WEBVTT 00:00:10.489 --> 00:00:13.330 Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast, where we dig 00:00:13.330 --> 00:00:15.789 deep into the stories shaping the dairy industry. 00:00:16.309 --> 00:00:19.129 Today we're tackling a legend, Round Oak Rag 00:00:19.129 --> 00:00:22.149 Apple Elevation, the bull who redefined Holstein 00:00:22.149 --> 00:00:25.250 breeding forever. Born from an unlikely mating 00:00:25.250 --> 00:00:29.190 in 1965, this Virginia -born sire became a genetic 00:00:29.190 --> 00:00:32.369 supernova. fathering 8 .8 million descendants, 00:00:32.649 --> 00:00:35.070 while balancing traits modern genomics still 00:00:35.070 --> 00:00:37.649 can't replicate. How did a bull dismissed early 00:00:37.649 --> 00:00:39.929 in his career become the bull of the century? 00:00:40.270 --> 00:00:43.090 Why do his genes still dominate herds 60 years 00:00:43.090 --> 00:00:46.009 later, even as genomic models label him obsolete? 00:00:46.469 --> 00:00:49.229 And what lessons does his story hold for today's 00:00:49.229 --> 00:00:52.509 breeders chasing sustainability? Grab a glass 00:00:52.509 --> 00:00:55.570 of milk, settle in, and let's unpack the legacy 00:00:55.570 --> 00:00:58.189 of the bull that gave wings to the Holstein breed. 00:00:59.899 --> 00:01:02.200 is Elevation's story. Welcome to the Bullvine 00:01:02.200 --> 00:01:04.540 podcast, where we dig into the utterly fascinating 00:01:04.540 --> 00:01:08.280 world of dairy genetics. I'm Bella, and today 00:01:08.280 --> 00:01:11.019 we're talking about a bull so legendary, he's 00:01:11.019 --> 00:01:14.519 basically the Beyonce of Holsteins. Douglas, 00:01:14.620 --> 00:01:16.859 how do you even start explaining round oak rag 00:01:16.859 --> 00:01:19.959 apple elevation? Bella, imagine a bull whose 00:01:19.959 --> 00:01:22.480 DNA is in nearly every milking parlor worldwide. 00:01:22.819 --> 00:01:25.739 A bull who fathered 10 ,000 sons and 9 million 00:01:25.739 --> 00:01:29.579 descendants. A bull who... Get this, still influences 00:01:29.579 --> 00:01:33.040 14 .5 % of active sires today, even though he 00:01:33.040 --> 00:01:37.140 died in 1979. That's elevation. And get this, 00:01:37.299 --> 00:01:39.900 he came from a mating that modern genomics would 00:01:39.900 --> 00:01:43.620 have rejected. Two B -team parents created a 00:01:43.620 --> 00:01:46.900 genetic superhero. Jim Patterson, former head 00:01:46.900 --> 00:01:49.299 of Holstein USA Classification, said his one 00:01:49.299 --> 00:01:51.719 career regret was not classifying elevation as 00:01:51.719 --> 00:01:55.540 97 instead of 96. That's how much respect this 00:01:55.540 --> 00:01:57.730 bull commands decades later. The Smithsonian 00:01:57.730 --> 00:02:00.390 Institution even highlighted his role in bovine 00:02:00.390 --> 00:02:03.989 genomics, calling his DNA livestock husbandry's 00:02:03.989 --> 00:02:06.870 greatest treasure chest. And Holstein International 00:02:06.870 --> 00:02:09.689 didn't just praise him, they named him Bull of 00:02:09.689 --> 00:02:13.069 the Century in 1999. That's like winning the 00:02:13.069 --> 00:02:15.550 Lifetime Achievement Oscar before the ceremony's 00:02:15.550 --> 00:02:20.349 even over. So grab your coffee, or milk, naturally, 00:02:20.490 --> 00:02:23.129 and let's unpack how this underdog from Virginia 00:02:23.129 --> 00:02:26.229 rewrote dairy history. So Bella, let's set the 00:02:26.229 --> 00:02:30.520 scene. Virginia, 1965. Two cousins, Ronald Hope 00:02:30.520 --> 00:02:33.680 Sr. and George Miller, run Round Oak Farm. They've 00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:36.639 spent 25 years mixing Burke and Ivanhoe bloodlines, 00:02:36.840 --> 00:02:39.340 meticulously layering genetics like master chefs. 00:02:39.699 --> 00:02:42.719 They weren't chasing quick wins. They were building 00:02:42.719 --> 00:02:46.020 something meant to last generations. Right. And 00:02:46.020 --> 00:02:47.680 then they roll the dice on what looks like a 00:02:47.680 --> 00:02:50.960 questionable pairing. They bred Tidy Burke Elevation, 00:02:51.099 --> 00:02:53.800 a bull with shaky fertility issues, to Round 00:02:53.800 --> 00:02:57.229 Oak Ivanhoe Eve. A cow so slow maturing she was 00:02:57.229 --> 00:03:00.270 relegated to the farm's B team. I've seen her 00:03:00.270 --> 00:03:03.169 classification card. Nothing spectacular on paper. 00:03:03.530 --> 00:03:06.310 Today's algorithms and genomic preselection would 00:03:06.310 --> 00:03:09.750 have flagged this match as suboptimal. But here's 00:03:09.750 --> 00:03:12.030 where old school breeder intuition trumped data. 00:03:12.210 --> 00:03:14.930 They saw something in the bloodlines that numbers 00:03:14.930 --> 00:03:18.409 couldn't capture. They recognized that Eve's 00:03:18.409 --> 00:03:20.930 Ivanhoe lineage might complement the Burke influence 00:03:20.930 --> 00:03:25.090 perfectly. And boy, did that gamble pay off. 00:03:25.370 --> 00:03:28.590 This unlikely coupling created a genetic alchemy 00:03:28.590 --> 00:03:32.150 that transformed dairy farming forever. Elevation 00:03:32.150 --> 00:03:34.629 inherited milk -producing prowess from his Sires 00:03:34.629 --> 00:03:37.310 -Burke lineage while getting structural soundness 00:03:37.310 --> 00:03:39.889 and mammary excellence from his dam's Ivanhoe 00:03:39.889 --> 00:03:43.330 connections. Modern genomic analysis later revealed 00:03:43.330 --> 00:03:46.430 he carried a rare chromosome 6 haplotype that 00:03:46.430 --> 00:03:49.379 optimized fat -to -protein ratios. something 00:03:49.379 --> 00:03:51.419 we didn't even have the technology to identify 00:03:51.419 --> 00:03:54.460 until decades later. Had this mating happened 00:03:54.460 --> 00:03:57.159 today, it might never have occurred, with algorithms 00:03:57.159 --> 00:04:00.439 prioritizing faster -maturing dams or sires with 00:04:00.439 --> 00:04:05.319 stronger fertility metrics. Yet initially, judges 00:04:05.319 --> 00:04:08.680 were underwhelmed by his progeny. They kept placing 00:04:08.680 --> 00:04:10.860 second at shows because they weren't extreme 00:04:10.860 --> 00:04:13.539 enough in any single trait. They weren't the 00:04:13.539 --> 00:04:16.459 tallest or widest or most angular, just really 00:04:16.459 --> 00:04:19.529 good at everything. Talk about being ahead of 00:04:19.529 --> 00:04:23.129 your time. The irony is striking. Those average 00:04:23.129 --> 00:04:25.930 calves could milk strong for five to seven lactations 00:04:25.930 --> 00:04:28.110 when most cows were burning out after three. 00:04:28.970 --> 00:04:31.769 Holstein USA data shows that's nearly double 00:04:31.769 --> 00:04:35.689 the 1970s average productive life. This runner 00:04:35.689 --> 00:04:38.730 -up status proved prophetic. While more specialized, 00:04:38.990 --> 00:04:41.649 flashier bloodlines came and went, Elevation's 00:04:41.649 --> 00:04:43.990 descendants ultimately dominated both milking 00:04:43.990 --> 00:04:47.670 parlors and show rings worldwide. It's like preferring 00:04:47.670 --> 00:04:50.370 a flashy sports car over a reliable pickup truck 00:04:50.370 --> 00:04:53.250 until you realize the truck hauls more over its 00:04:53.250 --> 00:04:57.589 lifetime and costs less to maintain. Elevation's 00:04:57.589 --> 00:05:00.610 kids were the pickups of the dairy world. This 00:05:00.610 --> 00:05:03.389 origin story really underscores something I think 00:05:03.389 --> 00:05:06.370 we've forgotten in the genomic era. Transformative 00:05:06.370 --> 00:05:08.889 genetics often emerge from partnerships that 00:05:08.889 --> 00:05:13.720 challenge short -term trends. Absolutely. Hopenmiller's 00:05:13.720 --> 00:05:16.079 willingness to prioritize generational potential 00:05:16.079 --> 00:05:18.839 over immediate returns, coupled with their deep 00:05:18.839 --> 00:05:20.920 understanding of ancestral trait expression, 00:05:21.259 --> 00:05:24.420 created a sire whose influence transcended their 00:05:24.420 --> 00:05:28.319 lifespans. In today's world, obsessed with genomic 00:05:28.319 --> 00:05:31.259 percentiles and quick genetic turnover, elevation 00:05:31.259 --> 00:05:33.959 reminds us that some genetic treasures lie buried 00:05:33.959 --> 00:05:36.680 in pedigrees, awaiting breeders patient enough 00:05:36.680 --> 00:05:40.399 to unearth them. Okay, Douglas, let's break down 00:05:40.399 --> 00:05:43.420 Elevation's genetic superpowers. What made him 00:05:43.420 --> 00:05:45.420 the bull of the century according to Holstein 00:05:45.420 --> 00:05:48.660 International? Most bulls have one standout trait, 00:05:48.860 --> 00:05:52.540 but Elevation was the complete package. Five 00:05:52.540 --> 00:05:54.920 words define his genetic prowess. Production, 00:05:55.240 --> 00:05:59.740 utter, mobility, fertility, longevity. Let's 00:05:59.740 --> 00:06:02.459 start with production. His daughters averaged 00:06:02.459 --> 00:06:06.149 29 ,500 pounds of milk in first lactations. That's 00:06:06.149 --> 00:06:10.389 15 % above 1970s norms. But unlike bulls that 00:06:10.389 --> 00:06:13.089 sacrifice component quality for volume, elevation 00:06:13.089 --> 00:06:15.829 transmitted elevated butterfat and protein percentages 00:06:15.829 --> 00:06:18.509 too. That balance is something we now attribute 00:06:18.509 --> 00:06:21.610 to that unique haplotype on chromosome 6 optimizing 00:06:21.610 --> 00:06:25.029 metabolic efficiency. His sons inherited this 00:06:25.029 --> 00:06:28.050 production reliability, with over 10 ,000 becoming 00:06:28.050 --> 00:06:31.110 foundational AI sires that standardized high 00:06:31.110 --> 00:06:34.519 -output genetics across global herds. but production 00:06:34.519 --> 00:06:39.459 alone doesn't explain his legacy. Exactly. Utter 00:06:39.459 --> 00:06:42.819 quality became Elevation's trademark. Charlie 00:06:42.819 --> 00:06:45.160 Will, who knew these cows better than most, described 00:06:45.160 --> 00:06:47.699 them as having high and wide rear utters with 00:06:47.699 --> 00:06:51.019 exceptional shape and symmetry. This wasn't just 00:06:51.019 --> 00:06:54.240 pretty, it was functional. These mammary systems 00:06:54.240 --> 00:06:56.939 combine deep foreutter attachments with strong 00:06:56.939 --> 00:06:59.759 medial ligaments, reducing mastitis risk while 00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:03.139 supporting sustained lactation cycles. I've talked 00:07:03.139 --> 00:07:05.300 with farmers who reported these udders stayed 00:07:05.300 --> 00:07:07.620 attached two to three lactations longer than 00:07:07.620 --> 00:07:11.139 average, translating to an extra $1 ,200 profit 00:07:11.139 --> 00:07:15.100 per cow back in the 70s. That's over $7 ,000 00:07:15.100 --> 00:07:18.600 in today's dollars. Not too shabby for a trait 00:07:18.600 --> 00:07:22.300 many breeders considered merely cosmetic. Now 00:07:22.300 --> 00:07:24.720 mobility might not be the sexiest trait to discuss, 00:07:24.959 --> 00:07:28.120 but it's a game changer on the farm. Elevation's 00:07:28.120 --> 00:07:30.240 daughters consistently displayed straight legs 00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:33.709 with healthy hocks. and strong loins. Boring 00:07:33.709 --> 00:07:37.370 on paper, maybe, but pure gold in practice. These 00:07:37.370 --> 00:07:39.889 structural advantages minimized lameness even 00:07:39.889 --> 00:07:41.889 on concrete -floored confinement operations. 00:07:42.730 --> 00:07:45.810 This biomechanical efficiency was rare in high 00:07:45.810 --> 00:07:49.009 -producing cattle of that era. It enabled elevation 00:07:49.009 --> 00:07:52.149 -sired cows to maintain peak production through 00:07:52.149 --> 00:07:55.709 five to seven lactations, outperforming contemporaries 00:07:55.709 --> 00:07:59.329 by 18 to 24 months in productive lifespan. For 00:07:59.329 --> 00:08:02.079 farmers, That meant fewer replacements and more 00:08:02.079 --> 00:08:05.000 mature cows in their productive prime. Fertility 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:07.360 might be the most underrated of Elevation's gifts. 00:08:07.639 --> 00:08:10.620 Though less quantified in his era, it manifested 00:08:10.620 --> 00:08:13.240 through elevated conception rates and consistent 00:08:13.240 --> 00:08:16.740 calving intervals. Breeders noted Elevation daughters 00:08:16.740 --> 00:08:19.600 re -bred 14 days faster than their herd mates. 00:08:20.779 --> 00:08:23.720 Two weeks might not sound like much, but multiply 00:08:23.720 --> 00:08:26.240 that across thousands of cows and millions of 00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:28.899 lactations, and you're talking serious money. 00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:32.299 Plus, this reproductive efficiency helped his 00:08:32.299 --> 00:08:35.379 genetics spread like wildfire. This trait was 00:08:35.379 --> 00:08:37.299 later linked to optimal body condition retention 00:08:37.299 --> 00:08:40.220 during lactation. His girls didn't milk themselves 00:08:40.220 --> 00:08:43.059 skinny like many high producers. Finally, there's 00:08:43.059 --> 00:08:45.720 longevity, the crown jewel of Elevation's genetic 00:08:45.720 --> 00:08:48.639 package. While the industry average was 2 .8 00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:51.700 lactations per cow in the 1970s, Elevation's 00:08:51.700 --> 00:08:55.000 daughters stuck around for 4 .2. That's a 50 00:08:55.000 --> 00:08:58.179 % increase in productive life. This durability 00:08:58.179 --> 00:09:00.460 stemmed from his harmonious trait combination. 00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:03.919 Robust udders minimized early culling, while 00:09:03.919 --> 00:09:06.460 sound mobility and efficient metabolisms reduced 00:09:06.460 --> 00:09:10.879 metabolic disorders. The economic ripple effect 00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:13.779 was profound. Herds with his bloodlines reported 00:09:13.779 --> 00:09:18.120 22 % lower replacement costs. For farmers operating 00:09:18.120 --> 00:09:21.139 on tight margins, this was revolutionary. When 00:09:21.139 --> 00:09:23.460 you factor in the cost of raising heifers, about 00:09:23.460 --> 00:09:26.620 $2 ,500 per head in today's dollars, that's enormous 00:09:26.620 --> 00:09:30.799 savings across a herd. But what really sets Elevation 00:09:30.799 --> 00:09:33.559 apart wasn't excelling in any single category. 00:09:34.139 --> 00:09:37.580 It was his genetic coherence. The ability to 00:09:37.580 --> 00:09:40.340 transmit all these qualities simultaneously without 00:09:40.340 --> 00:09:43.440 trade -offs. It's like getting a sports car with 00:09:43.440 --> 00:09:46.159 great gas mileage, or a dessert that's both delicious 00:09:46.159 --> 00:09:49.080 and healthy. Usually you don't get both, but 00:09:49.080 --> 00:09:52.490 with Elevation you did. This Swiss army knife 00:09:52.490 --> 00:09:54.929 profile made him equally valuable to pedigree 00:09:54.929 --> 00:09:57.610 breeders chasing show ring accolades and commercial 00:09:57.610 --> 00:10:01.929 operators prioritizing herd longevity. As Holstein 00:10:01.929 --> 00:10:04.129 International noted when naming him Bull of the 00:10:04.129 --> 00:10:07.490 Century, Elevation's balanced genetics forever 00:10:07.490 --> 00:10:10.669 lifted the breed's floor while raising its ceiling. 00:10:10.909 --> 00:10:13.669 That duality secured his immortality in dairy 00:10:13.669 --> 00:10:17.940 breeding history. Now, Bella, here's where Elevation's 00:10:17.940 --> 00:10:20.679 story transcends individual cow performance and 00:10:20.679 --> 00:10:23.820 becomes a business transformation saga. His impact 00:10:23.820 --> 00:10:26.860 extended far beyond individual herds, profoundly 00:10:26.860 --> 00:10:29.200 shaping the organizational structure and development 00:10:29.200 --> 00:10:33.899 of the entire dairy breeding industry. Absolutely. 00:10:33.919 --> 00:10:36.360 His influence was particularly transformative 00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:39.720 for Select Sires, the AI organization that owned 00:10:39.720 --> 00:10:42.440 him. Charlie Will, Holstein Sire Program Manager 00:10:42.440 --> 00:10:45.240 there, stated bluntly, Elevation put Select Sires 00:10:45.240 --> 00:10:47.960 on the map. That's not hyperbole, that's financial 00:10:47.960 --> 00:10:52.679 reality. Context matters here. In the 1960s, 00:10:52.700 --> 00:10:55.139 Select Sires was struggling to establish itself 00:10:55.139 --> 00:10:57.519 as a newly formed federation of regional breeding 00:10:57.519 --> 00:11:00.779 organizations. Then along came this bull with 00:11:00.779 --> 00:11:03.399 his perfect combination of production and type, 00:11:03.559 --> 00:11:06.299 and suddenly everyone wanted Select Sires genetics. 00:11:07.389 --> 00:11:09.889 The revenue from Elevation semen sales literally 00:11:09.889 --> 00:11:14.149 built the company's infrastructure. George Miller 00:11:14.149 --> 00:11:17.230 said it best. It's been said that Elevation really 00:11:17.230 --> 00:11:19.889 built the barns at sire power and select sires. 00:11:20.570 --> 00:11:24.090 Think about that impact for a minute. One bull's 00:11:24.090 --> 00:11:26.769 genetics were so sought after that they funded 00:11:26.769 --> 00:11:29.909 buildings, grew market share, created brand identity, 00:11:30.090 --> 00:11:32.669 and helped merge 18 state -level organizations 00:11:32.669 --> 00:11:36.039 into a cohesive national presence. That's not 00:11:36.039 --> 00:11:38.539 just breeding success. That's business transformation. 00:11:39.220 --> 00:11:42.059 His influence went beyond just financial success. 00:11:42.620 --> 00:11:45.460 He helped Select Sires develop its market throughout 00:11:45.460 --> 00:11:48.419 the United States, serving as a flagship sire 00:11:48.419 --> 00:11:50.440 that established the organization's reputation 00:11:50.440 --> 00:11:54.139 for quality genetics. He also helped identify 00:11:54.139 --> 00:11:56.580 Select Sires' brand identity among the Federation 00:11:56.580 --> 00:11:59.840 of State -Level Organizations, creating a cohesive 00:11:59.840 --> 00:12:03.480 market presence. And the timing was perfect. 00:12:04.220 --> 00:12:06.620 Elevation's rise coincided with critical advances 00:12:06.620 --> 00:12:09.440 in reproductive technology, creating a perfect 00:12:09.440 --> 00:12:12.879 storm of genetic proliferation. His career aligned 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:15.120 with breakthroughs in semen freezing techniques 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:18.039 and storage systems that extended viable storage 00:12:18.039 --> 00:12:22.320 from days to decades. This technological convergence 00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:24.779 allowed his genetics to be distributed globally 00:12:24.779 --> 00:12:28.220 with unprecedented efficiency. As artificial 00:12:28.220 --> 00:12:31.080 insemination adoption accelerated worldwide in 00:12:31.080 --> 00:12:34.879 the 1970s, Elevation's superior genetics rode 00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:38.419 this wave of technological diffusion. His career 00:12:38.419 --> 00:12:40.840 also paralleled the development of computerized 00:12:40.840 --> 00:12:43.740 progeny testing and record keeping, allowing 00:12:43.740 --> 00:12:46.320 his impact to be quantified more precisely than 00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:49.519 any sire before him. This data -driven approach 00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:52.019 to measuring his influence helped establish the 00:12:52.019 --> 00:12:54.899 systematic genetic evaluation programs that would 00:12:54.899 --> 00:12:59.700 later evolve into today's genomic systems. The 00:12:59.700 --> 00:13:02.620 timing of his emergence, just as regional breeding 00:13:02.620 --> 00:13:05.340 cooperatives were federating into larger organizations 00:13:05.340 --> 00:13:09.740 like select sires, multiplied his impact, as 00:13:09.740 --> 00:13:12.019 these larger organizations had greater capacity 00:13:12.019 --> 00:13:14.799 to distribute his genetics nationally and internationally. 00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:19.139 This symbiotic relationship between Elevation's 00:13:19.139 --> 00:13:21.220 genetics and evolving reproductive technologies 00:13:21.220 --> 00:13:23.679 created an amplification effect that would have 00:13:23.679 --> 00:13:28.279 been impossible in any earlier era. And his influence 00:13:28.279 --> 00:13:31.940 spread well beyond American borders, too. Elevation's 00:13:31.940 --> 00:13:34.440 semen was shipped to 45 different countries, 00:13:34.620 --> 00:13:37.539 fundamentally reshaping global Holstein breeding. 00:13:37.860 --> 00:13:40.399 He basically served as a Holstein ambassador, 00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:43.440 making friends for American genetics around the 00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:47.539 world. In Canada, His impact was especially pronounced 00:13:47.539 --> 00:13:50.279 through his son, Hanover Hill Starbuck, who became 00:13:50.279 --> 00:13:52.600 the cornerstone of Canadian breeding programs. 00:13:53.159 --> 00:13:56.240 European dairy industries in France, Italy, and 00:13:56.240 --> 00:13:58.399 the Netherlands incorporated his bloodlines to 00:13:58.399 --> 00:14:01.299 improve their national herds. In some countries 00:14:01.299 --> 00:14:03.500 like France, elevation descendants eventually 00:14:03.500 --> 00:14:09.259 made up 70 % of the Holstein population. Developing 00:14:09.259 --> 00:14:12.000 dairy nations used elevation genetics to rapidly 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:15.000 modernize their herds, while emerging dairy industries 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:17.759 in Asia used his bloodlines to establish foundation 00:14:17.759 --> 00:14:21.179 herds adapted to local conditions. He created 00:14:21.179 --> 00:14:23.759 a genetic standardization that connected Holstein 00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:26.840 populations worldwide, a bovine globalization, 00:14:27.320 --> 00:14:30.940 if you will. The economic impact of his international 00:14:30.940 --> 00:14:35.080 influence cannot be overstated. By improving 00:14:35.080 --> 00:14:37.379 milk production and cow longevity worldwide, 00:14:38.370 --> 00:14:40.889 Elevation's genetics contributed billions of 00:14:40.889 --> 00:14:43.909 dollars to global dairy economies. More importantly, 00:14:44.129 --> 00:14:46.269 his bloodlines helped establish genetic selection 00:14:46.269 --> 00:14:48.870 systems in countries with emerging dairy industries, 00:14:49.149 --> 00:14:51.669 creating a framework for continued improvement 00:14:51.669 --> 00:14:54.809 long after his direct genetic contributions began 00:14:54.809 --> 00:15:01.539 to dilute. Standing 73 and a half inches at the 00:15:01.539 --> 00:15:05.580 shoulder and weighing 2 ,580 pounds, he had the 00:15:05.580 --> 00:15:07.799 best feet and legs you'd ever see on a bull. 00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:11.340 Jim Rose's famous photo of him at five years 00:15:11.340 --> 00:15:13.940 old shows why he became a legend in his own right. 00:15:14.879 --> 00:15:18.840 The numbers are staggering. Starbucks hired 200 00:15:18.840 --> 00:15:22.580 ,000 daughters across 45 countries. His Canadian 00:15:22.580 --> 00:15:25.519 impact? The Canadian Holstein Association found 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:28.299 that 93 % of Canadian Holsteins born between 00:15:28.299 --> 00:15:32.379 2003 and 2005 traced back to him. They eventually 00:15:32.379 --> 00:15:35.259 dubbed him Simply the Best, a title that begins 00:15:35.259 --> 00:15:37.600 to explain why his genetics remain influential 00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:40.759 nearly three decades after his passing in 1998. 00:15:42.899 --> 00:15:46.740 And Starbucks Sons continued the dynasty. Mattawaska 00:15:46.740 --> 00:15:48.720 Aerostar became one of the first Starbuck sons 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:51.419 to be proven and one of the first bulls to sell 00:15:51.419 --> 00:15:54.519 a million doses of frozen semen. His sons in 00:15:54.519 --> 00:15:57.019 Canada included Moglin Storm and the millionaire 00:15:57.019 --> 00:15:59.700 sires Startmore Rudolph and Olive Home Aeroline. 00:16:01.879 --> 00:16:05.220 Besney Buck's son, Jaco Benz, became particularly 00:16:05.220 --> 00:16:07.600 influential in France, where he sired more than 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:11.620 50 % of French Holstein cattle. Sabiona Bucchi 00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:14.590 in Italy produced Boss Iron. who became the highest 00:16:14.590 --> 00:16:17.789 -type bull proven in that country. But Starbuck 00:16:17.789 --> 00:16:20.870 wasn't Elevation's only influential son. Sweet 00:16:20.870 --> 00:16:23.629 Haven Tradition, Rakali son of Bova, Marshfield 00:16:23.629 --> 00:16:26.629 Elevation Tony, Ocean View Sexation, and Straight 00:16:26.629 --> 00:16:29.269 Pine Elevation Pete all made significant contributions. 00:16:29.990 --> 00:16:32.710 Charlie Will also highlights Mars Tony and Lime 00:16:32.710 --> 00:16:35.149 Hollow Mars as particularly influential Elevation 00:16:35.149 --> 00:16:38.590 sons. What made these sons collectively remarkable? 00:16:39.230 --> 00:16:41.789 was their consistency in transmitting Elevation's 00:16:41.789 --> 00:16:44.269 balanced trait profile, albeit with individual 00:16:44.269 --> 00:16:47.570 specializations. Sweethaven tradition emphasized 00:16:47.570 --> 00:16:50.230 the utter traits that became Elevation's signature, 00:16:50.509 --> 00:16:53.610 while Rockali, son of Bova, amplified the production 00:16:53.610 --> 00:16:59.029 traits. Marshfield Elevation Tony became known 00:16:59.029 --> 00:17:01.649 for transmitting exceptional mobility and foot 00:17:01.649 --> 00:17:04.289 structure to his daughters, enhancing their longevity 00:17:04.289 --> 00:17:07.359 in commercial settings. This diversification 00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:09.759 of the elevation genetic package through his 00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:12.640 sons created a broader platform for his influence, 00:17:12.900 --> 00:17:15.740 allowing breeders to select specific trait emphases 00:17:15.740 --> 00:17:18.299 while retaining the core elevation advantages. 00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:22.380 It wasn't just Elevation's sons making history 00:17:22.380 --> 00:17:24.940 either. His daughters were equally remarkable. 00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:28.220 He once led the list for the most excellent daughters 00:17:28.220 --> 00:17:32.140 and for daughters scoring 95, 96, and 97 points, 00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:34.640 the cream of the crop in classification terms. 00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:39.140 Stars like Northcroft Ella Elevation and Twinkie, 00:17:39.259 --> 00:17:43.480 both EX97 all -time All -Americans, were showstoppers. 00:17:43.640 --> 00:17:46.319 Ella was supreme champion at World Dairy Expo 00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:49.180 in 1980, where some declared her the new ideal 00:17:49.180 --> 00:17:52.440 Holstein cow. She was named all -time All -American 00:17:52.440 --> 00:17:56.240 aged cow in 1984. Then there were Cora and Lindy, 00:17:56.259 --> 00:17:59.380 both EXGMD, who produced sons like Carnation 00:17:59.380 --> 00:18:01.599 Counselor and Townsend Lindy that became influential 00:18:01.599 --> 00:18:05.980 sires themselves. The persistence of Elevation's 00:18:05.980 --> 00:18:08.720 traits through multiple generations is a testament 00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:11.059 to the strength and consistency of his genetic 00:18:11.059 --> 00:18:15.319 transmission. As of 2009, Elevation was considered 00:18:15.319 --> 00:18:17.700 the bull with the most actual descendants in 00:18:17.700 --> 00:18:19.880 the United States, according to the Holstein 00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:25.339 Association's sire summaries. What made Elevation's 00:18:25.339 --> 00:18:28.339 multi -generational influence extraordinary was 00:18:28.339 --> 00:18:31.000 not just the number of descendants, but the consistency 00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:33.519 with which his key traits appeared in cattle. 00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:37.279 four, five, and even six generations removed. 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:40.619 Today's genomic analyses can identify specific 00:18:40.619 --> 00:18:43.220 haplotypes that have remained intact through 00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:45.940 these generations, creating a genetic signature 00:18:45.940 --> 00:18:48.460 that continues to influence breeding decisions 00:18:48.460 --> 00:18:52.079 worldwide. This multi -generational impact has 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:54.680 solidified Elevation's place as one of the most 00:18:54.680 --> 00:18:57.059 central transmitters at the foundation of the 00:18:57.059 --> 00:19:00.759 modern Holstein breed. A 2019 study found that 00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:05.079 up to 99 % of AI bulls born after 2010 can be 00:19:05.079 --> 00:19:07.740 traced back to either Elevation or Pawnee Farm 00:19:07.740 --> 00:19:10.720 Arlinda chief. That's an astonishing concentration 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:15.240 of genetic influence. Bella, here's where Elevation's 00:19:15.240 --> 00:19:18.359 story gets truly fascinating for modern breeders. 00:19:18.500 --> 00:19:21.559 Six decades after his birth, his DNA still runs 00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:25.339 through 14 .5 % of active proven Holstein sires. 00:19:26.140 --> 00:19:28.539 In a world where genetic trends come and go faster 00:19:28.539 --> 00:19:31.160 than fashion styles, that kind of staying power 00:19:31.160 --> 00:19:33.960 is nothing short of miraculous. Yet if you looked 00:19:33.960 --> 00:19:36.599 at Elevation's current CDCB genomic summary, 00:19:36.839 --> 00:19:38.940 you might wonder what all the fuss is about. 00:19:39.380 --> 00:19:43.740 It shows a net merit of negative 821 and negative 00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:48.140 milk production traits. Negative 2 ,483 pounds 00:19:48.140 --> 00:19:52.099 milk, negative 87 pounds fat. But these numbers 00:19:52.099 --> 00:19:56.710 don't tell the real story. Exactly. They're comparing 00:19:56.710 --> 00:19:59.450 him to a modern Holstein population that he helped 00:19:59.450 --> 00:20:02.470 create. It's like penalizing your grandfather 00:20:02.470 --> 00:20:04.750 for not knowing how to use an iPhone when he 00:20:04.750 --> 00:20:08.250 helped invent the telephone. His negative indexes 00:20:08.250 --> 00:20:10.609 reflect the breed's dramatic shift toward extreme 00:20:10.609 --> 00:20:13.910 production since the 1970s, not a deficiency 00:20:13.910 --> 00:20:17.849 in his genetic architecture. Charlie Will of 00:20:17.849 --> 00:20:21.349 Select Sires put it perfectly. Elevation's genes 00:20:21.349 --> 00:20:24.289 form the baseline against which we measure progress. 00:20:25.230 --> 00:20:27.549 you can't delete the foundation of a skyscraper 00:20:27.549 --> 00:20:30.809 and expect it to stand. Modern genomic models, 00:20:31.009 --> 00:20:33.309 calibrated against populations he helped create, 00:20:33.589 --> 00:20:36.329 inadvertently penalize his alleles while still 00:20:36.329 --> 00:20:39.730 relying on them as reference points. What's fascinating 00:20:39.730 --> 00:20:42.329 is how specific elevation traits continue to 00:20:42.329 --> 00:20:45.589 persist in elite modern genetics. His signature 00:20:45.589 --> 00:20:48.650 high Wide rear udders linked to mammary system 00:20:48.650 --> 00:20:51.730 haplotypes on chromosome 6 remain prevalent in 00:20:51.730 --> 00:20:55.529 78 % of bulls with greater than 2 ,000 GTPI. 00:20:56.130 --> 00:20:58.950 His descendants inherit body condition scoring 00:20:58.950 --> 00:21:02.269 alleles associated with plus 1 .1 livability 00:21:02.269 --> 00:21:05.210 and plus 4 .5 daughter pregnancy rate in current 00:21:05.210 --> 00:21:08.789 CDCB evaluations. And the elevation fertility 00:21:08.789 --> 00:21:12.390 cluster on chromosome 18 still appears in 63 00:21:12.390 --> 00:21:16.819 % of high fertility sires today. These traits 00:21:16.819 --> 00:21:18.900 contribute to what breeders call the elevation 00:21:18.900 --> 00:21:21.680 effect, cows that maintain production across 00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:24.759 multiple lactations despite increasing herd turnover 00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:28.220 rates. Genomics has quantified what breeders 00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:31.940 long observed. His descendants exhibit 18 % lower 00:21:31.940 --> 00:21:34.319 involuntary culling rates than non -elevation 00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:37.680 lines, a critical advantage in both pasture -based 00:21:37.680 --> 00:21:41.740 and robotic milking systems. Here's another mind 00:21:41.740 --> 00:21:45.579 -bender. Elevation's DNA makes up 8 .3 % of the 00:21:45.579 --> 00:21:49.160 CDCB's genomic reference population. This creates 00:21:49.160 --> 00:21:51.880 a fascinating paradox where modern genetic evaluations 00:21:51.880 --> 00:21:54.799 are essentially comparing new bulls against a 00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:57.759 baseline that Elevation helped establish. No 00:21:57.759 --> 00:22:00.740 wonder 80 % of elite genomic young sires carry 00:22:00.740 --> 00:22:05.450 at least one major Elevation haplotype. Farmers 00:22:05.450 --> 00:22:09.369 tell me herds retaining 12 -15 % elevation -derived 00:22:09.369 --> 00:22:13.390 genetics have 22 % lower vet costs and 3 .2 % 00:22:13.390 --> 00:22:15.829 higher lifetime profits compared to herds chasing 00:22:15.829 --> 00:22:19.430 extreme genomic numbers. In the robotic milking 00:22:19.430 --> 00:22:22.309 era, where cow longevity is paramount, this balance 00:22:22.309 --> 00:22:27.799 matters more than ever. And sustainability. A 00:22:27.799 --> 00:22:31.180 2022 USDA study found his lines reduced methane 00:22:31.180 --> 00:22:35.119 output by 4 .2%, elevations proving that sometimes 00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:37.759 old genetics solve new problems, like climate 00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:40.680 -smart dairying. So dairy friends, next time 00:22:40.680 --> 00:22:43.460 you call a plain heifer, remember, elevations 00:22:43.460 --> 00:22:46.579 average calves outlasted the divas. Greatness 00:22:46.579 --> 00:22:49.240 isn't about extremes. It's about cows that last. 00:22:49.619 --> 00:22:52.789 For more, visit thebullvine .com. check out our 00:22:52.789 --> 00:22:55.329 deep dives on Hanover Hill Starbuck and balancing 00:22:55.329 --> 00:22:58.329 genomics with practical breeding. And if in Ohio, 00:22:58.509 --> 00:23:00.950 visit Elevations Memorial at Select Sires HQ. 00:23:01.369 --> 00:23:04.309 It's beside their reflecting pond. Thanks for 00:23:04.309 --> 00:23:07.410 tuning in. Until next time, keep your somatic 00:23:07.410 --> 00:23:09.730 cell counts low and your breeding goals high.