether they'd 00:03:14.930 --> 00:03:17.719 get heifer or bull calves. With conventional 00:03:17.719 --> 00:03:21.219 semen, it was roughly 50 -50 odds. And for dairy 00:03:21.219 --> 00:03:23.919 operations, most bull calves have limited value. 00:03:24.599 --> 00:03:27.300 ST's technology changed this equation completely 00:03:27.300 --> 00:03:30.240 by pioneering gender -sorted semen with over 00:03:30.240 --> 00:03:33.280 90 % accuracy in predetermining offspring sex. 00:03:33.780 --> 00:03:36.460 This meant dairy farmers could reliably produce 00:03:36.460 --> 00:03:40.759 predominantly female calves. It's hard to overstate 00:03:40.759 --> 00:03:44.560 what a game -changer this was. Suddenly, resources 00:03:44.560 --> 00:03:47.400 weren't being wasted on raising animals that 00:03:47.400 --> 00:03:50.460 wouldn't contribute to milk production. The science 00:03:50.460 --> 00:03:54.080 behind this is fascinating. ST's team developed 00:03:54.080 --> 00:03:56.639 a method to separate X chromosome -bearing sperm, 00:03:56.800 --> 00:03:59.719 which produce female offspring, from Y chromosome 00:03:59.719 --> 00:04:02.159 -bearing sperm, which produce male offspring, 00:04:02.479 --> 00:04:05.699 using a technique called flow cytometry. You're 00:04:05.699 --> 00:04:08.620 tough today. That sounds simple when you say 00:04:08.620 --> 00:04:11.620 it like that. but I'm guessing the actual bioengineering 00:04:11.620 --> 00:04:14.800 challenges were enormous. They absolutely were, 00:04:14.979 --> 00:04:17.620 and Moreno has been refreshingly honest about 00:04:17.620 --> 00:04:20.939 those challenges. He said, quote, We've been 00:04:20.939 --> 00:04:23.839 investing in these projects for years, testing 00:04:23.839 --> 00:04:26.939 both beef and dairy animals. It's a long -term 00:04:26.939 --> 00:04:29.060 commitment that requires patience and persistence. 00:04:29.699 --> 00:04:32.480 Not every farmer immediately sees the value, 00:04:32.660 --> 00:04:35.379 and communicating that value effectively has 00:04:35.379 --> 00:04:39.120 been one of our biggest hurdles. End quote. I 00:04:39.120 --> 00:04:42.240 love that honesty. Innovation isn't instant. 00:04:42.420 --> 00:04:44.939 It takes years of persistence and overcoming 00:04:44.939 --> 00:04:48.579 skepticism. But Douglas Moreno didn't stop at 00:04:48.579 --> 00:04:51.720 gender -sorted semen, did he? Not even close. 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:55.160 He expanded sexing technology services to include 00:04:55.160 --> 00:04:59.339 genomic testing, whole genome sequencing, bioinformatics, 00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:02.689 and bioelectronics. Each of these fields could 00:05:02.689 --> 00:05:05.610 support an entire company, but Moreno recognized 00:05:05.610 --> 00:05:07.970 how they interconnected to create a comprehensive 00:05:07.970 --> 00:05:11.649 approach to genetic improvement. And one of ST's 00:05:11.649 --> 00:05:14.269 more recent innovations is Ecofeed, right? What 00:05:14.269 --> 00:05:17.250 exactly does that technology do? Ecofeed focuses 00:05:17.250 --> 00:05:20.250 on enhancing feed efficiency and reducing environmental 00:05:20.250 --> 00:05:25.350 impact. Moreno explains it this way, quote, Feed 00:05:25.350 --> 00:05:28.410 is essentially 65 % of the cost to operate a 00:05:28.410 --> 00:05:31.220 dairy. So if you are able to save 10 % of feed 00:05:31.220 --> 00:05:33.240 costs through feed efficiency, you are saving 00:05:33.240 --> 00:05:35.740 a substantial amount of money. And what's more, 00:05:35.939 --> 00:05:41.259 ecofeed is a heritable trait. So it's both economically 00:05:41.259 --> 00:05:45.779 beneficial and environmentally responsible. That's 00:05:45.779 --> 00:05:49.300 the definition of a win -win. Exactly. By selecting 00:05:49.300 --> 00:05:51.779 for animals with improved feed conversion efficiency, 00:05:52.670 --> 00:05:54.889 Ecofeed helps reduce resource inputs required 00:05:54.889 --> 00:05:58.110 for milk production while decreasing agriculture's 00:05:58.110 --> 00:06:02.129 environmental footprint. Now let's talk about 00:06:02.129 --> 00:06:04.350 what these innovations mean for the average dairy 00:06:04.350 --> 00:06:07.410 producer. How can farmers actually implement 00:06:07.410 --> 00:06:11.910 these technologies? Yeah, that's what our listeners 00:06:11.910 --> 00:06:14.490 really want to know, right? If you're milking 00:06:14.490 --> 00:06:17.209 cows twice a day, how does this high -tech stuff 00:06:17.209 --> 00:06:21.250 translate to your operation? According to Moreno, 00:06:21.389 --> 00:06:24.939 quote, In the U .S., about 30 % of dairy producers 00:06:24.939 --> 00:06:27.959 are now using genomic testing to make early decisions 00:06:27.959 --> 00:06:30.339 about whether a female is going to be productive 00:06:30.339 --> 00:06:34.180 long term. The figures show us that we get 76 00:06:34.180 --> 00:06:38.660 % accuracy on that genomic prediction. End quote. 00:06:38.939 --> 00:06:42.259 Let me explain the economics, because this is 00:06:42.259 --> 00:06:45.019 where it gets really compelling. For the first 00:06:45.019 --> 00:06:49.000 60 days of a calf's life, it costs about $5 per 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:52.560 day to feed it milk. After that, it might cost 00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:56.899 $2 per day. By the time that heifer reaches calving 00:06:56.899 --> 00:07:00.220 age, you've invested around $1 ,400 to $1 ,500 00:07:00.220 --> 00:07:03.899 just in feed costs. And that's the key insight. 00:07:04.759 --> 00:07:07.459 Why would you wait two years to find out if that 00:07:07.459 --> 00:07:10.079 animal's genetic value is below average after 00:07:10.079 --> 00:07:13.339 you've already invested all that money? With 00:07:13.339 --> 00:07:15.959 genomic testing, you can spend just $30 as a 00:07:15.959 --> 00:07:18.699 calf and know her genetic value immediately. 00:07:20.040 --> 00:07:24.139 That $30 investment could save you $1 ,400 by 00:07:24.139 --> 00:07:28.439 not raising inferior animals. When you put it 00:07:28.439 --> 00:07:31.339 that way, it's a no -brainer. For farmers considering 00:07:31.339 --> 00:07:34.139 these technologies, Moreno recommends starting 00:07:34.139 --> 00:07:38.740 with genomic testing. He says, Most people look 00:07:38.740 --> 00:07:41.160 at genomic testing in terms of genetic gain, 00:07:41.319 --> 00:07:43.240 and while there is a lot of value in genetic 00:07:43.240 --> 00:07:46.060 gain, there is a lot of money to be saved in 00:07:46.060 --> 00:07:48.300 not having to raise animals that are not going 00:07:48.300 --> 00:07:58.610 to perform. I love that Moreno doesn't push a 00:07:58.610 --> 00:08:01.209 one -size -fits -all approach. He understands 00:08:01.209 --> 00:08:04.189 that different operations have different priorities. 00:08:05.389 --> 00:08:19.600 He's actually quite clear about this. It might 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:21.819 be more important to breed a cow that excels 00:08:21.819 --> 00:08:24.600 at grazing. Another part, it might be milk solids. 00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:27.240 And in a third part, it might be how that cow 00:08:27.240 --> 00:08:30.199 looks. There is not one trait that fits all. 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:36.059 End quote. So Douglas, let's talk about how Moreno 00:08:36.059 --> 00:08:39.100 has turned these innovations into a global enterprise. 00:08:39.419 --> 00:08:42.009 Under Moreno's leadership, Sexing Technologies 00:08:42.009 --> 00:08:45.230 has expanded from its initial focus to become 00:08:45.230 --> 00:08:47.769 a comprehensive genetic improvement company with 00:08:47.769 --> 00:08:51.129 truly global reach. They now operate approximately 00:08:51.129 --> 00:08:55.110 60 sperm sorting facilities worldwide, 8 in the 00:08:55.110 --> 00:08:57.990 United States and more than 50 across 19 other 00:08:57.990 --> 00:09:00.710 countries. That's not just global expansion. 00:09:01.029 --> 00:09:04.509 That's global domination. And it means farmers 00:09:04.509 --> 00:09:07.149 around the world can access these game -changing 00:09:07.149 --> 00:09:10.649 technologies. Beyond the sperm sorting facilities, 00:09:11.090 --> 00:09:14.610 ST also manages seven bull stud farms, four in 00:09:14.610 --> 00:09:17.549 the United States, one in Canada, one in Italy, 00:09:17.690 --> 00:09:20.889 and one in the United Kingdom. These facilities 00:09:20.889 --> 00:09:23.110 house elite genetics that form the foundation 00:09:23.110 --> 00:09:26.470 of the company's offerings. Moreno has also grown 00:09:26.470 --> 00:09:29.029 through acquisitions, right? What companies has 00:09:29.029 --> 00:09:32.110 ST acquired? They've acquired several strategic 00:09:32.110 --> 00:09:35.110 entities, including Transworld Genetics, Taurus, 00:09:35.330 --> 00:09:39.789 TAG, Cogent, and Insimi. When asked about the 00:09:39.789 --> 00:09:42.289 Cogent acquisition specifically, Moreno said, 00:09:42.429 --> 00:09:45.090 quote, It was a very fortunate situation for 00:09:45.090 --> 00:09:47.629 us to be able to purchase Cogent. We're excited 00:09:47.629 --> 00:09:50.950 about all the opportunities this brings. ST Genetics, 00:09:51.110 --> 00:09:53.470 we house a lot of bulls and a lot of genetics 00:09:53.470 --> 00:09:56.210 in the UK, and we see it as the launching pad 00:09:56.210 --> 00:09:59.330 for many parts of the world. We will continue 00:09:59.330 --> 00:10:02.110 to invest heavily in Cogent in the UK to make 00:10:02.110 --> 00:10:05.070 it bigger and greater than ever before. End quote. 00:10:05.710 --> 00:10:09.350 And in 2015, he launched ST Genetics to focus 00:10:09.350 --> 00:10:11.889 specifically on livestock genetics development 00:10:11.889 --> 00:10:16.309 and sales, right? Correct. This vertical integration 00:10:16.309 --> 00:10:19.190 created a powerhouse offering both breeding technology 00:10:19.190 --> 00:10:22.009 and superior genetics directly to producers. 00:10:22.730 --> 00:10:26.129 And most recently, Moreno orchestrated the impending 00:10:26.129 --> 00:10:29.009 merger with Select Sires, combining ST's advanced 00:10:29.009 --> 00:10:31.850 reproductive technologies with Select Sires' 00:10:31.929 --> 00:10:34.470 will establish market presence, and distribution 00:10:34.470 --> 00:10:38.690 network. Douglas, one aspect of Moreno's impact 00:10:38.690 --> 00:10:41.909 that's often overlooked is how he's connected 00:10:41.909 --> 00:10:44.789 the academic and commercial worlds. Can you tell 00:10:44.789 --> 00:10:49.529 us more about that? Absolutely. Moreno has fostered 00:10:49.529 --> 00:10:51.570 strong connections between academia and industry 00:10:51.570 --> 00:10:53.610 by providing employment opportunities for Ohio 00:10:53.610 --> 00:10:55.850 State graduates at ST Genetics facilities in 00:10:55.850 --> 00:10:58.850 Ohio, Wisconsin, and Texas. This helps create 00:10:58.850 --> 00:11:01.129 a pipeline of talent from university to industry. 00:11:01.960 --> 00:11:04.820 And I understand the company also offers internships 00:11:04.820 --> 00:11:08.820 for students. That's right. These internships 00:11:08.820 --> 00:11:11.460 allow students to gain hands -on experience in 00:11:11.460 --> 00:11:14.320 cutting -edge reproductive technologies, preparing 00:11:14.320 --> 00:11:16.820 the next generation of agricultural scientists 00:11:16.820 --> 00:11:20.320 and practitioners. It's an invaluable opportunity 00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:23.139 for students to see how theoretical knowledge 00:11:23.139 --> 00:11:27.200 gets applied in real -world settings. I imagine 00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:30.399 that creates a really dynamic environment with 00:11:30.399 --> 00:11:33.220 fresh ideas constantly flowing into the company. 00:11:33.659 --> 00:11:37.580 It does. And Moreno takes it a step further by 00:11:37.580 --> 00:11:40.240 encouraging ST Genetics employees to engage in 00:11:40.240 --> 00:11:43.659 academic activities. Some have even become adjunct 00:11:43.659 --> 00:11:46.740 faculty at universities. Two employees currently 00:11:46.740 --> 00:11:49.039 serve as adjunct faculty in the Department of 00:11:49.039 --> 00:11:52.820 Animal Sciences at Ohio State University. So 00:11:52.820 --> 00:11:55.279 they're actually teaching the next generation. 00:11:55.960 --> 00:11:58.879 while working in the industry. That's a powerful 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:01.559 combination. And perhaps most significantly, 00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:04.860 Moreno provides access to ST Genetics' state 00:12:04.860 --> 00:12:06.919 -of -the -art animal facilities for research 00:12:06.919 --> 00:12:10.759 projects. This support enables academics to conduct 00:12:10.759 --> 00:12:13.639 studies that might otherwise be impossible due 00:12:13.639 --> 00:12:17.080 to resource constraints. That really closes the 00:12:17.080 --> 00:12:20.279 loop between research, education, and practical 00:12:20.279 --> 00:12:23.659 application. Academic researchers get access 00:12:23.659 --> 00:12:26.409 to cutting -edge facilities, Students learn from 00:12:26.409 --> 00:12:28.929 industry professionals, and the company benefits 00:12:28.929 --> 00:12:32.830 from fresh research insights. Let's talk about 00:12:32.830 --> 00:12:35.309 the overall impact Moreno has had on the dairy 00:12:35.309 --> 00:12:39.029 industry. Just how extensively have his innovations 00:12:39.029 --> 00:12:43.730 been adopted? Today, approximately 30 % of all 00:12:43.730 --> 00:12:47.149 semen sold worldwide utilizes ST's sex -sorted 00:12:47.149 --> 00:12:50.149 technology. That statistic alone demonstrates 00:12:50.149 --> 00:12:53.049 how thoroughly Moreno's innovations have transformed 00:12:53.049 --> 00:12:56.490 standard breeding practices globally. Beyond 00:12:56.490 --> 00:12:59.549 the immediate benefits to dairy operations, Moreno 00:12:59.549 --> 00:13:02.509 and ST's work also addresses broader challenges 00:13:02.509 --> 00:13:06.289 in global food security, doesn't it? Absolutely. 00:13:06.629 --> 00:13:09.809 As the world population continues to grow, the 00:13:09.809 --> 00:13:12.289 demand for efficient, sustainable protein production 00:13:12.289 --> 00:13:15.539 becomes increasingly critical. By enhancing the 00:13:15.539 --> 00:13:17.679 genetic quality and production efficiency of 00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:20.559 dairy cattle worldwide, ST's technologies help 00:13:20.559 --> 00:13:23.059 meet this demand while minimizing resource use. 00:13:23.480 --> 00:13:27.059 I like how Moreno frames this himself. He says, 00:13:27.100 --> 00:13:37.259 quote, If farmers are profitable, they are more 00:13:37.259 --> 00:13:40.000 likely to do business with us. If they are not, 00:13:40.200 --> 00:13:43.539 companies like ours won't be around. We want 00:13:43.539 --> 00:13:45.820 to develop the genetics that will make the farmer 00:13:45.820 --> 00:13:48.700 profitable and the end product something consumers 00:13:48.700 --> 00:13:53.399 want to buy. That direct link between his company's 00:13:53.399 --> 00:13:56.740 success and farmers' success is refreshing. It's 00:13:56.740 --> 00:13:59.519 not just talk. His company now employs over 1 00:13:59.519 --> 00:14:04.779 ,815 people across 16 countries. Douglas Moreno 00:14:04.779 --> 00:14:07.299 seems particularly concerned about balancing 00:14:07.299 --> 00:14:10.440 innovation with consumer perceptions, isn't he? 00:14:11.419 --> 00:14:27.690 Absolutely. He said, quote, We believe that not 00:14:27.690 --> 00:14:30.210 only can we make progress with some of the environmental 00:14:30.210 --> 00:14:33.629 traits so that the public feels comfortable about 00:14:33.629 --> 00:14:36.490 buying our product in their grocery store, but 00:14:36.490 --> 00:14:39.250 it can also be of great benefit to farmers. End 00:14:39.250 --> 00:14:43.129 quote. His eco -feed innovation really exemplifies 00:14:43.129 --> 00:14:46.429 this balanced approach. It reduces methane emissions 00:14:46.429 --> 00:14:50.190 while saving farmers money on feed costs. That 00:14:50.190 --> 00:14:52.529 forward -thinking approach earned ST Genetics 00:14:52.529 --> 00:14:54.990 the Innovation in Climate Action category award 00:14:54.990 --> 00:14:57.649 from the International Dairy Federation in 2024. 00:14:58.769 --> 00:15:02.169 What about Moreno as a leader? What makes his 00:15:02.169 --> 00:15:05.309 management style unique? Moreno's leadership 00:15:05.309 --> 00:15:08.899 philosophy is characterized by openness, innovation, 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:11.899 and a commitment to nurturing talent. He maintains 00:15:11.899 --> 00:15:14.379 an open -door policy that encourages employees 00:15:14.379 --> 00:15:17.179 at all levels to share ideas and concerns directly 00:15:17.179 --> 00:15:20.860 with leadership. That creates a very different 00:15:20.860 --> 00:15:23.879 corporate culture than what we often see, doesn't 00:15:23.879 --> 00:15:27.379 it? Definitely. Rather than imposing a rigid 00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:30.200 hierarchy, Moreno has built an organization that 00:15:30.200 --> 00:15:33.539 values input from all levels, recognizing that 00:15:33.539 --> 00:15:35.919 groundbreaking ideas can come from anywhere within 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:38.980 the company. And he's known for being hands -on 00:15:38.980 --> 00:15:42.460 too, right? Visiting farms and staying connected 00:15:42.460 --> 00:15:46.679 to the practical realities of agriculture. Yes, 00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:49.940 and that's crucial. It ensures his innovations 00:15:49.940 --> 00:15:52.720 address real needs rather than theoretical problems, 00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:55.559 making them more readily adopted by producers 00:15:55.559 --> 00:15:59.100 worldwide. With all these achievements, Moreno 00:15:59.100 --> 00:16:01.620 has received some significant recognition, hasn't 00:16:01.620 --> 00:16:07.049 he? In 2013, he was named one of the 100 Colombianos 00:16:07.049 --> 00:16:10.129 by Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and 00:16:10.129 --> 00:16:12.909 received the Peace Award for International Excellence. 00:16:13.649 --> 00:16:17.710 In 2022, he received the CFAES Distinguished 00:16:17.710 --> 00:16:21.490 Alumni Award from Ohio State University. And 00:16:21.490 --> 00:16:24.389 now, in 2025, he's been recognized as the World 00:16:24.389 --> 00:16:26.830 Dairy Expo International Person of the Year. 00:16:27.029 --> 00:16:30.049 And let's not forget the 78 patents granted to 00:16:30.049 --> 00:16:34.360 him. and the ST team throughout his career. Each 00:16:34.360 --> 00:16:37.039 one represents a unique contribution to advancing 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:39.639 animal reproductive technologies and genomics. 00:16:40.059 --> 00:16:43.340 Can you imagine having 78 patents to your name? 00:16:43.460 --> 00:16:46.659 I'd be happy with just one. What about the future, 00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:49.960 Douglas? What's next for Moreno and livestock 00:16:49.960 --> 00:16:52.419 genetics? Despite his numerous achievements, 00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:55.960 Moreno continues to push boundaries with a focus 00:16:55.960 --> 00:16:59.000 on global food security and environmental sustainability. 00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:03.519 However, he's also very clear about certain ethical 00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:30.269 boundaries. He said, quote, His reasoning is 00:17:30.269 --> 00:17:33.509 quite compelling. Moreno points out that about 00:17:33.509 --> 00:17:37.029 87 % of consumers live in large cities and have 00:17:37.029 --> 00:17:40.529 a total disconnect with farm production. If those 00:17:40.529 --> 00:17:43.450 consumers don't want genetic modification, he 00:17:43.450 --> 00:17:45.930 asks why the industry would risk alienating them. 00:17:46.150 --> 00:17:48.930 That thoughtful approach to innovation, working 00:17:48.930 --> 00:17:51.490 with nature rather than against it, might be 00:17:51.490 --> 00:17:53.609 the most important lesson from Moreno's career. 00:17:55.609 --> 00:17:58.430 As we wrap up today's episode, Let's reflect 00:17:58.430 --> 00:18:01.769 on Juan Moreno's extraordinary impact. From his 00:18:01.769 --> 00:18:04.250 beginnings on a Colombian cattle farm to becoming 00:18:04.250 --> 00:18:07.609 a global innovator, Moreno has redefined what 00:18:07.609 --> 00:18:11.210 it means to be a bull in a china shop. Instead 00:18:11.210 --> 00:18:14.690 of accidental destruction, he represents purposeful 00:18:14.690 --> 00:18:17.730 disruption and creation, dismantling outdated 00:18:17.730 --> 00:18:20.490 approaches to build something better. Through 00:18:20.490 --> 00:18:23.470 gender -sorted semen technology, genomic testing 00:18:23.470 --> 00:18:26.190 and creating a global enterprise bridging science 00:18:26.190 --> 00:18:28.990 and practical agriculture moreno has forever 00:18:28.990 --> 00:18:31.569 changed how dairy farmers approach breeding decisions 00:18:31.569 --> 00:18:36.349 his vision perseverance and innovation demonstrate 00:18:36.349 --> 00:18:39.470 how one person can transform an entire industry 00:18:39.470 --> 00:18:43.930 as the 2025 world dairy expo international person 00:18:43.930 --> 00:18:46.970 of the year Juan Moreno stands as proof that 00:18:46.970 --> 00:18:49.849 sometimes the most valuable thing in agriculture 00:18:49.849 --> 00:18:53.930 is someone willing to break with tradition. In 00:18:53.930 --> 00:18:56.329 the delicate china shop of conventional farming, 00:18:56.549 --> 00:18:59.269 he's shown that sometimes it takes a bull to 00:18:59.269 --> 00:19:01.690 create something beautiful. We hope you've enjoyed 00:19:01.690 --> 00:19:04.329 this episode of the Bullvine Podcast. If you're 00:19:04.329 --> 00:19:06.809 interested in implementing genomic testing or 00:19:06.809 --> 00:19:09.930 sexed semen technologies on your operation, visit 00:19:09.930 --> 00:19:15.059 our website at www. for more resources and articles 00:19:15.059 --> 00:19:17.960 on getting started. And if you've already been 00:19:17.960 --> 00:19:20.400 using these technologies, we'd love to hear your 00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:23.359 experience. Leave us a comment or send us an 00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:26.180 email at feedback at thebullvine .com. Thanks 00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:29.579 for listening. Join us next week when we'll be 00:19:29.579 --> 00:19:32.380 discussing emerging trends in crossbreeding strategies 00:19:32.380 --> 00:19:36.359 for commercial dairy herds. Until then, keep 00:19:36.359 --> 00:19:37.160 breeding for better.