Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast. I'm your host,
Bella, and today we're diving into one of the
most fascinating chapters in dairy breeding history.
We'll be exploring how a single farm in Washington
state revolutionized Holstein genetics and created
a legacy that continues to shape modern dairy
herds worldwide. And I'm Douglas, joining Bella
for this journey back to the early 1900s when
Carnation Milk Farms was changing the game for
dairy breeding. Today we'll cover the visionary
founder E .A. Stewart, the famous contented cow
philosophy, record -breaking champions like Seggis
Peterche Prospect, and how Carnation's approach
to breeding and animal welfare created a blueprint
that's still relevant in today's sustainability
-focused agricultural landscape. So grab your
coffee, settle in, and let's travel back to a
time when cows were truly kings. The year is
1908. Elbridge Amos Stewart. Already successful
with his Pacific Coast Condensed Milk Company,
makes what many would consider a risky move.
He purchases 360 acres of farmland in Washington's
Snoqualmie Valley, sight unseen. Can you imagine
buying a farm without even looking at it first,
Douglas? That takes some serious confidence.
But Stewart wasn't just making a random bet.
He was acting on a tip from his childhood friend
Sam Hill that the railroad would soon connect
to the area. Still, it was a bold move considering
the challenge he was trying to solve. And that
challenge was pretty straightforward. Stuart
simply couldn't get enough milk for his condensed
milk business. The supply couldn't keep up with
demand. So instead of just looking for more suppliers,
he decided to create his own dairy paradise.
By 1910, just two years later, He had expanded
to 750 acres and established Carnation Stock
Farms as a showcase facility. He invested heavily
in premium Holstein Friesian cattle and hired
the absolute best animal husbandry experts available.
That's a great question. What really set Stuart
apart was his unique combination of scientific
rigor and compassion for the animals. While he
was meticulously tracking bloodlines and implementing
selective breeding programs, he was simultaneously
developing what was, for the time, a radical
philosophy about animal treatment. The famous
contented cow philosophy, right? Exactly. Stuart
firmly believed that happy, stress -free cows
would produce more milk. This wasn't just a hunch.
He built his entire operation around this principle.
which would become the cornerstone of Carnation's
breeding program and brand identity. It's amazing
to think that this operation would eventually
grow to 1 ,400 acres and completely transform
dairy breeding practices worldwide. Let's talk
about how the iconic contented cows slogan came
to be. It's actually a fascinating story that
begins in 1906 during a marketing meeting in
Chicago. So this was... even before the farm
was established? That's right. Stewart was describing
to a marketing firm how his cows were treated,
their diet, living conditions, the whole works.
As the story goes, someone at the meeting casually
remarked, they must be very contented cows. That
simple observation sparked what would become
one of the most recognizable agricultural marketing
campaigns in history. Talk about a light bulb
moment. But this wasn't just clever marketing,
was it? Not at all. Stewart put real policies
in place that were revolutionary for that era.
In the main barn's breezeway, he posted a sign
with the farm's animal welfare guidelines. And
remarkably, that sign still exists today at the
farm. What did the sign say? It read, The rule
to be observed in this stable at all times, toward
the cattle, young and old, is that of patience
and kindness. That's incredibly progressive for
the early 1900s. Workers were even prohibited
from swearing in the presence of the cows. And
this wasn't just about being nice. Stewart understood
the practical connection between stress and reduced
milk production, something that modern dairy
science would later confirm. And the science
backs this up. Modern studies have shown that
stress hormones like cortisol can significantly
reduce milk letdown in dairy cows. When cows
experience stress, their bodies divert resources
away from milk production. Carnation was also
innovative in their milking schedule. For their
champion cows, They implemented a six -times
daily milking schedule, which hit the sweet spot
for optimal production. This was decades ahead
of the curve in dairy welfare and management
practices. So they were essentially practicing
evidence -based animal welfare before it was
even a concept in agriculture. That's pretty
remarkable. Exactly. This philosophy became Carnation's
secret sauce, making humane treatment an integral
part of genetic improvement. a surprisingly progressive
stance for the early 20th century. Let's dive
into how Carnation actually implemented their
breeding program. This wasn't just about being
nice to cows. There was serious science behind
their approach. Absolutely. Carnation's breeding
program was truly a game -changer in the dairy
world. Stewart focused exclusively on purebred
Holstein cattle. investing significant resources
in premium breeding stock and top -tier personnel.
What was their main breeding objective? Their
primary goal was to increase milk production
through selective breeding. But what made their
approach special was how methodical and scientific
they were about it. Carnation kept meticulous
records of bloodlines, production data, and offspring
performance to guide their breeding decisions.
And they didn't stop at just traditional breeding
methods. By the 1950s, they had constructed a
million -dollar research laboratory dedicated
to finding ways to make cows more contented and
productive. That's equivalent to about $10 million
in today's money. That level of investment in
research was almost unheard of in agriculture
at that time. Their scientific approach to breeding
went hand -in -hand with their focus on animal
care and nutrition. One thing I find particularly
interesting is that Carnation didn't keep their
genetic improvements to themselves. They actively
worked to spread these superior genetics throughout
the industry. That's right. They crossbred their
prize Holstein bulls with the stock of independent
dairymen. This created a ripple effect of increased
milk production efficiency throughout the industry.
It was a form of genetic outreach that benefited
the entire dairy sector. And the results were
undeniable. Carnation became America's undisputed
champion of prize -winning Holstein cows, consistently
raising the bar for milk production and butterfat
content. Many of today's Holsteins carry Carnation
genetics, a living testament to their century
-long pursuit of excellence. Now let's talk about
some of the superstar cows that Carnation's breeding
program produced. They bred more prize -winning
Holstein cows than any other U .S. breeder, with
several achieving legendary status in dairy breeding
history. Who was their most famous cow? Without
a doubt, that would be Segis Pieterche Prospect,
pronounced Segis Pieterche Prospect, affectionately
known as Possum Sweetheart. She embodied everything
Carnation's breeding philosophy aimed for. What
made her so special? Working with skilled milker
Carl Gockerell, who milked her six times daily
at regular intervals, Segis Petercha Prospect
shattered production records. In 1920, she produced
37 ,381 pounds of milk in a single year. That's
incredible. How did that compare to the average
cow of that era? The average cow in 1920 produced
about 4 ,000 pounds of milk annually. So Possum
Sweetheart was producing nearly 10 times what
a typical cow would produce. She was essentially
producing her own body weight in milk every three
weeks. To put this in perspective for our listeners,
that would be like if the average person ran
a marathon and then someone else came along and
ran 10 marathons in the same amount of time.
It was that level of exceptional performance.
Her achievement was so remarkable that newspapers
around the world published the story. She even
received visits from celebrities, including heavyweight
boxing champion Jack Dempsey and French General
Marshal Joffre. And what happened to Possum Sweetheart?
When she passed away in 1925 at the age of 12,
both Stewart and her milker, Carl Gockerl, were
deeply affected by the loss. In 1928, they erected
a monument in her honor at the entrance to Carnation
Farms, believed to be the world's first statue
dedicated to an individual Holstein cow. That
statue is still there today. It's amazing to
think about how much dairy genetics have advanced
since then. While Possum Sweetheart's record
was mind -blowing for her time, modern Holsteins
have pushed those boundaries even further. Absolutely.
In 2017, a Wisconsin Holstein named Evergreen
View My Goldy Tea set a new national milk production
record of 77 ,480 pounds in 365 days. That's
more than double Possum Sweetheart's achievement
and triple the 2015 U .S. Holstein average of
24 ,958 pounds. Were there other notable record
holders from Carnation? Yes, quite a few, actually.
Carnation Ormsby Butter King produced 38 ,607
pounds of milk and 1 ,402 pounds of fat in 1936,
the first 38 ,000 -pound milk record. Then there
was Carnation Ormsby Madcap Fane, who produced
41 ,943 pounds of milk in 1942, the first 20
-ton milk record. And Carnation Homestead Daisy
Madcap set a record with 36 ,414 pounds of milk
and 1 ,511 pounds of fat in 1951, the first 1
,500 -pound fat record. These achievements really
showcase how Carnation was consistently pushing
the boundaries of what was possible in dairy
production. Carnation's success wasn't just about
traditional breeding methods. They invested heavily
in research and innovation. By mid -century,
they had built a state -of -the -art, million
-dollar research laboratory in Van Nuys, California,
dedicated to advancing dairy science. That's
right. Their research went far beyond just breeding,
diving into nutrition. welfare, and management
practices. One standout innovation was calf manna,
a specialized livestock feed developed by nutritionists
from Albers Milling, which was a carnation subsidiary.
Introduced in the early 1930s, calf manna increased
animal consumption and productivity. It was initially
designed for dairy cows but eventually benefited
all sorts of livestock. This product actually
still exists today, though under different ownership.
Elbridge Hadley Stewart, the founder's son and
Carnation's president, was committed to keeping
the company at the cutting edge of dairy science.
He's quoted as saying, That entrepreneurial spirit
led them in some unexpected directions. It certainly
did. Their approach showed a remarkably modern
understanding that milk production is a complex
interplay of genetics, nutrition, welfare, and
management, all requiring scientific study. This
holistic view put Carnation miles ahead of many
operations that were still stuck in their ways.
It's fascinating how they recognized these connections
decades before they became common knowledge in
the industry. Let's talk about how carnation's
influence spread beyond their own farm gates.
Their impact on global dairy genetics was truly
remarkable. Their cows became highly sought after
worldwide, and many of today's dairy cattle trace
their lineage back to carnation bloodlines. This
wasn't by accident. Carnation made a deliberate
effort to share their genetic advancements with
the broader industry. One key strategy was crossbreeding
their purebred Holstein bulls with independent
dairymen's stock. This boosted the productivity
of dairy herds far beyond Carnation's own fences,
spreading superior genetics throughout the industry.
The results were transformative. Dairy farmers
worldwide could now get more milk from fewer
cows, which improved food security, reduced labor
needs, and decreased the environmental impact
per gallon of milk produced. Looking at Canadian
milk production data, which mirrors broader North
American trends, we can see a significant jump
between the 1920s and 1950s. In the 1920s, Canadian
milk production was about 54 million hectoliters.
By the 1950s, it had increased to over 70 million
hectoliters. a 29 .5 % increase. And this period
coincides perfectly with when carnations' Holstein
genetics were becoming widely distributed. The
upward trend continued in later decades, with
production reaching 95 million hectoliters by
the 2020s, a 74 .8 % increase over the 1920s
baseline. When carnations started their breeding
program in the early 1900s, The average cow produced
around 1 ,500 to 1 ,900 pounds of milk annually.
Through selective breeding and improved management,
production levels skyrocketed, with Carnation's
elite animals producing many times this amount.
This efficiency revolution fundamentally changed
the economics of dairy farming, allowing producers
to maintain or increase milk supply with smaller
herds. Carnation's breeding achievements also
influenced Holstein breed standards internationally,
helping shape the characteristics of the modern
Holstein cow. The story of Carnation Milk Farms
can't be fully understood without looking at
its role within the larger Carnation Company.
The farm started as a way to support Stewart's
evaporated milk business, addressing the chronic
milk shortage plaguing his processing plants.
But it quickly evolved into much more than just
a supplier. It became a corporate showpiece,
a cutting -edge research center, and a powerful
marketing tool that brought the contented cow
slogan to life. Stewart spared no expense in
developing the farm. He acquired top -notch Holstein
Friesian cattle and recruited the best animal
husbandry experts money could buy. The farm became
a living embodiment of the carnation brand. Over
time, the carnation company expanded well beyond
evaporated milk. In 1929, they acquired Albers
Milling Company, allowing them to enter the cereals
and animal feeds market. This acquisition expanded
their research capabilities to include nutritional
studies for various animals. Interestingly, companion
animals eventually became a major focus, leading
to the development of consumer products, including
the Friskies brand. Many people don't realize
that Friskies, now a well -known pet food brand,
originated from Carnation's dairy nutrition research.
Their first dog food was introduced in 1934,
growing directly out of their work with cattle
nutrition. The Carnation Company remained in
the Stewart family until 1985, when it was sold
to Nestle for $3 billion. In 2008, the original
farm was sold to a non -profit, and eight years
later, the Stewart family established a new non
-profit called Carnation Farms on the historic
site. Now let's look at how carnations' pioneering
work in the early 20th century connects to modern
dairy breeding practices. While the tools have
changed dramatically, many core principles remain
the same. In the 1920s, carnations breeders were
essentially playing a high -stakes game of genetic
guesswork. They selected bulls based on pedigree
records, milk yield of female relatives, and
physical traits like udder conformation. Fast
forward to 2025, and farmers now use genomic
predictions to screen embryos for more than 50
traits before implantation. What once took 5
to 7 years, waiting for a bull's daughters to
complete lactation, now takes just months, with
artificial insemination and embryo transfer accelerating
genetic gains by 400%. Despite these technological
advances, the timeless principle remains, measure
what matters. Whether you're tracking butterfat
in ledger books or analyzing SNP, pronounced
SNP markers, successful breeding hinges on robust
data. Modern dairy farming faces some significant
challenges. The need to reduce methane emissions
by 30 % by 2030 while meeting increasing global
demand for dairy products. Interestingly, Carnation's
legacy offers some solutions to these modern
problems. Take their contented cow philosophy.
Their stress reduction practices now align with
genomic research linking cortisol levels to 20
% lower milk production. Today's farms use wearable
sensors to monitor stress in real time, a high
-tech twist on Stewart's original philosophy.
There's also the efficiency aspect. While a cow
in 1944 produced about 2 ,074 kilograms of milk
per year, by 2007 that had increased to 9 ,193
kilograms. Today's Holsteins exceed 12 ,000 kilograms.
Carnation's focus on efficient production, getting
more milk per unit of feed, remains critical
for sustainability. Today's dairy sector uses
35 % less water and 23 % less feed per liter
than in 1944. One challenge we're facing now
is the genetic diversity dilemma. The push for
hyperproductive Holsteins has narrowed gene pools,
increasing the risk of inbreeding. Carnation's
strategy of crossbreeding bulls with diverse
herds offers a blueprint for reintroducing hardy
traits without sacrificing yield. As climate
change intensifies, the industry is actually
coming full circle, returning to more pasture
-based systems, but with a genomic edge. Studies
show pasture -raised cows have 30 % lower hoof
disease rates, while CRISPR -edited heat -tolerant
embryos thrive in warming climates. It's a perfect
blend of Carnation's holistic care approach with
21st -century precision technology. Carnation
Milk Farms' legacy continues to shape modern
dairy breeding and production. Their nearly century
-long pursuit of genetic excellence created bloodlines
that still run through dairy herds worldwide.
Many contemporary Holsteins trace their ancestry
to carnation -bred animals, proving the lasting
impact of E .A. Stewart's vision. As someone
in the industry once said, Possum Sweetheart's
1920 output wouldn't make today's top 100, but
her genetic legacy does. That's the beauty of
what carnation accomplished. They weren't just
focused on records. They were building a foundation
for future generations. Beyond genetics, Carnation's
dual focus on scientific breeding and animal
welfare established principles that have become
mainstream in modern dairy farming. Their contented
cow philosophy was decades ahead of its time,
anticipating the modern understanding of how
animal welfare impacts productivity. Their methodical
approach to genetic improvement through selection,
record -keeping, and progeny testing laid the
groundwork for practices that still inform breeding
programs today. While contemporary dairy breeding
now incorporates genomic selection, analyzing
DNA directly rather than waiting for production
records, the fundamental goal remains the same,
identifying superior genetics for productivity.
And their physical legacy lives on too. Visitors
to the original farm in Carnation, Washington,
can still see the historic barn with its famous
kindness sign and the statue honoring Segis Pieterci
Prospect. These artifacts preserve the tangible
history of an operation that revolutionized dairy
breeding while embodying values that continue
to resonate with dairy professionals and enthusiasts
alike. Today, we've explored how Carnation Milk
Farms revolutionized dairy breeding through a
unique blend of compassionate animal care and
rigorous genetics. From E .A. Stewart's bold
vision in 1908 to record -breaking cows like
Possum Sweetheart, Carnation set standards that
reshaped the industry. Their innovative contented
cow philosophy proved humane treatment boosts
productivity, a principle validated by modern
science. And their legacy isn't just historical.
It's alive in today's Holstein herds, sustainability
efforts, and even genomic technologies. Carnation
reminds us that progress comes from blending
innovation with timeless respect for animals
and land. If you enjoyed today's episode, don't
forget to subscribe to the Bullvine podcast for
more deep dives into dairy history and modern
innovations. Share this episode with fellow breeders
or farmers who might appreciate Carnation's inspiring
story. Thank you for joining us. Until next time,
keep striving for excellence in your herds. And
remember, every great farm starts with a vision
as bold as EA Stewart's. Take care, everyone.