WEBVTT 00:00:10.590 --> 00:00:14.109 Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast. I'm your host, 00:00:14.210 --> 00:00:16.850 Bella, and today we're diving into one of the 00:00:16.850 --> 00:00:19.570 most fascinating chapters in dairy breeding history. 00:00:20.489 --> 00:00:23.309 We'll be exploring how a single farm in Washington 00:00:23.309 --> 00:00:26.870 state revolutionized Holstein genetics and created 00:00:26.870 --> 00:00:29.929 a legacy that continues to shape modern dairy 00:00:29.929 --> 00:00:32.689 herds worldwide. And I'm Douglas, joining Bella 00:00:32.689 --> 00:00:35.429 for this journey back to the early 1900s when 00:00:35.429 --> 00:00:37.670 Carnation Milk Farms was changing the game for 00:00:37.670 --> 00:00:40.469 dairy breeding. Today we'll cover the visionary 00:00:40.469 --> 00:00:43.750 founder E .A. Stewart, the famous contented cow 00:00:43.750 --> 00:00:47.000 philosophy, record -breaking champions like Seggis 00:00:47.000 --> 00:00:49.560 Peterche Prospect, and how Carnation's approach 00:00:49.560 --> 00:00:52.439 to breeding and animal welfare created a blueprint 00:00:52.439 --> 00:00:54.979 that's still relevant in today's sustainability 00:00:54.979 --> 00:00:58.979 -focused agricultural landscape. So grab your 00:00:58.979 --> 00:01:01.399 coffee, settle in, and let's travel back to a 00:01:01.399 --> 00:01:06.099 time when cows were truly kings. The year is 00:01:06.099 --> 00:01:10.150 1908. Elbridge Amos Stewart. Already successful 00:01:10.150 --> 00:01:12.609 with his Pacific Coast Condensed Milk Company, 00:01:12.790 --> 00:01:15.269 makes what many would consider a risky move. 00:01:15.530 --> 00:01:19.670 He purchases 360 acres of farmland in Washington's 00:01:19.670 --> 00:01:23.150 Snoqualmie Valley, sight unseen. Can you imagine 00:01:23.150 --> 00:01:25.269 buying a farm without even looking at it first, 00:01:25.430 --> 00:01:28.329 Douglas? That takes some serious confidence. 00:01:29.010 --> 00:01:31.489 But Stewart wasn't just making a random bet. 00:01:31.709 --> 00:01:34.409 He was acting on a tip from his childhood friend 00:01:34.409 --> 00:01:37.010 Sam Hill that the railroad would soon connect 00:01:37.010 --> 00:01:40.900 to the area. Still, it was a bold move considering 00:01:40.900 --> 00:01:43.579 the challenge he was trying to solve. And that 00:01:43.579 --> 00:01:46.819 challenge was pretty straightforward. Stuart 00:01:46.819 --> 00:01:49.519 simply couldn't get enough milk for his condensed 00:01:49.519 --> 00:01:52.900 milk business. The supply couldn't keep up with 00:01:52.900 --> 00:01:55.780 demand. So instead of just looking for more suppliers, 00:01:56.079 --> 00:01:58.819 he decided to create his own dairy paradise. 00:01:59.519 --> 00:02:03.370 By 1910, just two years later, He had expanded 00:02:03.370 --> 00:02:06.969 to 750 acres and established Carnation Stock 00:02:06.969 --> 00:02:10.430 Farms as a showcase facility. He invested heavily 00:02:10.430 --> 00:02:13.349 in premium Holstein Friesian cattle and hired 00:02:13.349 --> 00:02:16.210 the absolute best animal husbandry experts available. 00:02:22.509 --> 00:02:26.069 That's a great question. What really set Stuart 00:02:26.069 --> 00:02:28.689 apart was his unique combination of scientific 00:02:28.689 --> 00:02:31.969 rigor and compassion for the animals. While he 00:02:31.969 --> 00:02:34.629 was meticulously tracking bloodlines and implementing 00:02:34.629 --> 00:02:37.889 selective breeding programs, he was simultaneously 00:02:37.889 --> 00:02:41.469 developing what was, for the time, a radical 00:02:41.469 --> 00:02:44.409 philosophy about animal treatment. The famous 00:02:44.409 --> 00:02:49.909 contented cow philosophy, right? Exactly. Stuart 00:02:49.909 --> 00:02:52.490 firmly believed that happy, stress -free cows 00:02:52.490 --> 00:02:55.590 would produce more milk. This wasn't just a hunch. 00:02:55.770 --> 00:02:58.729 He built his entire operation around this principle. 00:02:59.210 --> 00:03:01.349 which would become the cornerstone of Carnation's 00:03:01.349 --> 00:03:04.550 breeding program and brand identity. It's amazing 00:03:04.550 --> 00:03:07.210 to think that this operation would eventually 00:03:07.210 --> 00:03:11.129 grow to 1 ,400 acres and completely transform 00:03:11.129 --> 00:03:14.729 dairy breeding practices worldwide. Let's talk 00:03:14.729 --> 00:03:17.849 about how the iconic contented cows slogan came 00:03:17.849 --> 00:03:21.449 to be. It's actually a fascinating story that 00:03:21.449 --> 00:03:25.090 begins in 1906 during a marketing meeting in 00:03:25.090 --> 00:03:28.169 Chicago. So this was... even before the farm 00:03:28.169 --> 00:03:32.610 was established? That's right. Stewart was describing 00:03:32.610 --> 00:03:35.090 to a marketing firm how his cows were treated, 00:03:35.210 --> 00:03:38.550 their diet, living conditions, the whole works. 00:03:39.050 --> 00:03:41.689 As the story goes, someone at the meeting casually 00:03:41.689 --> 00:03:45.669 remarked, they must be very contented cows. That 00:03:45.669 --> 00:03:47.889 simple observation sparked what would become 00:03:47.889 --> 00:03:50.569 one of the most recognizable agricultural marketing 00:03:50.569 --> 00:03:53.490 campaigns in history. Talk about a light bulb 00:03:53.490 --> 00:03:56.669 moment. But this wasn't just clever marketing, 00:03:56.770 --> 00:04:00.289 was it? Not at all. Stewart put real policies 00:04:00.289 --> 00:04:02.909 in place that were revolutionary for that era. 00:04:03.270 --> 00:04:06.090 In the main barn's breezeway, he posted a sign 00:04:06.090 --> 00:04:09.009 with the farm's animal welfare guidelines. And 00:04:09.009 --> 00:04:12.289 remarkably, that sign still exists today at the 00:04:12.289 --> 00:04:16.649 farm. What did the sign say? It read, The rule 00:04:16.649 --> 00:04:19.509 to be observed in this stable at all times, toward 00:04:19.509 --> 00:04:21.930 the cattle, young and old, is that of patience 00:04:21.930 --> 00:04:42.069 and kindness. That's incredibly progressive for 00:04:42.069 --> 00:04:47.850 the early 1900s. Workers were even prohibited 00:04:47.850 --> 00:04:51.069 from swearing in the presence of the cows. And 00:04:51.069 --> 00:04:53.910 this wasn't just about being nice. Stewart understood 00:04:53.910 --> 00:04:56.769 the practical connection between stress and reduced 00:04:56.769 --> 00:04:59.230 milk production, something that modern dairy 00:04:59.230 --> 00:05:02.850 science would later confirm. And the science 00:05:02.850 --> 00:05:06.350 backs this up. Modern studies have shown that 00:05:06.350 --> 00:05:08.990 stress hormones like cortisol can significantly 00:05:08.990 --> 00:05:12.709 reduce milk letdown in dairy cows. When cows 00:05:12.709 --> 00:05:15.290 experience stress, their bodies divert resources 00:05:15.290 --> 00:05:18.629 away from milk production. Carnation was also 00:05:18.629 --> 00:05:21.310 innovative in their milking schedule. For their 00:05:21.310 --> 00:05:24.319 champion cows, They implemented a six -times 00:05:24.319 --> 00:05:26.720 daily milking schedule, which hit the sweet spot 00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:30.079 for optimal production. This was decades ahead 00:05:30.079 --> 00:05:32.360 of the curve in dairy welfare and management 00:05:32.360 --> 00:05:35.519 practices. So they were essentially practicing 00:05:35.519 --> 00:05:38.480 evidence -based animal welfare before it was 00:05:38.480 --> 00:05:41.180 even a concept in agriculture. That's pretty 00:05:41.180 --> 00:05:46.720 remarkable. Exactly. This philosophy became Carnation's 00:05:46.720 --> 00:05:49.459 secret sauce, making humane treatment an integral 00:05:49.459 --> 00:05:52.589 part of genetic improvement. a surprisingly progressive 00:05:52.589 --> 00:05:55.810 stance for the early 20th century. Let's dive 00:05:55.810 --> 00:05:58.029 into how Carnation actually implemented their 00:05:58.029 --> 00:06:00.850 breeding program. This wasn't just about being 00:06:00.850 --> 00:06:03.629 nice to cows. There was serious science behind 00:06:03.629 --> 00:06:08.009 their approach. Absolutely. Carnation's breeding 00:06:08.009 --> 00:06:10.310 program was truly a game -changer in the dairy 00:06:10.310 --> 00:06:13.689 world. Stewart focused exclusively on purebred 00:06:13.689 --> 00:06:16.660 Holstein cattle. investing significant resources 00:06:16.660 --> 00:06:19.379 in premium breeding stock and top -tier personnel. 00:06:19.860 --> 00:06:23.379 What was their main breeding objective? Their 00:06:23.379 --> 00:06:25.639 primary goal was to increase milk production 00:06:25.639 --> 00:06:28.480 through selective breeding. But what made their 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:31.040 approach special was how methodical and scientific 00:06:31.040 --> 00:06:34.160 they were about it. Carnation kept meticulous 00:06:34.160 --> 00:06:37.259 records of bloodlines, production data, and offspring 00:06:37.259 --> 00:06:39.339 performance to guide their breeding decisions. 00:06:40.199 --> 00:06:43.019 And they didn't stop at just traditional breeding 00:06:43.019 --> 00:06:47.279 methods. By the 1950s, they had constructed a 00:06:47.279 --> 00:06:50.120 million -dollar research laboratory dedicated 00:06:50.120 --> 00:06:53.120 to finding ways to make cows more contented and 00:06:53.120 --> 00:06:56.180 productive. That's equivalent to about $10 million 00:06:56.180 --> 00:07:00.040 in today's money. That level of investment in 00:07:00.040 --> 00:07:02.360 research was almost unheard of in agriculture 00:07:02.360 --> 00:07:06.139 at that time. Their scientific approach to breeding 00:07:06.139 --> 00:07:09.040 went hand -in -hand with their focus on animal 00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:12.319 care and nutrition. One thing I find particularly 00:07:12.319 --> 00:07:14.740 interesting is that Carnation didn't keep their 00:07:14.740 --> 00:07:18.259 genetic improvements to themselves. They actively 00:07:18.259 --> 00:07:20.779 worked to spread these superior genetics throughout 00:07:20.779 --> 00:07:25.139 the industry. That's right. They crossbred their 00:07:25.139 --> 00:07:27.439 prize Holstein bulls with the stock of independent 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:31.560 dairymen. This created a ripple effect of increased 00:07:31.560 --> 00:07:34.019 milk production efficiency throughout the industry. 00:07:34.540 --> 00:07:37.180 It was a form of genetic outreach that benefited 00:07:37.180 --> 00:07:40.620 the entire dairy sector. And the results were 00:07:40.620 --> 00:07:44.779 undeniable. Carnation became America's undisputed 00:07:44.779 --> 00:07:47.779 champion of prize -winning Holstein cows, consistently 00:07:47.779 --> 00:07:50.300 raising the bar for milk production and butterfat 00:07:50.300 --> 00:07:53.879 content. Many of today's Holsteins carry Carnation 00:07:53.879 --> 00:07:56.879 genetics, a living testament to their century 00:07:56.879 --> 00:08:00.199 -long pursuit of excellence. Now let's talk about 00:08:00.199 --> 00:08:02.459 some of the superstar cows that Carnation's breeding 00:08:02.459 --> 00:08:06.009 program produced. They bred more prize -winning 00:08:06.009 --> 00:08:08.389 Holstein cows than any other U .S. breeder, with 00:08:08.389 --> 00:08:10.870 several achieving legendary status in dairy breeding 00:08:10.870 --> 00:08:15.589 history. Who was their most famous cow? Without 00:08:15.589 --> 00:08:18.209 a doubt, that would be Segis Pieterche Prospect, 00:08:18.389 --> 00:08:22.089 pronounced Segis Pieterche Prospect, affectionately 00:08:22.089 --> 00:08:25.110 known as Possum Sweetheart. She embodied everything 00:08:25.110 --> 00:08:29.230 Carnation's breeding philosophy aimed for. What 00:08:29.230 --> 00:08:32.649 made her so special? Working with skilled milker 00:08:32.649 --> 00:08:35.200 Carl Gockerell, who milked her six times daily 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:37.700 at regular intervals, Segis Petercha Prospect 00:08:37.700 --> 00:08:41.700 shattered production records. In 1920, she produced 00:08:41.700 --> 00:08:47.740 37 ,381 pounds of milk in a single year. That's 00:08:47.740 --> 00:08:50.320 incredible. How did that compare to the average 00:08:50.320 --> 00:08:54.299 cow of that era? The average cow in 1920 produced 00:08:54.299 --> 00:08:58.240 about 4 ,000 pounds of milk annually. So Possum 00:08:58.240 --> 00:09:00.879 Sweetheart was producing nearly 10 times what 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:03.889 a typical cow would produce. She was essentially 00:09:03.889 --> 00:09:06.450 producing her own body weight in milk every three 00:09:06.450 --> 00:09:10.210 weeks. To put this in perspective for our listeners, 00:09:10.450 --> 00:09:13.330 that would be like if the average person ran 00:09:13.330 --> 00:09:16.070 a marathon and then someone else came along and 00:09:16.070 --> 00:09:18.669 ran 10 marathons in the same amount of time. 00:09:19.009 --> 00:09:21.590 It was that level of exceptional performance. 00:09:23.009 --> 00:09:25.769 Her achievement was so remarkable that newspapers 00:09:25.769 --> 00:09:29.120 around the world published the story. She even 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:31.980 received visits from celebrities, including heavyweight 00:09:31.980 --> 00:09:35.379 boxing champion Jack Dempsey and French General 00:09:35.379 --> 00:09:39.240 Marshal Joffre. And what happened to Possum Sweetheart? 00:09:39.460 --> 00:09:42.580 When she passed away in 1925 at the age of 12, 00:09:42.860 --> 00:09:45.879 both Stewart and her milker, Carl Gockerl, were 00:09:45.879 --> 00:09:50.240 deeply affected by the loss. In 1928, they erected 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:52.820 a monument in her honor at the entrance to Carnation 00:09:52.820 --> 00:09:55.600 Farms, believed to be the world's first statue 00:09:55.600 --> 00:09:59.500 dedicated to an individual Holstein cow. That 00:09:59.500 --> 00:10:02.039 statue is still there today. It's amazing to 00:10:02.039 --> 00:10:04.559 think about how much dairy genetics have advanced 00:10:04.559 --> 00:10:07.320 since then. While Possum Sweetheart's record 00:10:07.320 --> 00:10:10.200 was mind -blowing for her time, modern Holsteins 00:10:10.200 --> 00:10:13.700 have pushed those boundaries even further. Absolutely. 00:10:14.840 --> 00:10:18.620 In 2017, a Wisconsin Holstein named Evergreen 00:10:18.620 --> 00:10:21.879 View My Goldy Tea set a new national milk production 00:10:21.879 --> 00:10:28.230 record of 77 ,480 pounds in 365 days. That's 00:10:28.230 --> 00:10:30.549 more than double Possum Sweetheart's achievement 00:10:30.549 --> 00:10:34.190 and triple the 2015 U .S. Holstein average of 00:10:34.190 --> 00:10:38.730 24 ,958 pounds. Were there other notable record 00:10:38.730 --> 00:10:42.529 holders from Carnation? Yes, quite a few, actually. 00:10:43.450 --> 00:10:48.009 Carnation Ormsby Butter King produced 38 ,607 00:10:48.009 --> 00:10:53.169 pounds of milk and 1 ,402 pounds of fat in 1936, 00:10:53.549 --> 00:10:58.110 the first 38 ,000 -pound milk record. Then there 00:10:58.110 --> 00:11:00.950 was Carnation Ormsby Madcap Fane, who produced 00:11:00.950 --> 00:11:06.830 41 ,943 pounds of milk in 1942, the first 20 00:11:06.830 --> 00:11:10.490 -ton milk record. And Carnation Homestead Daisy 00:11:10.490 --> 00:11:15.970 Madcap set a record with 36 ,414 pounds of milk 00:11:15.970 --> 00:11:21.590 and 1 ,511 pounds of fat in 1951, the first 1 00:11:21.590 --> 00:11:25.019 ,500 -pound fat record. These achievements really 00:11:25.019 --> 00:11:27.679 showcase how Carnation was consistently pushing 00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:29.840 the boundaries of what was possible in dairy 00:11:29.840 --> 00:11:33.519 production. Carnation's success wasn't just about 00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:36.840 traditional breeding methods. They invested heavily 00:11:36.840 --> 00:11:39.779 in research and innovation. By mid -century, 00:11:40.019 --> 00:11:42.080 they had built a state -of -the -art, million 00:11:42.080 --> 00:11:44.480 -dollar research laboratory in Van Nuys, California, 00:11:44.919 --> 00:11:47.559 dedicated to advancing dairy science. That's 00:11:47.559 --> 00:11:49.919 right. Their research went far beyond just breeding, 00:11:50.059 --> 00:11:53.259 diving into nutrition. welfare, and management 00:11:53.259 --> 00:11:57.059 practices. One standout innovation was calf manna, 00:11:57.080 --> 00:12:00.379 a specialized livestock feed developed by nutritionists 00:12:00.379 --> 00:12:03.419 from Albers Milling, which was a carnation subsidiary. 00:12:04.159 --> 00:12:07.740 Introduced in the early 1930s, calf manna increased 00:12:07.740 --> 00:12:10.980 animal consumption and productivity. It was initially 00:12:10.980 --> 00:12:13.480 designed for dairy cows but eventually benefited 00:12:13.480 --> 00:12:17.240 all sorts of livestock. This product actually 00:12:17.240 --> 00:12:19.620 still exists today, though under different ownership. 00:12:21.480 --> 00:12:24.220 Elbridge Hadley Stewart, the founder's son and 00:12:24.220 --> 00:12:26.779 Carnation's president, was committed to keeping 00:12:26.779 --> 00:12:28.960 the company at the cutting edge of dairy science. 00:12:29.679 --> 00:12:38.799 He's quoted as saying, That entrepreneurial spirit 00:12:38.799 --> 00:12:42.679 led them in some unexpected directions. It certainly 00:12:42.679 --> 00:12:45.350 did. Their approach showed a remarkably modern 00:12:45.350 --> 00:12:48.049 understanding that milk production is a complex 00:12:48.049 --> 00:12:51.350 interplay of genetics, nutrition, welfare, and 00:12:51.350 --> 00:12:55.529 management, all requiring scientific study. This 00:12:55.529 --> 00:12:58.210 holistic view put Carnation miles ahead of many 00:12:58.210 --> 00:13:00.429 operations that were still stuck in their ways. 00:13:00.809 --> 00:13:04.070 It's fascinating how they recognized these connections 00:13:04.070 --> 00:13:07.610 decades before they became common knowledge in 00:13:07.610 --> 00:13:10.919 the industry. Let's talk about how carnation's 00:13:10.919 --> 00:13:13.100 influence spread beyond their own farm gates. 00:13:13.399 --> 00:13:16.379 Their impact on global dairy genetics was truly 00:13:16.379 --> 00:13:19.980 remarkable. Their cows became highly sought after 00:13:19.980 --> 00:13:23.840 worldwide, and many of today's dairy cattle trace 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:27.460 their lineage back to carnation bloodlines. This 00:13:27.460 --> 00:13:30.240 wasn't by accident. Carnation made a deliberate 00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:32.799 effort to share their genetic advancements with 00:13:32.799 --> 00:13:37.330 the broader industry. One key strategy was crossbreeding 00:13:37.330 --> 00:13:39.509 their purebred Holstein bulls with independent 00:13:39.509 --> 00:13:42.570 dairymen's stock. This boosted the productivity 00:13:42.570 --> 00:13:45.409 of dairy herds far beyond Carnation's own fences, 00:13:45.629 --> 00:13:48.269 spreading superior genetics throughout the industry. 00:13:49.389 --> 00:13:53.289 The results were transformative. Dairy farmers 00:13:53.289 --> 00:13:55.970 worldwide could now get more milk from fewer 00:13:55.970 --> 00:13:59.190 cows, which improved food security, reduced labor 00:13:59.190 --> 00:14:01.450 needs, and decreased the environmental impact 00:14:01.450 --> 00:14:04.919 per gallon of milk produced. Looking at Canadian 00:14:04.919 --> 00:14:07.500 milk production data, which mirrors broader North 00:14:07.500 --> 00:14:10.519 American trends, we can see a significant jump 00:14:10.519 --> 00:14:15.519 between the 1920s and 1950s. In the 1920s, Canadian 00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:18.899 milk production was about 54 million hectoliters. 00:14:19.299 --> 00:14:23.200 By the 1950s, it had increased to over 70 million 00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:28.250 hectoliters. a 29 .5 % increase. And this period 00:14:28.250 --> 00:14:31.649 coincides perfectly with when carnations' Holstein 00:14:31.649 --> 00:14:35.470 genetics were becoming widely distributed. The 00:14:35.470 --> 00:14:38.029 upward trend continued in later decades, with 00:14:38.029 --> 00:14:41.090 production reaching 95 million hectoliters by 00:14:41.090 --> 00:14:47.029 the 2020s, a 74 .8 % increase over the 1920s 00:14:47.029 --> 00:14:50.230 baseline. When carnations started their breeding 00:14:50.230 --> 00:14:53.990 program in the early 1900s, The average cow produced 00:14:53.990 --> 00:14:57.309 around 1 ,500 to 1 ,900 pounds of milk annually. 00:14:58.149 --> 00:15:01.009 Through selective breeding and improved management, 00:15:01.289 --> 00:15:04.389 production levels skyrocketed, with Carnation's 00:15:04.389 --> 00:15:06.649 elite animals producing many times this amount. 00:15:08.029 --> 00:15:11.870 This efficiency revolution fundamentally changed 00:15:11.870 --> 00:15:14.789 the economics of dairy farming, allowing producers 00:15:14.789 --> 00:15:18.149 to maintain or increase milk supply with smaller 00:15:18.149 --> 00:15:21.299 herds. Carnation's breeding achievements also 00:15:21.299 --> 00:15:23.399 influenced Holstein breed standards internationally, 00:15:23.980 --> 00:15:26.600 helping shape the characteristics of the modern 00:15:26.600 --> 00:15:31.779 Holstein cow. The story of Carnation Milk Farms 00:15:31.779 --> 00:15:33.639 can't be fully understood without looking at 00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:35.679 its role within the larger Carnation Company. 00:15:36.340 --> 00:15:39.740 The farm started as a way to support Stewart's 00:15:39.740 --> 00:15:42.600 evaporated milk business, addressing the chronic 00:15:42.600 --> 00:15:44.720 milk shortage plaguing his processing plants. 00:15:45.220 --> 00:15:47.960 But it quickly evolved into much more than just 00:15:47.960 --> 00:15:50.659 a supplier. It became a corporate showpiece, 00:15:50.919 --> 00:15:53.860 a cutting -edge research center, and a powerful 00:15:53.860 --> 00:15:56.639 marketing tool that brought the contented cow 00:15:56.639 --> 00:16:00.399 slogan to life. Stewart spared no expense in 00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:03.759 developing the farm. He acquired top -notch Holstein 00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:06.220 Friesian cattle and recruited the best animal 00:16:06.220 --> 00:16:09.580 husbandry experts money could buy. The farm became 00:16:09.580 --> 00:16:13.440 a living embodiment of the carnation brand. Over 00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:15.919 time, the carnation company expanded well beyond 00:16:15.919 --> 00:16:19.600 evaporated milk. In 1929, they acquired Albers 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:22.480 Milling Company, allowing them to enter the cereals 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:26.120 and animal feeds market. This acquisition expanded 00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:28.799 their research capabilities to include nutritional 00:16:28.799 --> 00:16:32.700 studies for various animals. Interestingly, companion 00:16:32.700 --> 00:16:36.100 animals eventually became a major focus, leading 00:16:36.100 --> 00:16:38.679 to the development of consumer products, including 00:16:38.679 --> 00:16:41.559 the Friskies brand. Many people don't realize 00:16:41.559 --> 00:16:44.440 that Friskies, now a well -known pet food brand, 00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:47.679 originated from Carnation's dairy nutrition research. 00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:51.440 Their first dog food was introduced in 1934, 00:16:51.820 --> 00:16:54.080 growing directly out of their work with cattle 00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:57.080 nutrition. The Carnation Company remained in 00:16:57.080 --> 00:17:00.419 the Stewart family until 1985, when it was sold 00:17:00.419 --> 00:17:06.119 to Nestle for $3 billion. In 2008, the original 00:17:06.119 --> 00:17:09.039 farm was sold to a non -profit, and eight years 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:11.619 later, the Stewart family established a new non 00:17:11.619 --> 00:17:13.700 -profit called Carnation Farms on the historic 00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:17.640 site. Now let's look at how carnations' pioneering 00:17:17.640 --> 00:17:20.660 work in the early 20th century connects to modern 00:17:20.660 --> 00:17:23.799 dairy breeding practices. While the tools have 00:17:23.799 --> 00:17:26.720 changed dramatically, many core principles remain 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:31.240 the same. In the 1920s, carnations breeders were 00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:33.700 essentially playing a high -stakes game of genetic 00:17:33.700 --> 00:17:37.259 guesswork. They selected bulls based on pedigree 00:17:37.259 --> 00:17:40.420 records, milk yield of female relatives, and 00:17:40.420 --> 00:17:43.440 physical traits like udder conformation. Fast 00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:47.019 forward to 2025, and farmers now use genomic 00:17:47.019 --> 00:17:49.380 predictions to screen embryos for more than 50 00:17:49.380 --> 00:17:52.619 traits before implantation. What once took 5 00:17:52.619 --> 00:17:55.359 to 7 years, waiting for a bull's daughters to 00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:58.960 complete lactation, now takes just months, with 00:17:58.960 --> 00:18:01.880 artificial insemination and embryo transfer accelerating 00:18:01.880 --> 00:18:05.640 genetic gains by 400%. Despite these technological 00:18:05.640 --> 00:18:08.960 advances, the timeless principle remains, measure 00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:11.849 what matters. Whether you're tracking butterfat 00:18:11.849 --> 00:18:14.289 in ledger books or analyzing SNP, pronounced 00:18:14.289 --> 00:18:17.430 SNP markers, successful breeding hinges on robust 00:18:17.430 --> 00:18:21.190 data. Modern dairy farming faces some significant 00:18:21.190 --> 00:18:23.990 challenges. The need to reduce methane emissions 00:18:23.990 --> 00:18:27.430 by 30 % by 2030 while meeting increasing global 00:18:27.430 --> 00:18:31.630 demand for dairy products. Interestingly, Carnation's 00:18:31.630 --> 00:18:34.029 legacy offers some solutions to these modern 00:18:34.029 --> 00:18:37.150 problems. Take their contented cow philosophy. 00:18:38.029 --> 00:18:40.470 Their stress reduction practices now align with 00:18:40.470 --> 00:18:43.410 genomic research linking cortisol levels to 20 00:18:43.410 --> 00:18:47.109 % lower milk production. Today's farms use wearable 00:18:47.109 --> 00:18:50.309 sensors to monitor stress in real time, a high 00:18:50.309 --> 00:18:52.630 -tech twist on Stewart's original philosophy. 00:18:53.130 --> 00:18:56.529 There's also the efficiency aspect. While a cow 00:18:56.529 --> 00:19:00.990 in 1944 produced about 2 ,074 kilograms of milk 00:19:00.990 --> 00:19:05.890 per year, by 2007 that had increased to 9 ,193 00:19:05.890 --> 00:19:09.579 kilograms. Today's Holsteins exceed 12 ,000 kilograms. 00:19:11.700 --> 00:19:14.819 Carnation's focus on efficient production, getting 00:19:14.819 --> 00:19:17.740 more milk per unit of feed, remains critical 00:19:17.740 --> 00:19:20.980 for sustainability. Today's dairy sector uses 00:19:20.980 --> 00:19:25.980 35 % less water and 23 % less feed per liter 00:19:25.980 --> 00:19:29.779 than in 1944. One challenge we're facing now 00:19:29.779 --> 00:19:33.059 is the genetic diversity dilemma. The push for 00:19:33.059 --> 00:19:35.420 hyperproductive Holsteins has narrowed gene pools, 00:19:35.720 --> 00:19:38.759 increasing the risk of inbreeding. Carnation's 00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:40.900 strategy of crossbreeding bulls with diverse 00:19:40.900 --> 00:19:44.000 herds offers a blueprint for reintroducing hardy 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:47.299 traits without sacrificing yield. As climate 00:19:47.299 --> 00:19:49.619 change intensifies, the industry is actually 00:19:49.619 --> 00:19:52.440 coming full circle, returning to more pasture 00:19:52.440 --> 00:19:56.230 -based systems, but with a genomic edge. Studies 00:19:56.230 --> 00:19:59.450 show pasture -raised cows have 30 % lower hoof 00:19:59.450 --> 00:20:02.430 disease rates, while CRISPR -edited heat -tolerant 00:20:02.430 --> 00:20:05.529 embryos thrive in warming climates. It's a perfect 00:20:05.529 --> 00:20:08.210 blend of Carnation's holistic care approach with 00:20:08.210 --> 00:20:11.970 21st -century precision technology. Carnation 00:20:11.970 --> 00:20:14.890 Milk Farms' legacy continues to shape modern 00:20:14.890 --> 00:20:18.289 dairy breeding and production. Their nearly century 00:20:18.289 --> 00:20:21.450 -long pursuit of genetic excellence created bloodlines 00:20:21.450 --> 00:20:23.529 that still run through dairy herds worldwide. 00:20:24.089 --> 00:20:27.049 Many contemporary Holsteins trace their ancestry 00:20:27.049 --> 00:20:29.930 to carnation -bred animals, proving the lasting 00:20:29.930 --> 00:20:33.069 impact of E .A. Stewart's vision. As someone 00:20:33.069 --> 00:20:36.109 in the industry once said, Possum Sweetheart's 00:20:36.109 --> 00:20:39.930 1920 output wouldn't make today's top 100, but 00:20:39.930 --> 00:20:43.230 her genetic legacy does. That's the beauty of 00:20:43.230 --> 00:20:45.630 what carnation accomplished. They weren't just 00:20:45.630 --> 00:20:48.470 focused on records. They were building a foundation 00:20:48.470 --> 00:20:53.109 for future generations. Beyond genetics, Carnation's 00:20:53.109 --> 00:20:55.589 dual focus on scientific breeding and animal 00:20:55.589 --> 00:20:58.329 welfare established principles that have become 00:20:58.329 --> 00:21:02.109 mainstream in modern dairy farming. Their contented 00:21:02.109 --> 00:21:04.589 cow philosophy was decades ahead of its time, 00:21:04.750 --> 00:21:07.210 anticipating the modern understanding of how 00:21:07.210 --> 00:21:10.970 animal welfare impacts productivity. Their methodical 00:21:10.970 --> 00:21:13.589 approach to genetic improvement through selection, 00:21:14.109 --> 00:21:17.349 record -keeping, and progeny testing laid the 00:21:17.349 --> 00:21:19.890 groundwork for practices that still inform breeding 00:21:19.890 --> 00:21:23.470 programs today. While contemporary dairy breeding 00:21:23.470 --> 00:21:26.450 now incorporates genomic selection, analyzing 00:21:26.450 --> 00:21:28.970 DNA directly rather than waiting for production 00:21:28.970 --> 00:21:32.009 records, the fundamental goal remains the same, 00:21:32.150 --> 00:21:34.809 identifying superior genetics for productivity. 00:21:35.710 --> 00:21:39.390 And their physical legacy lives on too. Visitors 00:21:39.390 --> 00:21:41.490 to the original farm in Carnation, Washington, 00:21:41.650 --> 00:21:44.509 can still see the historic barn with its famous 00:21:44.509 --> 00:21:48.109 kindness sign and the statue honoring Segis Pieterci 00:21:48.109 --> 00:21:51.710 Prospect. These artifacts preserve the tangible 00:21:51.710 --> 00:21:54.849 history of an operation that revolutionized dairy 00:21:54.849 --> 00:21:57.369 breeding while embodying values that continue 00:21:57.369 --> 00:21:59.869 to resonate with dairy professionals and enthusiasts 00:21:59.869 --> 00:22:03.799 alike. Today, we've explored how Carnation Milk 00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:06.680 Farms revolutionized dairy breeding through a 00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:09.579 unique blend of compassionate animal care and 00:22:09.579 --> 00:22:12.660 rigorous genetics. From E .A. Stewart's bold 00:22:12.660 --> 00:22:15.940 vision in 1908 to record -breaking cows like 00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:18.700 Possum Sweetheart, Carnation set standards that 00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:22.099 reshaped the industry. Their innovative contented 00:22:22.099 --> 00:22:24.720 cow philosophy proved humane treatment boosts 00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:27.980 productivity, a principle validated by modern 00:22:27.980 --> 00:22:30.539 science. And their legacy isn't just historical. 00:22:31.119 --> 00:22:33.740 It's alive in today's Holstein herds, sustainability 00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:37.579 efforts, and even genomic technologies. Carnation 00:22:37.579 --> 00:22:39.940 reminds us that progress comes from blending 00:22:39.940 --> 00:22:42.900 innovation with timeless respect for animals 00:22:42.900 --> 00:22:45.920 and land. If you enjoyed today's episode, don't 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:48.740 forget to subscribe to the Bullvine podcast for 00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:51.680 more deep dives into dairy history and modern 00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:55.240 innovations. Share this episode with fellow breeders 00:22:55.240 --> 00:22:58.359 or farmers who might appreciate Carnation's inspiring 00:22:58.359 --> 00:23:02.099 story. Thank you for joining us. Until next time, 00:23:02.119 --> 00:23:04.660 keep striving for excellence in your herds. And 00:23:04.660 --> 00:23:07.420 remember, every great farm starts with a vision 00:23:07.420 --> 00:23:10.299 as bold as EA Stewart's. Take care, everyone.