WEBVTT 00:00:10.370 --> 00:00:13.750 Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast, where we separate 00:00:13.750 --> 00:00:17.350 the genetic gold from the barnyard hype. Today, 00:00:17.489 --> 00:00:20.070 we're tackling a question that'll make you rethink 00:00:20.070 --> 00:00:22.269 everything you know about breeding champions. 00:00:22.750 --> 00:00:25.890 What do Kentucky Derby winners and World Dairy 00:00:25.890 --> 00:00:29.149 Expo Grand Champions have in common? Spoiler. 00:00:51.710 --> 00:00:55.090 All right, welcome back to another Deep Dive. 00:00:55.520 --> 00:00:56.939 You know, where we take the stuff you're probably 00:00:56.939 --> 00:00:58.759 already thinking about and, well, maybe think 00:00:58.759 --> 00:01:00.899 about it just a little bit deeper. Today we're 00:01:00.899 --> 00:01:03.079 doing something maybe a little unexpected. We're 00:01:03.079 --> 00:01:07.579 going to connect two worlds that might seem pretty 00:01:07.579 --> 00:01:10.040 far apart. Like really far apart? Yeah, like 00:01:10.040 --> 00:01:13.239 a prize Holstein standing proud at Madison and, 00:01:13.280 --> 00:01:15.959 say, a triple crown winner crossing the line 00:01:15.959 --> 00:01:17.939 at Churchill Downs. Okay, I see where you're 00:01:17.939 --> 00:01:21.500 going. Seems like a stretch. It might, but stick 00:01:21.500 --> 00:01:24.159 with us. What could the high -stakes world of 00:01:24.159 --> 00:01:26.799 Kentucky Derby champions possibly, you know, 00:01:26.799 --> 00:01:29.680 teach a sharp dairy breeder like you? Well, it 00:01:29.680 --> 00:01:32.439 might sound a bit crazy comparing elite racehorses 00:01:32.439 --> 00:01:35.079 to, you know, the pride of your heifer pen. Right. 00:01:35.299 --> 00:01:39.379 But if you really strip it back, the chase for 00:01:39.379 --> 00:01:41.140 that ultimate champion, I mean, whether it's 00:01:41.140 --> 00:01:43.040 getting across that finish line first on the 00:01:43.040 --> 00:01:45.879 first Saturday in May. The Derby, yeah. Or hearing 00:01:45.879 --> 00:01:48.000 your own animal called supreme champion at World 00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:51.620 Dairy Expo. Well, it relies on genetic strategies 00:01:51.620 --> 00:01:54.400 that are surprisingly kind of similar. That's 00:01:54.400 --> 00:01:57.159 what we're diving into. Exactly. We want to explore 00:01:57.159 --> 00:02:01.200 how maybe adopting some of those well -worn paths 00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:04.459 from the thoroughbred world, especially their 00:02:04.459 --> 00:02:09.199 longstanding focus on finding and really using 00:02:09.199 --> 00:02:11.879 elite genetics. Yeah. That can give you a real 00:02:11.879 --> 00:02:14.400 competitive edge. An edge, right. Moving beyond 00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:16.900 just good cows. Yeah, helping you breed not just 00:02:16.900 --> 00:02:19.680 good cows, but those truly exceptional ones. 00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:21.639 The ones that make people stop and look and, 00:02:21.680 --> 00:02:24.020 well, boost your bottom line too. Precisely. 00:02:24.020 --> 00:02:26.360 That feeling, right. That electric moment when 00:02:26.360 --> 00:02:29.219 your animal just nails it on the colored shavings. 00:02:29.219 --> 00:02:31.500 That's your derby day. Totally. And just like 00:02:31.500 --> 00:02:33.280 those horse folks are chasing that one legendary 00:02:33.280 --> 00:02:35.780 race, you're aiming for that absolute peak of 00:02:35.780 --> 00:02:39.379 dairy excellence. Now, here's a thought. Thoroughbred 00:02:39.379 --> 00:02:41.639 breeding. They've been seriously at it since 00:02:41.639 --> 00:02:45.539 the 1700s. Wow, that long. Yeah. Centuries of 00:02:45.539 --> 00:02:47.199 figuring this stuff out. That's a huge head start, 00:02:47.300 --> 00:02:49.400 isn't it? A whole library of lessons maybe we 00:02:49.400 --> 00:02:51.240 could be tapping into. That's a really interesting 00:02:51.240 --> 00:02:53.840 point, like a historical advantage. Think of 00:02:53.840 --> 00:02:56.340 it like this. They've been planning matings based 00:02:56.340 --> 00:03:00.280 on generations of performance data, while maybe 00:03:00.280 --> 00:03:04.099 some of us are still crossing our fingers a little 00:03:04.099 --> 00:03:06.219 too much. Or maybe relying just on what we see. 00:03:06.729 --> 00:03:10.610 Less on the deep data. Could be. So let's saddle 00:03:10.610 --> 00:03:13.789 up, metaphorically speaking, and see what wisdom 00:03:13.789 --> 00:03:15.830 we can maybe borrow from the racetrack. Okay, 00:03:15.889 --> 00:03:18.810 I'm intrigued. So this relentless drive for the 00:03:18.810 --> 00:03:21.729 best, it really boils down to those basic steps, 00:03:21.810 --> 00:03:24.930 right? Identifying, then selecting, and then 00:03:24.930 --> 00:03:28.150 very deliberately combining the most promising 00:03:28.150 --> 00:03:31.240 genetics you can find. Absolutely. Whether you're 00:03:31.240 --> 00:03:33.219 like pouring over a stallion's race record and 00:03:33.219 --> 00:03:34.900 his pedigree charts. Or you're on your phone. 00:03:35.180 --> 00:03:37.280 Right. Or dissecting the genomic evaluation. 00:03:37.659 --> 00:03:39.699 You know, looking in that merit dollars, that 00:03:39.699 --> 00:03:42.020 crucial index for lifetime profit for a bull 00:03:42.020 --> 00:03:45.120 you're considering. The core goal. It's the same. 00:03:45.199 --> 00:03:47.060 Find the best. Pinpoint those elite animals. 00:03:47.219 --> 00:03:49.039 The ones with the highest chance of passing on 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:51.840 the good stuff. Superior traits. And the thoroughbred 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:53.659 world has this rich history. You mentioned the 00:03:53.659 --> 00:03:57.639 1700s. Those foundation sires. Exactly. The Byerly 00:03:57.639 --> 00:04:00.139 Turk, the Darli Arabian, the Godolphin Arabian. 00:04:00.139 --> 00:04:02.259 It's actually pretty amazing that something like 00:04:02.259 --> 00:04:05.960 95 % of modern thoroughbreds trace their male 00:04:05.960 --> 00:04:09.099 lines straight back to the Darli Arabian. 95%. 00:04:09.099 --> 00:04:12.599 That's dominance. A really tight family tree, 00:04:12.680 --> 00:04:15.580 like you said. It is. But it really highlights 00:04:15.580 --> 00:04:18.899 the power of those early, really influential 00:04:18.899 --> 00:04:21.470 genetic choices. It makes you think about our 00:04:21.470 --> 00:04:23.990 own key bloodlines in dairy, doesn't it? You 00:04:23.990 --> 00:04:26.449 know, the impact of bulls, like round oak rag 00:04:26.449 --> 00:04:29.689 apple elevation. Yeah. Or the whole Hanover Hill 00:04:29.689 --> 00:04:31.930 prefix influence. We've definitely had our own 00:04:31.930 --> 00:04:34.230 genetic giants who've left a massive mark on 00:04:34.230 --> 00:04:36.829 the breeds. No question. And it's also wild when 00:04:36.829 --> 00:04:39.410 you think about how far our selection methods 00:04:39.410 --> 00:04:41.589 have come. Totally. I mean, you hear stories, 00:04:41.730 --> 00:04:44.490 right? Breeders making decisions based on a quick 00:04:44.490 --> 00:04:46.209 look at the herd from the Guernsey Farm Road. 00:04:46.370 --> 00:04:48.829 Literally. A drive -by appraisal. Pretty much. 00:04:48.829 --> 00:04:51.180 And now? Now we're all tapping away on our smartphones 00:04:51.180 --> 00:04:53.819 during milking, you know, diving deep into complex 00:04:53.819 --> 00:04:56.620 genomic predictions. It's quite the evolution. 00:04:56.899 --> 00:04:58.720 It really is. And, you know, the experienced 00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:01.500 eye, the cow sense, it still matters. Of course 00:05:01.500 --> 00:05:04.420 it does. Sure. But genomics, that was a real 00:05:04.420 --> 00:05:07.259 paradigm shift for both industries, actually. 00:05:07.439 --> 00:05:11.300 Yeah. Though maybe the timeline. And the initial 00:05:11.300 --> 00:05:14.459 enthusiasm were a bit different. How so? Well, 00:05:14.459 --> 00:05:16.259 the horse genome got sequenced around, what, 00:05:16.300 --> 00:05:20.100 2006? That gave them the map for more targeted 00:05:20.100 --> 00:05:23.720 DNA marker breeding. Okay. But the dairy industry. 00:05:24.459 --> 00:05:27.300 Man, we jumped on genomics with both feet starting 00:05:27.300 --> 00:05:29.639 around 2009. Really embraced it. Yeah, it feels 00:05:29.639 --> 00:05:32.740 like it became central almost overnight. It's 00:05:32.740 --> 00:05:34.959 become such a cornerstone of modern dairy breeding, 00:05:35.100 --> 00:05:37.420 hasn't it? It's a transformative technology, 00:05:37.759 --> 00:05:40.279 kind of like how the rotary parlor totally changed 00:05:40.279 --> 00:05:42.060 milking efficiency. That's a great comparison. 00:05:42.279 --> 00:05:43.939 And the numbers back it up, don't they? Absolutely. 00:05:44.199 --> 00:05:46.779 The data doesn't lie. Studies clearly show the 00:05:46.779 --> 00:05:49.160 annual gain in net merit dollars, that key profit 00:05:49.160 --> 00:05:51.439 index we talked about, it practically doubled 00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:53.819 after genomics really took hold. We went from 00:05:53.819 --> 00:05:58.160 around $40 a year gain pre -genomics to over 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:01.779 $79 a year post -genomics. That's not a small 00:06:01.779 --> 00:06:05.319 bump. No, that's doubling your progress. It's 00:06:05.319 --> 00:06:08.060 a quantum leap, really. You could argue it's 00:06:08.060 --> 00:06:10.000 one of the biggest advancements in animal breeding, 00:06:10.180 --> 00:06:15.110 like, ever. I think you could. And yet. And this 00:06:15.110 --> 00:06:18.269 is what the sources point out. You still find 00:06:18.269 --> 00:06:21.589 breeders who aren't quite, you know, fully using 00:06:21.589 --> 00:06:25.189 the power of genomics. Really? Still? Yeah. It's 00:06:25.189 --> 00:06:27.170 kind of like having that amazing top of the line 00:06:27.170 --> 00:06:30.029 TMR mixer sitting there. Right. But you're still 00:06:30.029 --> 00:06:32.050 just throwing silage over the fence by hand. 00:06:32.250 --> 00:06:34.149 Yeah. The potential is massive, but you got to 00:06:34.149 --> 00:06:36.009 plug it in and actually use it effectively. Yeah. 00:06:36.029 --> 00:06:38.209 You have to commit to the system. And when we 00:06:38.209 --> 00:06:39.889 talk about those really influential genetics. 00:06:40.269 --> 00:06:42.529 We mean those rare sires, right? The ones who 00:06:42.529 --> 00:06:44.209 don't just produce a few good ones. No, they 00:06:44.209 --> 00:06:46.290 build dynasties. Yeah. Genetic dynasties that 00:06:46.290 --> 00:06:48.329 echo down through generations. They lift the 00:06:48.329 --> 00:06:50.750 whole herd. Maybe even the whole breed. It's 00:06:50.750 --> 00:06:52.449 like the difference between a herd that's consistently 00:06:52.449 --> 00:06:55.230 hitting 30 ,000 pounds. Yeah. And one that's 00:06:55.230 --> 00:06:57.790 kind of stuck struggling around 20 ,000. Big 00:06:57.790 --> 00:07:00.009 difference. Huge difference. And in thoroughbred 00:07:00.009 --> 00:07:03.269 racing, a name like Tappet is the perfect example 00:07:03.269 --> 00:07:06.750 of this. Right. Tappet. Heard the name. His record 00:07:06.750 --> 00:07:09.930 is just phenomenal. Sire over 100 graded stakes, 00:07:10.089 --> 00:07:13.310 winners, progeny earnings over $210 million. 00:07:13.709 --> 00:07:16.550 Wow. He break the single season progeny earnings 00:07:16.550 --> 00:07:20.170 record three years straight. He's a true cornerstone 00:07:20.170 --> 00:07:23.629 sire, a patriarch. That's hitting the genetic 00:07:23.629 --> 00:07:26.149 lottery again and again. And, you know, in our 00:07:26.149 --> 00:07:27.790 dairy world, we're seeing that kind of impact 00:07:27.790 --> 00:07:30.870 now with bulls like far near Delta Lambda. Lambda, 00:07:30.930 --> 00:07:33.519 yeah. Big splash. Being named premier sire at 00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:36.439 the 2024 International Holstein Show at World 00:07:36.439 --> 00:07:39.819 Dairy Expo. That's a massive deal. A huge stamp 00:07:39.819 --> 00:07:41.259 of approval. Definitely tells you something. 00:07:41.399 --> 00:07:43.339 He's become kind of the go -to sire if you're 00:07:43.339 --> 00:07:45.540 aiming for success on those colored shavings. 00:07:45.540 --> 00:07:47.360 Right. It seems that way. It's like the bovine 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:50.379 equivalent of striking oil in your back 40. Well, 00:07:51.279 --> 00:07:52.860 they dominated the competition this year. They 00:07:52.860 --> 00:07:54.980 really did. But here's maybe a critical lesson 00:07:54.980 --> 00:07:56.819 we can pull from the horse world on this. Okay. 00:07:56.980 --> 00:08:01.199 Building a truly lasting... impactful genetic 00:08:01.199 --> 00:08:04.319 program. It isn't just about jumping on every 00:08:04.319 --> 00:08:07.579 hot new genomic young sire that pops up. Chasing 00:08:07.579 --> 00:08:10.060 the number? Yeah, chasing the absolute newest, 00:08:10.120 --> 00:08:13.259 highest number without a bigger picture. It needs 00:08:13.259 --> 00:08:16.079 a long -term vision, a strategy focused on building 00:08:16.079 --> 00:08:19.180 those strong, reliable sire lines, not just riding 00:08:19.180 --> 00:08:21.120 the short wave of the latest genomic superstar. 00:08:21.709 --> 00:08:24.129 So it's more than just picking the hashtag one 00:08:24.129 --> 00:08:27.170 bull on the list each time. Exactly. It's kind 00:08:27.170 --> 00:08:30.389 of like investing heavily in the fanciest sexed 00:08:30.389 --> 00:08:33.190 semen for your heifer. Okay. But then completely 00:08:33.190 --> 00:08:35.730 neglecting the basic nutritional needs of your 00:08:35.730 --> 00:08:38.370 transition cows. You know, you're missing the 00:08:38.370 --> 00:08:40.389 foundation for long term success. That makes 00:08:40.389 --> 00:08:42.509 a lot of sense. You need the whole system working. 00:08:42.649 --> 00:08:44.149 And that kind of brings us to an interesting 00:08:44.149 --> 00:08:46.870 point about single gene discovery. Right. Because 00:08:46.870 --> 00:08:49.289 we in dairy, we often work with these complex 00:08:49.289 --> 00:08:51.570 indexes, right? Balancing tons of traits. Net 00:08:51.570 --> 00:08:54.629 merit, TPI, LPI. Yeah. But the thoroughbred folks, 00:08:54.769 --> 00:08:57.399 they had this sort of. genetic lightning strike 00:08:57.399 --> 00:09:00.340 moment back in 2010. Oh, yeah. With the discovery 00:09:00.340 --> 00:09:02.879 of what they call the speed gene. Research pinpointed 00:09:02.879 --> 00:09:05.159 a specific gene variation near the myostatin 00:09:05.159 --> 00:09:08.379 gene that strongly predicts a horse's best racing 00:09:08.379 --> 00:09:10.820 distance. No kidding. Just one gene. Well, a 00:09:10.820 --> 00:09:12.899 key variation near one gene, yeah. And what's 00:09:12.899 --> 00:09:14.919 really fascinating is how clear -cut it seemed 00:09:14.919 --> 00:09:17.759 to be. Oh, so? They found three main genotypes. 00:09:18.179 --> 00:09:21.360 Oh. CC horses. They tend to build bustle early. 00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:24.399 Excel at shorter, faster races. Yep. Sprints. 00:09:24.539 --> 00:09:28.460 Okay. CT horses. They're more versatile. Perform 00:09:28.460 --> 00:09:30.740 well across different distances. The all -rounders. 00:09:30.899 --> 00:09:33.500 Kinda. And then the TT horses. They generally 00:09:33.500 --> 00:09:35.539 have more stamina, better suited for the longer 00:09:35.539 --> 00:09:39.220 races. Wow. That's incredibly specific. Right. 00:09:39.259 --> 00:09:41.379 And it wasn't just some academic paper. It got 00:09:41.379 --> 00:09:43.720 commercialized almost immediately as the equinome 00:09:43.720 --> 00:09:46.139 speed gene test. So breeders could test their 00:09:46.139 --> 00:09:48.870 horses. Exactly. gave them a powerful tool to 00:09:48.870 --> 00:09:50.850 make more informed choices about breeding, yes, 00:09:51.049 --> 00:09:53.870 but also about training strategies based on the 00:09:53.870 --> 00:09:56.009 horse's genetic potential for distance. Man, 00:09:56.169 --> 00:09:58.529 talk about a genetic cheat sheet for the racetrack. 00:09:58.529 --> 00:10:00.710 That's amazing. It is pretty cool. And while, 00:10:00.830 --> 00:10:02.870 you know, most traits we care about in dairy 00:10:02.870 --> 00:10:05.669 milk production, confirmation health, they're 00:10:05.669 --> 00:10:08.029 influenced by lots of genes working together. 00:10:08.230 --> 00:10:10.830 Polygenic, right. Right. But the speed gene story 00:10:10.830 --> 00:10:13.230 is a great reminder to keep our eyes peeled for 00:10:13.230 --> 00:10:14.950 those single gene discoveries that could have 00:10:14.950 --> 00:10:16.889 a really big impact on our industry too. Like 00:10:16.889 --> 00:10:19.929 A2A2. A2A2 beta casein is the perfect example. 00:10:20.110 --> 00:10:23.610 A single genetic variant that almost overnight 00:10:23.610 --> 00:10:26.769 created whole new markets and definitely shifted 00:10:26.769 --> 00:10:29.129 breeding priorities for a lot of people. Yeah, 00:10:29.149 --> 00:10:32.190 that changed things fast. Absolutely. And you 00:10:32.190 --> 00:10:34.389 have to think, as our understanding of the dairy 00:10:34.389 --> 00:10:37.759 genome gets deeper and deeper, We could very 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:41.259 well find similar markers, maybe for things like 00:10:41.259 --> 00:10:45.309 resistance to metritis. Or maybe better feed 00:10:45.309 --> 00:10:47.429 efficiency. Things that are hard to measure easily 00:10:47.429 --> 00:10:49.690 otherwise. Exactly. And the breeders who are 00:10:49.690 --> 00:10:51.850 quick to adopt those tools, to strategically 00:10:51.850 --> 00:10:54.210 use them, they're going to gain a significant 00:10:54.210 --> 00:10:56.450 competitive edge. Like the early adopters of 00:10:56.450 --> 00:10:59.429 robots. Yeah, or activity monitors for heat detection. 00:10:59.590 --> 00:11:01.450 It's about staying ahead of the curve, leveraging 00:11:01.450 --> 00:11:03.889 the latest science. Which leads kind of nicely 00:11:03.889 --> 00:11:06.210 into market awareness, doesn't it? Staying ahead 00:11:06.210 --> 00:11:09.009 means knowing what the market wants. Absolutely 00:11:09.009 --> 00:11:12.399 critical. Both thoroughbred breeders and top 00:11:12.399 --> 00:11:15.960 dairy producers understand this inside out. You 00:11:15.960 --> 00:11:17.940 have got to know what the buyers are looking 00:11:17.940 --> 00:11:20.139 for. Whether it's the racehorse auction crowd. 00:11:20.340 --> 00:11:23.039 Or your milk processor. Or the folks buying your 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:26.500 breeding stock. The research is clear. If you 00:11:26.500 --> 00:11:28.519 want to produce foals that bring top dollar, 00:11:28.679 --> 00:11:31.559 you need to think like a buyer. You've got to 00:11:31.559 --> 00:11:33.820 study the auction results, track which bloodlines 00:11:33.820 --> 00:11:36.279 are hot, figure out the emerging trends. It's 00:11:36.279 --> 00:11:38.570 a whole strategy. And the same logic applies 00:11:38.570 --> 00:11:40.990 directly if you're aiming for success in the 00:11:40.990 --> 00:11:43.970 dairy show ring, right? 100%. Breeding for World 00:11:43.970 --> 00:11:47.129 Dairy Expo. It's not just about making a pretty 00:11:47.129 --> 00:11:50.490 cow. It's about deeply understanding what those 00:11:50.490 --> 00:11:52.730 judges are rewarding. What they're looking for 00:11:52.730 --> 00:11:55.269 on the day. Exactly. That ideal package, sound 00:11:55.269 --> 00:11:58.470 structure, that incredible style, but also, and 00:11:58.470 --> 00:12:01.299 this is key. The built -in capacity for high 00:12:01.299 --> 00:12:03.419 efficient milk production. The whole package. 00:12:03.559 --> 00:12:05.980 The ultimate champion is the cow that, yes, catches 00:12:05.980 --> 00:12:08.019 the judge's eye on the shavings, but also has 00:12:08.019 --> 00:12:10.080 the genetic foundation to back it up with great 00:12:10.080 --> 00:12:13.039 production records and the ability to last. And 00:12:13.039 --> 00:12:16.299 this is where maybe some breeders get sidetracked. 00:12:16.379 --> 00:12:19.159 Focusing too much on one thing. It's a common 00:12:19.159 --> 00:12:22.019 pitfall. Yeah. Maybe focusing too intensely on 00:12:22.019 --> 00:12:24.539 that extreme show type, that sharpness. Yeah. 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:26.399 And maybe sacrificing some functional traits 00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:28.690 along the way. Or the other way around. Or going 00:12:28.690 --> 00:12:30.769 all in on production numbers without enough thought 00:12:30.769 --> 00:12:33.710 to confirmation, longevity, health traits. It's 00:12:33.710 --> 00:12:37.129 like celebrating amazing component percentages, 00:12:37.230 --> 00:12:39.929 but ignoring the fact that half the herd is limping. 00:12:40.149 --> 00:12:42.850 Or having super easy calvings, but the cows just 00:12:42.850 --> 00:12:45.350 don't milk enough. Exactly. The most successful 00:12:45.350 --> 00:12:48.309 breeders, they have a clear, well -defined strategy 00:12:48.309 --> 00:12:51.009 that lines up with their specific market goals. 00:12:51.230 --> 00:12:54.259 Know your target. Yeah. Are you aiming for those 00:12:54.259 --> 00:12:57.879 premium prices for elite show genetics? Or is 00:12:57.879 --> 00:13:00.519 your goal maximizing lifetime pounds of milk 00:13:00.519 --> 00:13:03.299 solids and components for the bulk tank? You've 00:13:03.299 --> 00:13:05.159 got to decide what your win actually looks like 00:13:05.159 --> 00:13:07.519 and breed for that. Right. Now, another difference, 00:13:07.700 --> 00:13:10.019 historically at least, has been generation interval. 00:13:10.259 --> 00:13:12.679 Ah, yes. That's been a big one. Though genomics 00:13:12.679 --> 00:13:14.559 is really changing the game here, too. How so? 00:13:14.779 --> 00:13:17.340 Well, traditionally, horses have had longer generation 00:13:17.340 --> 00:13:21.460 intervals than dairy cattle. But genomics? It's 00:13:21.460 --> 00:13:23.539 leveled the playing field and maybe even given 00:13:23.539 --> 00:13:26.080 dairy a bit of an edge now. Because we adopted 00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:28.659 it so quickly. Partly that and partly how it 00:13:28.659 --> 00:13:30.960 lets us identify the good ones so much earlier. 00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:33.679 Research shows a significant drop in generation 00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:36.259 intervals in dairy since genomics went mainstream. 00:13:36.730 --> 00:13:38.450 Makes sense. You don't have to wait for progeny 00:13:38.450 --> 00:13:41.370 proofs on bulls anymore. Exactly. We can identify 00:13:41.370 --> 00:13:45.029 genetically superior animals way earlier, even 00:13:45.029 --> 00:13:47.629 as embryos sometimes, and start breeding from 00:13:47.629 --> 00:13:50.250 them at younger ages. Faster turnover. And the 00:13:50.250 --> 00:13:52.250 dairy industry has really run with the reproductive 00:13:52.250 --> 00:13:56.450 technologies too, hasn't it? AI, ET, IVF. Oh, 00:13:56.549 --> 00:13:59.330 aggressively. Yeah. We leverage those tools heavily 00:13:59.330 --> 00:14:02.049 to maximize the impact of those elite, early 00:14:02.049 --> 00:14:04.350 identified genetics. So the question for you, 00:14:04.370 --> 00:14:07.820 listener, is... Are you really maximizing these 00:14:07.820 --> 00:14:10.480 tools? Right. Are you using genomics and ReproTech 00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:12.379 to shorten your generation intervals as much 00:14:12.379 --> 00:14:15.039 as possible? Or are you maybe operating with 00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:17.580 longer intervals, effectively slowing down your 00:14:17.580 --> 00:14:19.480 own genetic progress? It's kind of like watching 00:14:19.480 --> 00:14:22.360 your neighbors adopt all this precision ag technology. 00:14:22.679 --> 00:14:25.840 Drones, GPS, variable rate. Yeah. While you're 00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:28.759 still kind of relying on, you know, dead reckoning 00:14:28.759 --> 00:14:31.360 to spread your fertilizer, that difference in 00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:34.360 adoption, it directly impacts your speed of genetic 00:14:34.360 --> 00:14:37.899 gain. You see it in TPI, NMOI, LPI. It widens 00:14:37.899 --> 00:14:40.360 the gap over time. It really does. And, you know, 00:14:40.379 --> 00:14:43.549 just picking elite genetics. Even with genomics, 00:14:43.669 --> 00:14:45.389 that's still only part of the puzzle, isn't it? 00:14:45.429 --> 00:14:48.029 What's the other part? Strategic mating. Making 00:14:48.029 --> 00:14:50.710 champions, whether they run fast or milk well, 00:14:50.870 --> 00:14:53.129 it requires really careful mating decisions. 00:14:53.429 --> 00:14:55.409 Not just putting the best with the best randomly. 00:14:55.730 --> 00:14:58.190 No, it's about understanding the specific genetic 00:14:58.190 --> 00:15:00.870 strengths, but also the weaknesses of your individual 00:15:00.870 --> 00:15:03.370 animals. Being honest about your cows. Exactly. 00:15:03.450 --> 00:15:05.529 And then picking mates that complement those 00:15:05.529 --> 00:15:08.409 traits, creating offspring that are hopefully 00:15:08.409 --> 00:15:11.840 better, more balanced than either parent. Like 00:15:11.840 --> 00:15:14.259 the horse experts say, right? Choose stallions 00:15:14.259 --> 00:15:16.340 based on pedigree compatibility and what you 00:15:16.340 --> 00:15:18.399 need, not just the marketing hype or the stud 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:21.639 fee. That's the wisdom. And it applies directly 00:15:21.639 --> 00:15:24.679 to dairy. Take a hard, honest look at your cows, 00:15:24.740 --> 00:15:26.899 your cow families, then pick bulls specifically 00:15:26.899 --> 00:15:29.580 to address their shortcomings. So if a family 00:15:29.580 --> 00:15:32.789 needs better udders, use a bull. Known for making 00:15:32.789 --> 00:15:35.710 great mammary systems. If feet and legs are a 00:15:35.710 --> 00:15:38.769 recurring issue. Focus there. Right. Find a bull 00:15:38.769 --> 00:15:41.509 known for improving mobility and structure. The 00:15:41.509 --> 00:15:43.990 calming mistake, maybe, is just using the highest 00:15:43.990 --> 00:15:46.830 ranked genomic bull on everything. The blanket 00:15:46.830 --> 00:15:50.549 approach. Yeah. It's like using the same general 00:15:50.549 --> 00:15:53.590 antibiotic for every single mastitis case without 00:15:53.590 --> 00:15:55.570 ever bothering to culture first to see what you're 00:15:55.570 --> 00:15:57.549 actually treating. It's just inefficient. It 00:15:57.549 --> 00:15:59.309 rarely gives you the best results. Yeah. Tailored 00:15:59.309 --> 00:16:01.909 treatment works better. Precisely. Think about, 00:16:01.929 --> 00:16:04.570 say, those great Goldwyn daughters. Amazing udders, 00:16:04.570 --> 00:16:07.549 right? But sometimes maybe lacking a bit in overall 00:16:07.549 --> 00:16:09.610 strength and body depth. Yeah, that was the knock 00:16:09.610 --> 00:16:11.850 sometimes. So instead of just using the current 00:16:11.850 --> 00:16:15.269 hashtag 1TPI bull on them, maybe you strategically 00:16:15.269 --> 00:16:17.990 mate them to a bull known for adding strength 00:16:17.990 --> 00:16:21.269 and power, like Impression or Jabir back in the 00:16:21.269 --> 00:16:23.779 day. To get a more balanced package. Exactly. 00:16:24.120 --> 00:16:26.259 Creating that synergy, that complementary advantage. 00:16:26.539 --> 00:16:28.500 It's like focusing on hitting those high component 00:16:28.500 --> 00:16:31.759 premiums instead of just shipping maximum fluid 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:34.379 milk volume. Different goals, different strategies. 00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:36.279 Okay, so we've got the genetics, the strategic 00:16:36.279 --> 00:16:38.539 mating, but that's still not the whole story, 00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:40.620 is it? Not even close. You can have the best 00:16:40.620 --> 00:16:43.340 genetics on paper, but you also cannot expect 00:16:43.340 --> 00:16:46.419 a champion to just appear. Needs the right environment. 00:16:46.580 --> 00:16:48.600 Needs proper development, meticulous management, 00:16:48.700 --> 00:16:51.539 absolutely crucial in both worlds. For the racehorses, 00:16:51.539 --> 00:16:53.279 that means specialized nutrition for performance, 00:16:53.539 --> 00:16:55.980 very structured exercise programs for fitness, 00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:58.879 expert handling for confidence. And for our dairy 00:16:58.879 --> 00:17:01.480 animals? It's a parallel path. It starts with 00:17:01.480 --> 00:17:04.519 great young animal care. Calf raising is fundamental. 00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:07.200 Then the right nutrition at every single stage, 00:17:07.380 --> 00:17:10.799 including that critical dry cow TMR. Can't forget 00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:13.920 the dry cows. Never. And then, if you're aiming 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:16.039 for the show ring, there's the whole art and 00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:18.920 science of preparation. Expert fitting, professional 00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:21.180 clipping and presentation, training the hair. 00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:24.980 Managing utter edema? Timing the feed? All of 00:17:24.980 --> 00:17:27.839 it. Like that veteran dairy breeder wisely said, 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:30.500 even with Elite Genetics, there is absolutely 00:17:30.500 --> 00:17:34.000 no substitute for hard work, keen cow sense, 00:17:34.259 --> 00:17:37.740 attention to detail, and just a passion for perfection. 00:17:38.059 --> 00:17:40.650 Genetics loads the gun. Management pulls the 00:17:40.650 --> 00:17:42.809 trigger. That's a good way to put it. A genetically 00:17:42.809 --> 00:17:45.710 superior animal just won't hit its full potential 00:17:45.710 --> 00:17:48.109 without that dedicated care and management. It's 00:17:48.109 --> 00:17:50.089 like having the most advanced robotic milking 00:17:50.089 --> 00:17:52.609 system. Yeah. It still needs regular maintenance, 00:17:52.829 --> 00:17:55.430 skilled oversight, and proper management to actually 00:17:55.430 --> 00:17:57.789 perform at its peak. Right. Now, here's maybe 00:17:57.789 --> 00:18:00.210 a key difference we should touch on. A derby 00:18:00.210 --> 00:18:03.269 winner. Needs one perfect race, two minutes. 00:18:03.549 --> 00:18:06.069 Exactly. One flawless performance on one specific 00:18:06.069 --> 00:18:10.299 day. But a World Dairy Expo champion. Ideally, 00:18:10.299 --> 00:18:12.579 she represents years of productive life back 00:18:12.579 --> 00:18:14.500 in the herd. That's a really crucial distinction. 00:18:14.660 --> 00:18:17.579 And it highlights why in dairy, it's so important 00:18:17.579 --> 00:18:20.359 to balance that pursuit of maybe extreme show 00:18:20.359 --> 00:18:23.500 type with a rock solid foundation of functional 00:18:23.500 --> 00:18:26.359 traits. Production, health, longevity. All of 00:18:26.359 --> 00:18:29.000 it. The truly great dairy champion isn't just 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:30.960 the one with the stunning confirmation that wins 00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:32.859 the ribbon. Although that's nice. Of course. 00:18:33.690 --> 00:18:36.049 But she also has that inherent genetic ability 00:18:36.049 --> 00:18:38.930 for high, efficient, trouble -free production 00:18:38.930 --> 00:18:42.809 over a long, healthy life. She pins the blue 00:18:42.809 --> 00:18:45.450 ribbon and fills the bulk tank. A complete package 00:18:45.450 --> 00:18:48.009 again. And, you know, it does raise a bit of 00:18:48.009 --> 00:18:50.289 a provocative question, doesn't it? Have we, 00:18:50.329 --> 00:18:53.490 in some parts of the industry, maybe pushed that 00:18:53.490 --> 00:18:56.769 pursuit of extreme dairy character, that ultra 00:18:56.769 --> 00:18:59.410 -sharp, angular show style? Yeah. Push it maybe 00:18:59.410 --> 00:19:02.250 a bit too far, to the point where we might be... 00:19:02.440 --> 00:19:05.720 perhaps inadvertently compromising some of those 00:19:05.720 --> 00:19:08.460 essential functional traits. When cows look maybe 00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:11.519 too refined, almost frail. Exactly. When they 00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:13.660 look like they've maybe been on a bit of a starvation 00:19:13.660 --> 00:19:16.900 diet to achieve that look, you have to wonder 00:19:16.900 --> 00:19:19.420 if the balance has been lost slightly. What's 00:19:19.420 --> 00:19:21.519 the counterpoint? Well, the thoroughbred industry's 00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:24.039 primary focus is and always has been performance 00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:26.720 on the track. That offers a useful perspective. 00:19:26.859 --> 00:19:28.819 You know, a flashy Ferrari in the driveway looks 00:19:28.819 --> 00:19:31.440 great. Sure does. But it's the reliable, well 00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:33.779 -built pickup truck that actually gets the hard 00:19:33.779 --> 00:19:36.559 work done on the farm day after day. You need 00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:38.859 both, perhaps, but function has to be there. 00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:41.750 That's a really good analogy. Okay, let's maybe 00:19:41.750 --> 00:19:44.369 try to put the traditional versus genomic breeding 00:19:44.369 --> 00:19:47.089 approaches side by side more directly. Yeah, 00:19:47.130 --> 00:19:49.450 we can summarize that. So think about age at 00:19:49.450 --> 00:19:52.289 selection. Traditional, you waited years for 00:19:52.289 --> 00:19:55.869 bull proofs, evaluated cows over multiple lactations. 00:19:56.029 --> 00:20:00.170 Long cycle. Very. Genomics, selection can happen 00:20:00.170 --> 00:20:03.289 super early, even before birth, for both bulls 00:20:03.289 --> 00:20:06.630 and heifers. Huge change. Accuracy. Traditional 00:20:06.630 --> 00:20:09.029 relied on performance records, pedigree estimates. 00:20:09.660 --> 00:20:13.039 Genomics adds direct DNA info, boosting accuracy 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:15.460 significantly, especially for young animals and 00:20:15.460 --> 00:20:17.680 harder to measure traits. Generation interval, 00:20:17.779 --> 00:20:19.599 we covered that. Much shorter with genomics. 00:20:19.799 --> 00:20:21.599 Dramatically shorter, like five to seven years 00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:24.119 down to maybe two or three, which directly drives 00:20:24.119 --> 00:20:26.440 the rate of genetic gain. Doubled, roughly. Yep, 00:20:26.440 --> 00:20:29.059 using net merit dollars as the yardstick. Even 00:20:29.059 --> 00:20:31.180 managing inbreeding becomes more precise with 00:20:31.180 --> 00:20:33.440 genomics. You move from pedigree estimates to 00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:36.319 actual DNA marker tracking. Then the traits we 00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:38.880 select for. Genomics just opens the door wider. 00:20:39.230 --> 00:20:41.789 allows us to put more emphasis on things like 00:20:41.789 --> 00:20:44.349 health, fertility, feed efficiency stuff that 00:20:44.349 --> 00:20:46.309 was tougher to select for accurately before. 00:20:46.549 --> 00:20:48.670 Okay, so summing all that up, with all these 00:20:48.670 --> 00:20:51.029 lessons from the horse world, plus the power 00:20:51.029 --> 00:20:54.529 of genomics, what are the real actionable takeaways 00:20:54.529 --> 00:20:56.490 for breeders listening right now? What can they 00:20:56.490 --> 00:20:59.210 do tomorrow? Okay, number one, absolutely got 00:20:59.210 --> 00:21:02.650 to be, prioritize data -driven decisions, just 00:21:02.650 --> 00:21:04.890 like those thoroughbred guys analyze every bit 00:21:04.890 --> 00:21:07.029 of data. We need to do the same. Yeah, base your 00:21:07.029 --> 00:21:09.539 breeding choices on solid, comprehensive data 00:21:09.539 --> 00:21:12.359 genomics, production records, classifications, 00:21:12.440 --> 00:21:15.960 not just the latest hype or pretty picture in 00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:18.619 a sire catalog. The data is way more valuable. 00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:21.519 Okay, what's next? Second, embrace truly strategic 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:24.019 mate selection. Get beyond just using the highest 00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:26.920 index bull on every cow. Be specific. Exactly. 00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:29.359 Focus on how specific bull strengths complement 00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:31.940 each individual cow's weaknesses. High production 00:21:31.940 --> 00:21:34.480 cow needs better feet and legs. Find a bull for 00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:37.769 that specific job. Got it. Third. Identify and 00:21:37.769 --> 00:21:40.190 really leverage your own elite genetic lines. 00:21:41.369 --> 00:21:44.789 Your best cow families. Just like the horse guys 00:21:44.789 --> 00:21:47.609 did with Tabet's line. When you find those families 00:21:47.609 --> 00:21:49.950 that just work high performance, healthy, trouble 00:21:49.950 --> 00:21:52.430 -free, double down on them. Like focusing on 00:21:52.430 --> 00:21:54.269 your best performing field or crop rotation. 00:21:54.569 --> 00:21:57.829 Perfect analogy. Fourth, always keep market demands 00:21:57.829 --> 00:22:00.269 front and center. Know what your market wants. 00:22:00.509 --> 00:22:03.390 Show ring, components, efficiency. Whatever your 00:22:03.390 --> 00:22:05.630 target is. Align your breeding goals with what 00:22:05.630 --> 00:22:08.289 the market actually values and pays for. If there 00:22:08.289 --> 00:22:10.769 are big butterfat premiums, breed for butterfat. 00:22:10.890 --> 00:22:12.710 It's like adjusting your crops based on commodity 00:22:12.710 --> 00:22:15.490 prices. Makes sense. Keep going. Fifth, harness 00:22:15.490 --> 00:22:17.130 the power of shortening that generation interval. 00:22:17.390 --> 00:22:20.910 Use genomics. Use repro tech like sexed semen, 00:22:20.950 --> 00:22:23.630 IVF maybe, to speed things up. Get faster progress. 00:22:23.930 --> 00:22:26.650 Yeah. Using sexed semen on your best genomic 00:22:26.650 --> 00:22:28.410 heifers. It's like getting three cuttings off 00:22:28.410 --> 00:22:31.069 a fast -growing alfalfa stand versus one cutting 00:22:31.069 --> 00:22:33.829 off slow old grass hay. Faster returns. Nice 00:22:33.829 --> 00:22:37.410 one. What else? Sixth, always, always strive 00:22:37.410 --> 00:22:41.089 for that balance between form and function. Looks 00:22:41.089 --> 00:22:44.230 matter, sure, especially in some markets. But 00:22:44.230 --> 00:22:47.430 production, health, longevity, they pay the bills. 00:22:47.609 --> 00:22:50.160 The show cow needs to milk too. Absolutely. That 00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:52.019 county fair champion needs to be able to walk 00:22:52.019 --> 00:22:54.579 back to the barn, eat like she means it, and 00:22:54.579 --> 00:22:57.400 milk right alongside the best of them. And finally... 00:22:57.400 --> 00:22:59.759 Finally, never forget development. Nurture that 00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:02.200 genetic potential. All the best genomics in the 00:23:02.200 --> 00:23:04.240 world mean nothing if the execution is poor. 00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:07.180 Bad calf raising kills potential. Exactly. Poor 00:23:07.180 --> 00:23:09.420 ventilation, letting heifers get over -conditioned, 00:23:09.420 --> 00:23:12.279 it negates the genetics. It's like planting that 00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:15.579 amazing new corn hybrid in a swampy, low -fertility 00:23:15.579 --> 00:23:17.319 field. You just won't get the yield you paid 00:23:17.319 --> 00:23:20.369 for. Right. OK, let's shift gears just a little 00:23:20.369 --> 00:23:22.829 for the final stretch here. Thinking about that 00:23:22.829 --> 00:23:26.190 bigger picture, how our industry connects or 00:23:26.190 --> 00:23:28.170 maybe doesn't connect with the general public. 00:23:28.390 --> 00:23:31.509 Ah, the mainstream appeal question. Yeah. It's 00:23:31.509 --> 00:23:33.809 kind of hard to ignore the huge difference between 00:23:33.809 --> 00:23:36.049 something like the Kentucky Derby and our own 00:23:36.049 --> 00:23:39.009 World Dairy Expo, isn't it? It really is stark 00:23:39.009 --> 00:23:41.029 when you think about it. The Derby pulls in, 00:23:41.069 --> 00:23:43.529 what, hundreds of thousands of people, millions 00:23:43.529 --> 00:23:46.069 watching on TV, many of whom probably couldn't 00:23:46.069 --> 00:23:48.920 pick a Holstein out of a lineup. Exactly. While 00:23:48.920 --> 00:23:52.220 Expo, which showcases arguably the most elite 00:23:52.220 --> 00:23:55.339 dairy genetics on Earth, remains largely, well, 00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:58.819 an industry event. It's true. The Derby has become 00:23:58.819 --> 00:24:01.140 this massive cultural thing, hasn't it? It's 00:24:01.140 --> 00:24:03.380 way more than just a horse race. They've built 00:24:03.380 --> 00:24:06.299 an experience that draws everyone from, you know, 00:24:06.339 --> 00:24:10.019 bourbon sipping traditionalists to TikTok influencers. 00:24:10.259 --> 00:24:12.960 Yeah. While Expo, by its own mission statement, 00:24:13.220 --> 00:24:15.440 is focused primarily on serving dairy farmers, 00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:18.039 there isn't really that big push for general 00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:19.900 consumer marketing. And you see the difference 00:24:19.900 --> 00:24:22.740 in tactics. Churchill Downs has celebrity announcers. 00:24:22.779 --> 00:24:25.720 They create trendy mocktails for Gen Z. The fashion 00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:27.900 is all over social media. And meanwhile, we're 00:24:27.900 --> 00:24:29.859 sometimes, you know, debating whether to let 00:24:29.859 --> 00:24:31.839 high school kids take free pencils from trade 00:24:31.839 --> 00:24:33.900 show booths. It feels like maybe a missed opportunity. 00:24:34.359 --> 00:24:37.559 It really does. Because Expo has amazing stories 00:24:37.559 --> 00:24:40.539 to tell. The sheer spectacle of the colored shavings, 00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:43.420 the incredible champion animals, the fact some 00:24:43.420 --> 00:24:46.019 are worth huge money, the cutting -edge genetics, 00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:48.640 the family stories behind the cows. It's marketing 00:24:48.640 --> 00:24:51.500 gold. It really is. Yeah. But it often feels 00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:54.740 like it's hidden behind industry jargon and sort 00:24:54.740 --> 00:24:57.240 of closed doors, kept within the family almost. 00:24:57.539 --> 00:25:00.230 Yeah. That observer comment you mentioned about 00:25:00.230 --> 00:25:02.609 the amazing community feel in the barns. Right. 00:25:02.769 --> 00:25:05.470 That passion, that dedication. They said you 00:25:05.470 --> 00:25:07.589 just want to bottle it up and share it. And the 00:25:07.589 --> 00:25:10.509 Derby uses celebrity, uses the whole experience 00:25:10.509 --> 00:25:12.690 to make people curious, to make them want to 00:25:12.690 --> 00:25:14.390 be there. They sell the sizzle and the steak. 00:25:14.569 --> 00:25:17.549 Maybe we as an industry need to think about, 00:25:17.650 --> 00:25:20.440 well, maybe. stealing a page or two from their 00:25:20.440 --> 00:25:22.700 playbook. Before we become irrelevant. Before 00:25:22.700 --> 00:25:25.319 the dairy industry risks becoming, you know, 00:25:25.319 --> 00:25:27.400 as obsolete as yesterday's classification score 00:25:27.400 --> 00:25:29.420 in the public eye. We need to tell our story 00:25:29.420 --> 00:25:31.039 better. Okay, so let's wrap this up, bringing 00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:34.140 it all back home. Yeah, the core message seems 00:25:34.140 --> 00:25:37.019 clear. Whether you're aiming for that derby win 00:25:37.019 --> 00:25:40.180 or that supreme champion banner at Expo, the 00:25:40.180 --> 00:25:42.880 basic principles of chasing excellence through 00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:45.619 genetics, they share a lot of common ground. 00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:48.420 And the genomic tools we have now in dairy are... 00:25:48.700 --> 00:25:51.539 incredibly powerful. Amazingly powerful. And 00:25:51.539 --> 00:25:53.960 the key is making sure we're fully using them, 00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:55.960 right? Not leaving that potential on the table. 00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:58.539 Still using conventional semen across the board 00:25:58.539 --> 00:26:00.819 when genomics offers so much more precision. 00:26:01.160 --> 00:26:03.619 Maybe time to rethink that. And looking to the 00:26:03.619 --> 00:26:06.579 thoroughbred world, their focus on markets, on 00:26:06.579 --> 00:26:09.660 elite lines, on strategic mating, there are real 00:26:09.660 --> 00:26:11.759 lessons there for dairy breeders. Absolutely. 00:26:12.589 --> 00:26:14.109 Lessons that can lead to more success in the 00:26:14.109 --> 00:26:16.690 show ring, yes, but also more profit back on 00:26:16.690 --> 00:26:18.910 the farm. So that dream, standing there on the 00:26:18.910 --> 00:26:21.410 colored shavings with the champion. It's achievable, 00:26:21.549 --> 00:26:23.369 especially if you're willing to look outside 00:26:23.369 --> 00:26:26.170 our usual dairy box, apply some of these cross 00:26:26.170 --> 00:26:28.609 -species lessons. The genetics might be different, 00:26:28.690 --> 00:26:30.710 but the principles of strategic breeding hold 00:26:30.710 --> 00:26:32.950 true. So the final thought we want to leave you 00:26:32.950 --> 00:26:36.130 with, our listener, is this. Are you ready to 00:26:36.130 --> 00:26:38.349 maybe take a hard look at your breeding strategy? 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:42.000 to maybe find some inspiration beyond the barn 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:45.059 door and to actively apply some of these ideas 00:26:45.059 --> 00:26:47.319 to create your next champion. The colored shavings 00:26:47.319 --> 00:26:51.019 are waiting, and so is, hopefully, a more profitable, 00:26:51.140 --> 00:26:53.480 more sustainable future for your dairy. Thanks 00:26:53.480 --> 00:26:55.579 for making another deep dive with us. That's 00:26:55.579 --> 00:26:57.559 it for this episode of the Bullvine Podcast. 00:26:58.440 --> 00:27:01.480 If your takeaway isn't genomics today or bankruptcy 00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:03.880 tomorrow, you might need to replay this one. 00:27:04.119 --> 00:27:06.660 Head to thebullvine .com for the full article. 00:27:07.079 --> 00:27:09.259 And while you're there, subscribe to our newsletter, 00:27:09.460 --> 00:27:12.480 because your competitors already did. Got a topic 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:15.380 you want us to gore? Slide into our DMs at The 00:27:15.380 --> 00:27:18.779 Bullvine. Until next time, breed smart, manage 00:27:18.779 --> 00:27:22.000 harder, and remember, even Secretariat couldn't 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:24.980 win races eating moldy hay. This is The Bullvine, 00:27:25.099 --> 00:27:28.019 signing off from the milking parlor to the winner's 00:27:28.019 --> 00:27:28.240 circle.