🎵 Music Playing 🎵 Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast,
where we cut through the noise and deliver the
truths that matter to dairy professionals. Today,
we're tackling a silent crisis threatening the
future of Holstein breeding. Inbreeding levels
in elite bulls have tripled in a decade, from
5 % to 15%, while the AI bull population has
plummeted by 61%. But here's the kicker. Industry
metrics like expected future inbreeding, EFI,
are masking the true genomic risks. Why should
you care? Because unchecked, this genetic squeeze
could slash lifetime profits by $3700 per cow
by 2030. We'll expose why stud consolidation,
contract restrictions on top sires, and the modern
type of high -pinned, shallow -bodied cows are
red flags. But it's not all doom and gloom. We've
got actionable solutions. from procross crossbreeding
to demanding genomic inbreeding data from your
genetic provider strap in this episode is packed
with industry shaking truths and tools to future
proof your herd welcome to the deep dive the
show where we you know we don't just skim the
surface we plunge headfirst into the data that
really matters to your dairy operation that's
right speaking of deep dives i mean have we maybe
taken the gene pool a little too far down think
about this Over the last decade, inbreeding in
our elite Holstein lines, it's tripled. Tripled,
yep. You heard that right, three times higher.
It really makes you wonder, with all our focus
on milk checks, genomic rankings, are we kind
of painting ourselves into a genetic corner without
even realizing it? That's the million -dollar
question, isn't it? And it's one that, frankly,
should be keeping all of us in the industry up
at night. We've been digging through the numbers
here at the Bullvine. You know, industry reports,
stacks of genomic evaluations, the kind of stuff
that can make your head spin, really. And for
you listening, you seasoned dairy folks, we know
you speak the language of genetics. But today
we're not just glancing at the metrics. We're
diving deep into the storm brewing beneath the
surface of Holstein inbreeding. Absolutely. Our
mission today is pretty laser focused. Let's
really dissect this escalating inbreeding trend
in Holsteins using the facts and figures we actually
have. What does this truly mean for the genetic
decisions you're making right now on your farm?
And what's the long -term outlook for the breed
that pays the bills? And it's a bit of an elephant
in the parlor, you could say, because we've seen
such incredible genetic leaps in Holsteins, especially
in milk yield. Genomic selection has been a game
changer, no doubt about it. Oh, absolutely. It's
easy to get caught up celebrating those record
-breaking production averages. Tell me about
it. Bigger tanks, better components. That's kind
of been the mantra for years, hasn't it? It has.
But here's where things get. Well, let's just
say. a bit less celebratory. While we've been
so fixated on those impressive gains, there's
been this parallel and frankly pretty alarming
surge in inbreeding. Right. Right within the,
you know, the creme de la creme of the Holstein
population. It feels a bit like winning the sprint
but then tripping right before the finish line
of sustainability. And... It's not exactly front
page news, is it? I mean, you might hear whispers
about it maybe at a conference or see a footnote
in some research paper. Right. But it's certainly
not the headlines screaming from the AI stud
books you get in the mail. So it's completely
understandable if it hasn't been a major point
of discussion around the kitchen table or in
the barn office. Which brings us to. What we're
kind of calling the inbreeding head scratcher.
Yeah. Think back for a second. When was the last
time you really scrutinized the inbreeding metrics
on your sire summaries? Yeah. Most of us probably,
you give a quick glance at the expected future
inbreeding, the EFI, right? Yeah. When you're
sorting through those glossy catalogs, it's right
there. It is. And that's the go -to number for
most producers for sure. Yeah. But here's where
the picture gets a little, well. fizzy. EFI,
while it has its place, it just doesn't tell
the whole story of what's actually happening
at the DNA level. We're seeing this widening
gap between the genomic inbreeding levels in
Holstein bulls, which had climbed to a pretty...
worrying 15 .2 % by 2020. And at the same time,
that dramatic 61 % nosedive in the number of
active AI sires. 61%. Yeah, during that same
period. That's a shrinking talent pool where,
you know, almost everyone's related. It's kind
of a recipe for genetic stagnation, if you ask
me. It's sort of like comparing the nutritionist's
perfect TMR formulation on paper. To what the
cows actually decide to pick and choose at the
feed bunk, right? One is the ideal scenario.
The other is the gritty reality of what's being
consumed. Exactly. EFI is that projection, the
relationship of some future heifers, but genomic
inbreeding, or FROH, that shows us the actual
percentage of an animal's genes where both copies
are identical. Right. It's a much more direct
sort of no -nonsense measure of how closely related
an animal is to itself, genetically speaking.
Okay, so FROH is the actual genetic closeness.
Precisely. EFI is essentially an estimate how
related is this bull to the average genetics
of heifers born around, say, 2020. But genomic
inbreeding, FROH, gets right down to the nitty
gritty of an individual's DNA. It reveals the
proportion of their genome where both alleles
at a specific spot are the same. And this distinction,
I mean, it's absolutely critical when you're
making those mating decisions that will shape
your herd for years. And here's a twist in the
tale that's frankly a bit unsettling. The very
benchmark we use to calculate EFI, the genetics
of those heifers born around 2020, that benchmark
itself is becoming more inbred. Yeah, that's
the kicker. Between 2015 and 2020, the average
EFI of the Holstein -based population jumped
from 7 .5 % up to 9 .4%. So our measuring stick
for inbreeding is itself getting shorter. It's
like trying to measure how high the water is
rising in a bathtub that's already half full.
Right. The numbers might not seem that dramatic
until you realize the whole tub is just closer
to overflowing. Okay, so the baseline is shifting.
Exactly. It's like trying to gauge the depth
of a lake when the lake bed itself is slowly
rising. The numbers might look okay on the surface,
but the underlying problem is actually getting
deeper. Because that baseline population is more
related now. A bull with a seemingly low EFI.
Well, he could still be quite closely connected
to a significant chunk of the elite population.
Which... Totally deflates that common assumption,
doesn't it? Hey, this bull has a low EFI. He
must be a real outcross. Not necessarily. He
might have a lower relationship to this increasingly
inbred average, but still be, I don't know, a
cousin twice removed to half the other high -ranking
sires out there. Precisely. You could be using
a bunch of these low EFI bulls thinking you're
spreading the genetic risk. But in reality, you
might just be doubling down on the same family
tree without even realizing it. It gives you
this false sense of security, this warm, fuzzy
feeling of genetic diversity that just isn't
actually there. And what's fascinating and maybe
a little frustrating, too, is the role that those
contract limitations play, you know, on the really
hot new genomic foals. Oh, yeah, the exclusive
ones. Right. When the absolute top of the heapsires
are only available through specific, often restrictive
programs, their genetics get concentrated. They
go into a select group of elite females first.
Then down the line, those same genes spread more
widely, usually through their sons and grandsons.
But by that point, the overall inbreeding level
in that elite pool has likely ratcheted up another
notch. And the EFI. And the EFI. still anchored
to that older, more inbred base population, it
just doesn't fully capture the intensified homozygosity,
those identical gene pairs that's been created
by these initially limited but ultimately very
influential sires. Okay. Let's put some hard
numbers on the table then and really drive this
home. Between 2010 and 2020, as we mentioned,
the average genomic inbreeding, the FROH in Holstein
bulls, skyrocketed from 5 .7 % to a whopping
15 .2%. 15 .2? That's a staggering 168 % increase
in just one decade. It's like going from a mild
family gathering to a full -blown family reunion
where everyone's wearing matching DNA. It's huge.
And during that same 10 -year stretch, the number
of active AI bulls in service, it... Absolutely
tanked. Plummeted from a pretty robust 2 ,734.
Wow. Down to just 1 ,079. Think about that. A
61 % shrinking of the genetic toolbox we're all
relying on. 61 % fewer options. It's like trying
to build a house with only a hammer and maybe
a screwdriver and half the nails are bent. And
let's not forget that steady creep upwards in
the EFI of the base population itself. That edged
up from 7 .5 % to 9 .4 % during that same period.
Right. That's a 20%. 25 % rise in the baseline.
Right. So you might be sitting there thinking,
okay, genomic selection has been fantastic for
my herd. I've got higher production, better udders.
Isn't this just the inevitable trade -off for
all that progress? And it's a perfectly reasonable
question to ask. Genomic selection has handed
us incredible precision and speed in identifying
those genetically superior animals. There's no
argument there. None at all. But the unintended
consequence, the sort of fly in the ointment,
is that we're now increasingly selecting from
a smaller and smaller circle of relatives. It's
like trying to pick the tallest kid in the kindergarten
class eventually. You know, they're all going
to be about the same height. We're running out
of variation at the top. Back in the good old
days, pre -genomics really taking center stage,
we'd see maybe over a thousand newly pedigree
selected bulls enter AI service each year. Yeah,
a lot more. Today, we're lucky if we see 75 to
100 top genomic young bulls make the final cut.
It's a trickle compared to before. And then you
factor in that consolidation. Three major U .S.
cooperatives now controlling over 80 % of the
semen market. It's like we're all drawing water
from the same... increasingly shallow well you
gotta wonder right what happens when that well
starts to run dry and this didn't just happen
by accident it's not some random fluke of genetic
fate there are several key factors all kind of
converging here creating this perfect storm of
a genetic bottleneck okay what's driving it well
first the sheer efficiency of genomic selection
itself is a major contributor because we can
so accurately pinpoint the genetic outliers for
the traits we're chasing, milk yield, components,
and whatever it is, we naturally gravitate towards
the same dominant families again and again. It's
almost like using the exact same filter on your
DHIA sheets every month. You keep picking the
same kind of cows. Okay. And as these closely
related animals rise to the top of the rankings,
guess what? They get used more extensively, concentrating
their genes even further in the population. Makes
sense. But then you've got the whole drama of
restricted access to the really elite genetics.
Right. The by contract only bulls. Exactly. How
often do you see a shiny new ultra high net merit
bull with all sorts of asterisks and fine print
about who can actually use him? These aren't
just clever marketing strategies. They fundamentally
alter the flow of genes through the population.
How so? While these exclusive sires often get
bred primarily to other top -tier cows, right,
creating this sort of VIP genetic club, their
offspring only gradually filter down to commercial
herds, and by then, as we talked about, inbreeding
has likely intensified within that elite core.
Think about it. When was the last time you had
completely unrestricted access to the absolute
tippy -top genomic sires in the industry? Probably
never. Right. It creates separate streams, delaying
and concentrating things. Okay, so selection
efficiency, restricted access. What else? The
consolidation of the AI industry itself is another
significant piece of this puzzle. Cast your mind
back maybe 20, 30 years. There were numerous
fiercely independent AI organizations. Each had
their own unique breeding philosophies, different
bull lineups. Variety. Definitely more variety.
Today, we have a much smaller number of major
players, and often they're all making selection
decisions based on very similar economic indexes,
NM more, TPI, JPI. We're all chasing the same
numbers. Pretty much. Which leads to a much more
homogenous set of genetic goals, and consequently,
a more uniform selection. of the bulls that meet
those criteria it's like everyone's trying to
bake the exact same cake using the same limited
set of ingredients got it and one more big one
yes and we absolutely can't ignore the uh the
elephant in the room the massive surge in beef
on dairy breeding huge numbers there nearly eight
million units of beef semen used in dairy herds
last year That's a fact. And what it means is
a significantly smaller proportion of dairy females
are actually contributing to the next generation
of purebred Holsteins. Fewer replacements being
made. Exactly. This further shrinks the dairy
gene pool, putting even more intense selection
pressure on a smaller number of elite cows bred
to those same few elite bulls. It's like deciding
to only keep a handful of your very best heifers
as replacements. The selection just becomes incredibly
concentrated. Okay, so we see how it's happening.
But let's talk impact. This isn't just some abstract
discussion for geneticists. Not at all. This
increasing level of inbreeding has very real,
tangible consequences for the profitability and
the day -to -day management of your dairy farm.
Absolutely. The data is pretty clear on this.
As inbreeding levels climb, say from 10 % up
towards 20%, the economic hit escalates dramatically.
We're talking about a potential jump in lifetime
profit loss per cow from around $450 to upwards
of $3 ,700. Wow, that's a huge range. It is.
And that comes hand in hand with significant
drops in things like milk production and fertility.
Those are real dollars and cents coming right
out of your bottom line. Let's really break down
those costs. For every single 1%, tick upwards
in inbreeding, what does that actually cost you?
Okay, so for each 1 % increase, we're looking
at a lifetime milk production decrease somewhere
in the range of 177 to maybe 400 pounds. Per
1%. Per 1%. First lactation fat and protein yields.
They take a hit of about two pounds each. Productive
life gets trimmed by roughly six days. Six days
shorter life. Calving intervals stretch out by,
say, 0 .2 to 0 .3 days longer. And net merit
takes a tumble of about $23 to $25. Individually,
those might sound small. They might seem like
small dents, yeah. But they compound over the
entire lifespan of a cow. It's a lot like the
insidious cumulative effects of subclinical ketosis
or milk fever, you know, small hits that add
up big time. Right, the death by a thousand cuts
scenario. Exactly. Think about a cow with, say,
15 % inbreeding, which unfortunately is becoming
more and more common in some elite segments.
And 15 % is high. It is. Compared to a cow with
just 5 % inbreeding, that 15 % cow could easily
produce over 1 ,000, maybe 1 ,500 pounds less
milk in her lifetime. Her calving intervals could
be five to eight days longer on average. And
ultimately, she could cost you anywhere from
$1 ,000 to nearly $2 ,000 in lost profit over
her productive years. Those are numbers that
should make any dairy farmer sit up and take
notice. That's serious money. Definitely. And
it's not just about the obvious stuff like milk
and making babies, is it? Yeah. There's also
this growing, although maybe not yet rock -solid
proven, evidence linking increasing inbreeding
to some less desirable shifts in linear -type
traits, the things we look at. That's right.
We're starting to see indications, maybe lower
strength scores, shallower body depth, potentially
higher pin placement, and some of these more
intensely inbred bloodlines. The research is
ongoing, but the signals are there. And what's
particularly interesting is how these potential
type changes might sort of intersect with...
the recent tweaks to our selection indexes, like
the CDCB's net merit formula. Right, the April
2025 update. Yeah, it put a greater emphasis
on smaller stature cattle with more focus on
dairy form while actually penalizing larger stature.
Correct. So we have to ask ourselves some tough
questions here, don't we? Are we inadvertently
selecting for a cow that looks fantastic on paper,
meets all the index criteria, but maybe lacks
the physical robustness, the strength to really
thrive and hold up under the pressures of a modern
dairy? It's a valid concern. And what happens
if we face a major disease outbreak, something
new, something unexpected, that happens to target
a specific genetic pathway that we've maybe inadvertently
narrowed down through this intense selection?
Are we creating a super optimized herd for today's
metrics, but one that's incredibly vulnerable
to tomorrow's challenges? That's the risk. Is
this really the hardy, resilient dairy cow we
envision for the future of our farms? Because
that shrinking genetic base, it really limits
our options if we suddenly need to make a significant
course correction down the road. We lose that
flexibility. So if we don't change course, if
we just keep going like this. Where are we likely
to end up? What do the projections look like?
Well, if current inbreeding trends persist at
their present rate, which is somewhere between,
say, a quarter and almost half a percent increase
each year, we could realistically see the average
genomic inbreeding, the FROH, in elite Holstein
bulls soaring to between 18 and 22 percent by
the year 2030. 18 to 22 percent average. That's
less than six years away. It's not science fiction.
It's a projection. based on current trends. And
geneticists are sounding the alarm, warning that
if the effective population size, basically,
a measure of breeding diversity dips below 50,
we're entering a real danger zone in terms of
the breed's long -term ability to adapt and thrive.
Like having a company with only a handful of
key employees. Exactly. If one or two get sick
or leave, the whole operation is suddenly in
trouble. What are the specific downsides, the
big risks? of this intensifying genetic concentration?
Well, there's significant and multifaceted. We've
already touched on the heightened risk of emerging
recessive disorders. We've done a great job identifying
and managing the known ones, right? HH1 through
6, CVM, BLAD. But as inbreeding continues its
upward march, the probability of seeing new,
currently unidentified harmful recessive genes
expressing themselves just skyrockets because
you're increasing the chance of getting two bad
copies together. It's like playing genetic Russian
roulette, and the chamber with the bullet keeps
getting closer and closer. Okay, so more hidden
genetic problems potentially popping up. What
else? A constricted genetic foundation also means
a diminished capacity for genetic resilience.
The breed just becomes less equipped to adapt
to new hurdles. Like what? a novel disease sweeping
through the country or shifts in climate affecting
things like heat tolerance or feed availability
or even evolving consumer preferences that might
demand different milk components or production
systems down the line are we inadvertently pruning
away the very genes that could be essential for
the breed's survival and success in the years
to come genes for things we don't even know we'll
need yet and eventually Doesn't progress just
slow down? Eventually, yes. You run headfirst
into the law of diminishing returns when it comes
to genetic progress. There's a theoretical limit,
sometimes called the genetic ceiling, where you've
essentially squeezed out most of the available
useful genetic variation for the traits you're
selecting for. And further improvements become
incredibly slow. maybe even impossible. It's
a bit of a bitter irony, isn't it? That the very
tools like genomics that have propelled our genetic
gains so rapidly could ultimately become the
handcuffs that limit future progress. And the
economic pain just keeps compounding as inbreeding
goes up. Oh, absolutely. We talked about the
cost per 1%. If you look at cumulative levels
at a 10 % inbreeding level, maybe you're looking
at $230 to $450 in lost lifetime profit per cow.
crank that up to 15%, and those potential losses
jump to over $1 ,000, maybe nearly $1 ,900. Okay.
And if we were to hit an average of 20 % in breeding,
we could be staring down lifetime profit reductions
of $2 ,300 to almost $3 ,800 per cow. Per cow?
Per cow. These aren't abstract numbers. These
are real dollars potentially disappearing from
your farm's profitability year after year. Okay,
that's pretty sobering stuff. But here's the
good news, right? And it's crucial that you listening
understand this. Even with these concerning trends
at the industry level, you, as an individual
dairy producer, you are not powerless. There
are concrete, practical steps you can start taking
today, right now, to manage inbreeding within
your own breeding program. Absolutely. You can
contribute to a more robust and sustainable future
for the Holstein breed. You're not just a passenger
on this genetic train. You can actually... grab
some of the controls. Exactly. So we've put together
a straightforward action checklist, five key
things you can do right now to start getting
a handle on inbreeding in your herd. Think of
it as your genetic emergency break, maybe. Good
analogy. Okay, what's number one? First and foremost,
demand genomic inbreeding information. specifically
that FROH value we talked about. Get it from
your genetic service providers. Don't just settle
for the EFI anymore. Right. Some of the more
forward -thinking AI companies are already providing
this, especially for bulls they market as outcross
options. Act for it. Knowing the actual homozygosity
levels in potential matings gives you a much
clearer, much more accurate picture of the inbreeding
risk you're actually taking. It's about seeing
the whole iceberg, not just the tip. Okay, step
number two. Seriously, consider implementing
routine genomic audits of your replacement heifers.
You're likely already doing genomic testing for
selection purposes, right? Most are, yeah. Well,
make sure you're specifically looking at the
inbreeding percentages that come back. And pay
close attention to those runs of homozygosity
or ROH. Particularly the ones that are longer
than, say, four megabases. Probably the long
ones. Because these longer stretches of identical
DNA are strong indicators of more recent inbreeding.
And that carries a higher risk of expressing
those nasty, hidden recessive genes. This helps
you pinpoint inbreeding hotspots within your
own herd in a way that just looking at pedigrees
alone simply can't. It's like moving from just
looking at bulb tank SCC to doing individual
cow cultures to find the actual source of the
mass. status problem perfect analogy it's more
precise got it number three in the checklist
make it a firm rule a policy for your farm set
a maximum acceptable inbreeding increase for
each generation in your herd what's a good target
a good target to aim for is less than a 0 .1
percent increase per mating or per generation
on average. And definitely take advantage of
the sophisticated mating software that's readily
available now. Like SMS, Optimal Genetic Pathways.
Exactly. Programs like SMS, Optimal Genetic Pathways,
Genetic Audit. These are powerful tools. They
can help you balance your pursuit of genetic
game, getting better cows, with effective inbreeding
control. And don't forget about handy resources
like MateCell or the CDCB's own inbreeding calculator.
Use the tools. They can help identify matings
that minimize inbreeding while still moving your
herd forward genetically. Okay, use the tech.
Number four. Number four is to be strategic about
incorporating true outcross sires into your breeding
program. And I mean intentionally dedicating
a significant portion of your matings, maybe
15 to 20 percent. Okay. To bulls that are genuinely
genetically less related to your current herd,
don't just assume low EFI means outcross. Dig
deeper. Maybe even look beyond holstein. Absolutely.
Explore structured crossbreeding systems like
ProCross. That brings in Montbelliard and Viking
Red genetics into the Holstein mix. The research
consistently shows these systems not only maintain
high levels of productivity, but also significantly
boost fertility, reduce calving difficulties,
and importantly here, completely eliminate inbreeding
concerns in those crossbred offspring. Think
of it like diversifying your investment portfolio,
maybe. Exactly. Or like diversifying your feed
inventory. It's just a smart way to manage risk.
Okay. And the last one, number five. Finally,
step number five. Just be vigilant. Monitor the
linear type traits within your herd for any subtle
signs of declining robustness. Pay attention
to the cows themselves. Right. While the direct
link, as we said, is still being fully investigated,
keep an eye out for trends. Things like decreasing
strength scores or shallower body depth. These
could be early indicators, sort of canaries in
the coal mine, signaling increasing inbreeding
pressure within your specific herd. Okay, so
that's five concrete actions individual producers
can take. But individual action, as crucial as
it is, it can only take us so far, right? That's
absolutely right. The entire dairy genetics industry
really has a shared responsibility here. We need
to confront this issue head on and work together
towards broader solutions. So what needs to happen
at that industry level? Well, for starters, organizations
like the CDCB, the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding,
they should really make it standard practice
to report genomic inbreeding, that F -R -O -H
value, right alongside the traditional EFI in
all genetic evaluations. More transparent. Much
more transparency. This would give you, the producer,
a much more complete and accurate picture of
the genetic relationships you're dealing with.
They could even consider incorporating inbreeding
taps directly into the selection indices, like
NM -more, to actively disincentivize excessive
homozygosity. Make it part of the calculation.
Exactly. Greater transparency in these evaluations
is just essential. What about the AI studs? We
also need the AI studs to make genetic diversity
a genuine priority, not just a footnote. They
should really aim to maintain a significant portion
of their bull catalogs, maybe that same 15 to
20 % figure we mentioned for farms, with bulls
that exhibit less than, say, 8 % genomic inbreeding
and demonstrate low kinship, low relationship
to the current top 100 sires. Ensure real outcrosses
are available. Right. Ensure that readily accessible
true outcross options are available. to all breeders,
not just those with the resources or connections
to hunt down niche genetics, we need to start
asking, why isn't this level of commitment to
diversity already the norm? Why don't we demand
this level of transparency and variety? Good
question. And the breed associations? They have
a vital role too, like Holstein Association USA.
They need to provide clear, transparent reporting
on the trends in genomic inbreeding, not just
across the whole breed, but specifically within
that elite breeding nucleus, you know, where
the next generation of AI sires actually originates.
Where the decisions really cascade from. Precisely.
This data needs to be publicly available, easy
to understand, and regularly updated so that
farmers can see the bigger picture and hold the
industry accountable. And research, where should
that focus? Universities and the USDA AGL need
to step up and prioritize research that focuses
on optimizing that balance, achieving rapid genetic
gain while diligently preserving genetic diversity
within the Holstein breed. Finding the sweet
spot. Yes. This includes exploring the development
of selection indices that explicitly place value
on genetic uniqueness, maybe give points for
being different rather than solely focusing on
short -term production traits. We need to start
thinking about the long -term value of diversity,
not just next year's milk check. The current
focus often feels too short -sighted. And finally,
just getting the word out. Absolutely. Education
is paramount. Extension services, industry organizations,
they need to proactively develop and deliver
educational programs. Explain the implications
of increasing inbreeding clearly to dairy farmers.
Provide practical, actionable guidance on how
to manage it effectively on their own farms.
Honestly, many producers may simply not be fully
aware of the extent to which inbreeding has increased
or the potential long -term consequences for
their operations. We need to raise awareness.
Okay, so the undeniable bottom line here is this.
The Holstein breed really stands at a critical
genetic crossroads, a crucial point. We've achieved
remarkable strides in productivity, fantastic
gains, but there's a very real risk that we've
been borrowing against the future, genetically
speaking, to finance those gains in the present.
Well said. This narrowing genetic base, which
is starkly evident in those soaring inbreeding
coefficients and that shrinking pool of active
sires, It genuinely threatens long -term sustainability
and adaptability of the breed that underpins
so much of our industry. And as one prominent
dairy geneticist put it, in rather stark terms,
we're mining genetic capital at a rate that far
outstrips our efforts to replenish it. And he
added, the inevitable bill will come due in the
form of calves born with recessive genetic defects
we can't even identify yet. That's a really sobering
thought to chew on, isn't it? It really is. And
this is the empowering part. You are listeners.
You have the power to influence this trajectory.
You do. Both through the individual breeding
choices you make on your own farms day in and
day out and by actively advocating. asking for
greater transparency, demanding a stronger commitment
to genetic diversity from the organizations that
are supposed to serve our industry. Remember,
the historical success of the Holstein breed
wasn't just about milk. It was built on its remarkable
adaptability. And that adaptability is fundamentally
dependent on maintaining sufficient genetic variation
for whatever the future may hold. We need that
toolbox full. So let's leave you with a crucial
question to really ponder as you make those next
breeding decisions. Are you solely focused on
maximizing production in the very next lactation?
Or are you truly breeding for the long -term
health, the resilience, the profitability of
the next generation of your herd? It's kind of
like that feed ration analogy again, isn't it?
Carefully balancing for optimal immediate milk
yield versus ensuring the long -term health,
fertility, and longevity of your cows. Your genetic
strategy needs that long -term horizon. It has
to extend far beyond just the immediate results
showing up on the next milk test. And the answer
to that question, how you balance those two things,
that will ultimately determine the future success
of your farm and contribute to the future of
the Holstein breed as a whole. The time for decisive
action really is now. Start by digging deeper.
Find out the actual inbreeding levels within
your herd. Get that FROH data. Challenge your
genetic providers to offer you bowls with verified
low genomic inbreeding true outcrosses. Implement
those strategic mating strategies we talked about,
the ones that actively work to manage homozygosity.
And perhaps most importantly, get actively involved
in the broader industry conversation. Talk about
the critical importance of genetic diversity
at industry conferences, at breed association
meetings, in your regular discussions with your
AI representatives. Make your voice heard. Ask
yourself, what is the single most impactful change
you will make in your next genetic selection
decision as a direct result of this discussion
today? How will you consciously balance your
breeding program's immediate economic needs with
the absolute imperative of long -term genetic
sustainability for this shared resource? The
Holstein breed. What's the one concrete step
you'll take? Because the moment for this vital
conversation isn't somewhere down the road. It's
right now, while we still have sufficient genetic
diversity to actively preserve, we can't afford
to wait. So to bring it all together, what we've
uncovered today is a significant and maybe often
overlooked trend. This silent but accelerating
genetic squeeze happening within the Holstein
breed. Inbreeding levels are climbing at a rate
that far outpaces what traditional metrics like
EFI alone might suggest. And this poses potentially
serious long -term risks to your farm's profitability,
yes, but also to the overall resilience of the
breed we all depend on. And the key takeaway,
if there's one thing to remember, it's crystal
clear. Genomic inbreeding, that FROH number,
it provides you with a much more accurate, much
more insightful picture of the genetic relatedness
you're dealing with than EFI alone. It really
demands your closer attention when you're making
those critical breeding decisions. And your role
as a dairy producer is absolutely pivotal in
this. By demanding greater transparency from
the industry and by actively implementing proactive
breeding strategies on your own farm, you have
the power. You can help steer the future of the
Holstein breed toward a path of greater long
-term sustainability and resilience. So, as we
all continue to strive for those ever -increasing
production averages, which we need to do, let's
leave you with this final perhaps slightly unsettling,
thought to really chew on until next time. In
our relentless pursuit of peak performance in
the next lactation, are we inadvertently sacrificing
the very bedrock of genetic diversity that underpins
the long -term resilience and adaptability of
this magnificent Holstein breed? Or maybe put
another way, in our focused quest for the perfect
genomic animal, the one that tops all the charts,
have we inadvertently overlooked the inherent
and maybe irreplaceable value of genetic variation
itself? which in the end might just be the ultimate
insurance policy for the future of our herds
and our entire industry. Something to really
sink your teeth into. We'll catch you on the
next Deep Dive. already trust us to separate
hype from hard facts. Thanks for joining us for
this episode of the Bullvine Podcast. Remember,
genetic progress shouldn't mean painting your
herd into a corner. Breed smart, demand transparency,
and keep fighting for dairy's future. Until next
time, stay utterly relentless.