WEBVTT 00:00:11.720 --> 00:00:15.060 Breaking free from the chains of the past Where 00:00:15.060 --> 00:00:18.820 truth moves faster than a Holstein calf No law 00:00:18.820 --> 00:00:21.660 waiting on some printed page We're charting new 00:00:21.660 --> 00:00:25.300 ground in the digital age From genomic codes 00:00:25.300 --> 00:00:29.120 to robot facts We cut through the noise, no hold 00:00:29.280 --> 00:00:32.460 them back not your daddy's dairy news tonight 00:00:32.460 --> 00:01:00.850 we're sparking Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast, 00:01:01.170 --> 00:01:03.829 where we dig deep into the innovations reshaping 00:01:03.829 --> 00:01:07.150 dairy farming. Today's episode is a game changer. 00:01:07.549 --> 00:01:10.250 Imagine a world where a single genetic tweak 00:01:10.250 --> 00:01:13.150 could save a baby's life, and that same technology 00:01:13.150 --> 00:01:16.750 is now poised to revolutionize your herd. We're 00:01:16.750 --> 00:01:19.170 breaking down how CRISPR, the gene editing tool 00:01:19.170 --> 00:01:21.890 behind a recent medical miracle, is steering 00:01:21.890 --> 00:01:25.189 dairy farming into uncharted territory. From 00:01:25.189 --> 00:01:27.790 mastitis -resistant Holsteins to heat -tolerant 00:01:27.790 --> 00:01:30.739 jerseys, and the end of dehorning, this isn't 00:01:30.739 --> 00:01:33.719 sci -fi. It's the future of your farm. We'll 00:01:33.719 --> 00:01:36.599 unpack the science, the savings, and the ethical 00:01:36.599 --> 00:01:39.299 questions every dairy professional needs to ask. 00:01:39.540 --> 00:01:42.819 So grab your milk jug, settle in, and let's explore 00:01:42.819 --> 00:01:45.459 how gene editing could rewrite the rules of dairy 00:01:45.459 --> 00:01:48.420 genetics. Welcome to the Deep Dive. Today, we're 00:01:48.420 --> 00:01:50.680 tackling a topic that's really stirring things 00:01:50.680 --> 00:01:53.480 up in ag science, and it has, well, potentially 00:01:53.480 --> 00:01:57.180 huge implications for your dairy operation. We've 00:01:57.180 --> 00:01:59.319 put together a pretty comprehensive report for 00:01:59.319 --> 00:02:02.319 the Bullvine Newsroom, Gene Editing Revolutionizing 00:02:02.319 --> 00:02:05.120 Dairy Farming, and our job today is to pull out 00:02:05.120 --> 00:02:07.000 the crucial bits, the real need -to -know stuff 00:02:07.000 --> 00:02:10.080 for you. Exactly. This deep dive is all about 00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:14.259 navigating this fast -moving world of gene editing 00:02:14.259 --> 00:02:17.569 in dairy. We want to give you a clear picture 00:02:17.569 --> 00:02:19.870 of what it is, how it's different from older 00:02:19.870 --> 00:02:22.449 methods, the real benefits for farmers. And the 00:02:22.449 --> 00:02:24.750 timelines too, right? Plus costs, regulations, 00:02:25.150 --> 00:02:27.449 consumer thoughts, the whole package. The whole 00:02:27.449 --> 00:02:30.110 package. The goal is really to equip you with 00:02:30.110 --> 00:02:32.210 solid information so you can make smart decisions 00:02:32.210 --> 00:02:34.490 for your farm's future. Okay, let's get right 00:02:34.490 --> 00:02:37.270 into it then. What is gene editing exactly? The 00:02:37.270 --> 00:02:39.689 report uses this analogy I liked, like a molecular 00:02:39.689 --> 00:02:42.669 find and replace for DNA. And CRISPR -Cas9 is 00:02:42.669 --> 00:02:44.389 the big name here. That's a really good way to 00:02:44.389 --> 00:02:46.930 think about it, yeah. Find and replace. What's 00:02:46.930 --> 00:02:49.050 key is the precision. It's totally different 00:02:49.050 --> 00:02:51.229 from older genetic modification where you might 00:02:51.229 --> 00:02:54.050 stick in genes from, I don't know, a different 00:02:54.050 --> 00:02:56.930 species entirely. Gene editing lets scientists 00:02:56.930 --> 00:03:00.050 make really specific tweaks within the animal's 00:03:00.050 --> 00:03:03.189 own genetic code. The Journal of Dairy Science 00:03:03.189 --> 00:03:05.349 has a lot on this, calling it a super precise 00:03:05.349 --> 00:03:08.509 genetic selection tool, right down at the DNA 00:03:08.509 --> 00:03:11.430 level. So CRISPR is like, what, tiny scissors 00:03:11.430 --> 00:03:14.240 cutting and pasting DNA? Kind of, yeah. Very 00:03:14.240 --> 00:03:16.400 precise molecular scissors. They find a specific 00:03:16.400 --> 00:03:18.580 spot and make an edit. So it's about improving 00:03:18.580 --> 00:03:20.840 what's already there, not adding totally foreign 00:03:20.840 --> 00:03:24.020 stuff. The report says this lets you turn on 00:03:24.020 --> 00:03:26.379 good traits, switch off bad ones, or just fine 00:03:26.379 --> 00:03:28.800 -tune how genes work. Sounds way more efficient. 00:03:29.039 --> 00:03:31.139 Oh, it is. Dramatically so. I mean, think about 00:03:31.139 --> 00:03:33.139 traditional breeding. You could maybe get some 00:03:33.139 --> 00:03:35.500 of these changes over, well, decades? Right, 00:03:35.560 --> 00:03:38.280 a long time. Gene editing. The research we looked 00:03:38.280 --> 00:03:41.120 at suggests you could achieve what might take, 00:03:41.180 --> 00:03:45.020 say, 55 years of conventional breeding, potentially 00:03:45.020 --> 00:03:49.800 in just one generation. 55 years in one generation. 00:03:50.020 --> 00:03:53.539 Wow. That's a game changer right there. It really 00:03:53.539 --> 00:03:56.680 is. Compressing half a century of progress. That's 00:03:56.680 --> 00:03:58.719 the potential disruption we're looking at. Okay, 00:03:58.759 --> 00:04:00.240 but how does this actually happen on the ground? 00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:02.280 The report makes it clear, you know, farmers 00:04:02.280 --> 00:04:05.110 won't be doing... CRISPR in the barn. No, no, 00:04:05.169 --> 00:04:07.069 definitely not. This is high -tech lab work. 00:04:07.229 --> 00:04:09.870 It's done by breeding companies, research institutions, 00:04:10.129 --> 00:04:12.689 that sort of thing. So for you listening, access 00:04:12.689 --> 00:04:14.310 would come through things you already use, like 00:04:14.310 --> 00:04:17.750 AI or maybe embryo transfer, similar to getting 00:04:17.750 --> 00:04:20.709 top genetics from select sires or GenX now. Exactly. 00:04:20.790 --> 00:04:23.290 That's the likely route. The existing infrastructure? 00:04:23.920 --> 00:04:26.660 The systems you use every day, that's probably 00:04:26.660 --> 00:04:28.740 how these advanced genetics will be delivered. 00:04:29.060 --> 00:04:32.240 Dr. Allison Van Einemem at UC Davis put it well. 00:04:32.339 --> 00:04:35.060 She said something like, gene editing doesn't 00:04:35.060 --> 00:04:37.420 replace breeding programs. It enhances them. 00:04:37.519 --> 00:04:40.420 It lets us make those precise changes much, much 00:04:40.420 --> 00:04:42.720 faster. Right, like how genomic testing sped 00:04:42.720 --> 00:04:44.660 things up without changing the basic breeding 00:04:44.660 --> 00:04:47.060 pyramid structure. Precisely. Same idea. Just 00:04:47.060 --> 00:04:49.500 another powerful tool layered on top. Okay, got 00:04:49.500 --> 00:04:51.560 it. So we know what it is. Let's dig into the 00:04:51.560 --> 00:04:53.480 benefits the game -changing stuff mentioned in 00:04:53.480 --> 00:04:58.079 the report. First up, mastitis, called a $2 billion 00:04:58.079 --> 00:05:01.420 annual problem for the industry. Ouch. It's a 00:05:01.420 --> 00:05:03.579 staggering number, isn't it? Really highlight 00:05:03.579 --> 00:05:05.980 the economic weight of mastitis. And the report 00:05:05.980 --> 00:05:08.399 breaks it down. Just one clinical case, early 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:13.290 lactation, could cost you around $444. Wow. Yeah, 00:05:13.290 --> 00:05:16.550 that's milk loss, treatment, dumped milk, labor, 00:05:16.730 --> 00:05:19.670 even higher culling risk. So the idea of gene 00:05:19.670 --> 00:05:22.250 editing creating mastitis -resistant hole schemes, 00:05:22.509 --> 00:05:25.149 that's huge. And research is happening, places 00:05:25.149 --> 00:05:27.129 like Cornell. That's right. They're looking at 00:05:27.129 --> 00:05:29.870 specific immune response genes aiming to boost 00:05:29.870 --> 00:05:32.009 resistance against bugs like Staph aureus, for 00:05:32.009 --> 00:05:33.790 example. The knock -on effects seem massive. 00:05:33.829 --> 00:05:37.050 The report lists them. Less antibiotic use. Crucial 00:05:37.050 --> 00:05:39.290 point, that one. Lower somatic cell counts, better 00:05:39.290 --> 00:05:41.410 animal welfare, fewer treatments, maybe even 00:05:41.410 --> 00:05:44.069 better milk quality premiums. It's a whole cascade 00:05:44.069 --> 00:05:46.470 of positives. And think about sustainability. 00:05:46.910 --> 00:05:50.550 Consumer views on antibiotics. Reducing antibiotic 00:05:50.550 --> 00:05:53.730 use is a major, major win. It really makes you 00:05:53.730 --> 00:05:56.750 ask, with these kinds of losses and this potential 00:05:56.750 --> 00:05:59.430 solution, can the industry afford not to pursue 00:05:59.430 --> 00:06:02.500 this? Good question. And lower SEC means healthier 00:06:02.500 --> 00:06:04.680 cows, better milk, better paychecks, hopefully. 00:06:04.959 --> 00:06:08.060 Exactly. Okay, next big benefit area in the report, 00:06:08.480 --> 00:06:11.540 dehorning. Gene editing could eliminate the need 00:06:11.540 --> 00:06:14.199 for it using the polled gene. That feels like 00:06:14.199 --> 00:06:17.379 a big step for welfare. A really big step. Dehorning 00:06:17.379 --> 00:06:19.480 is... You know, it's a tough procedure. Gene 00:06:19.480 --> 00:06:21.420 editing for the pole gene means calves are born 00:06:21.420 --> 00:06:23.500 naturally hornless. It's a permanent fix. And 00:06:23.500 --> 00:06:25.459 there are cost savings, too? Yep. University 00:06:25.459 --> 00:06:27.740 Extension folks estimate around $40 per animal 00:06:27.740 --> 00:06:30.959 saved just on the dehorning process itself. The 00:06:30.959 --> 00:06:33.639 report compares it to how A2A2 genetics became 00:06:33.639 --> 00:06:35.920 pretty standard. Colds could go the same way. 00:06:36.060 --> 00:06:38.839 So becoming just a baseline expectation. Potentially, 00:06:38.980 --> 00:06:41.279 yes. Yeah. And the USDA's Ag Research Service, 00:06:41.399 --> 00:06:43.720 they think this pole trait via gene editing is 00:06:43.720 --> 00:06:46.180 already in regulatory review. Could be commercially 00:06:46.180 --> 00:06:48.589 available in... say, three to five years. That 00:06:48.589 --> 00:06:50.889 seems relatively quick compared to maybe some 00:06:50.889 --> 00:06:52.389 other applications. It does seem to be one of 00:06:52.389 --> 00:06:54.269 the front runners, yeah. All right, another challenge, 00:06:54.290 --> 00:06:56.250 especially with climate change, heat stress. 00:06:56.550 --> 00:06:59.009 The report says gene editing has answers here, 00:06:59.050 --> 00:07:01.949 too. Increasingly critical, this one, when that 00:07:01.949 --> 00:07:04.829 temperature humidity index, the THI, gets over 00:07:04.829 --> 00:07:08.910 72, production just tanks. You know this if you're 00:07:08.910 --> 00:07:12.480 farming in hotter areas. Research down at the 00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:14.100 University of Florida, they've introduced the 00:07:14.100 --> 00:07:18.160 S -L -I -C -K gene. Gives cattle shorter, sleeker 00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:20.779 hair coats. Helps them handle the heat better. 00:07:20.939 --> 00:07:24.420 Slick gene, okay. And does it work? Field trials 00:07:24.420 --> 00:07:26.620 will look promising. Data from ag experiment 00:07:26.620 --> 00:07:29.800 stations shows maybe an 8 -12 % reduction in 00:07:29.800 --> 00:07:32.560 production losses from heat stress in these S 00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:35.560 -L -I -C -K cattle. 8 -12 % less loss during 00:07:35.560 --> 00:07:37.779 heat waves? That's significant. The report mentioned 00:07:37.779 --> 00:07:40.829 a California organic farmer losing maybe 15 % 00:07:40.829 --> 00:07:43.569 of summer production to heat? Exactly. So reducing 00:07:43.569 --> 00:07:46.290 that loss by 8 -12%, that hits the bottom line. 00:07:46.589 --> 00:07:48.610 Gene editing here offers a permanent built -in 00:07:48.610 --> 00:07:51.050 solution that works alongside your fans and sprinklers. 00:07:51.290 --> 00:07:53.689 It's not just about stopping losses and bad weeks. 00:07:53.750 --> 00:07:56.170 It's about consistency, right? Keeping production 00:07:56.170 --> 00:07:59.490 steadier through the heat. Precisely. It raises 00:07:59.490 --> 00:08:01.370 a question for you listening, especially if you're 00:08:01.370 --> 00:08:03.889 in a heat -prone area. How much is heat stress 00:08:03.889 --> 00:08:06.790 costing you now? What would cutting that loss 00:08:06.790 --> 00:08:09.889 by, say, 10 % mean for your farm's viability? 00:08:10.250 --> 00:08:12.930 Good questions to ask. Okay, the report also 00:08:12.930 --> 00:08:15.550 touched on something exciting. Using gene editing 00:08:15.550 --> 00:08:18.750 for specialty milk. Creating premium products, 00:08:18.930 --> 00:08:21.670 maybe alternatives to standard fluid milk. Yeah, 00:08:21.730 --> 00:08:23.750 this is really interesting. The potential to 00:08:23.750 --> 00:08:26.970 fine -tune milk composition is huge. For example, 00:08:26.970 --> 00:08:30.810 converting A1 cows to produce only A2 milk. Gene 00:08:30.810 --> 00:08:32.830 editing can do that efficiently by targeting 00:08:32.830 --> 00:08:35.389 the beta -casein gene. And people seem interested 00:08:35.389 --> 00:08:37.629 in A2 milk, right? Willing to pay more. Studies 00:08:37.629 --> 00:08:40.649 suggest so, yeah. Growing interest, premium potential. 00:08:40.889 --> 00:08:43.649 But it goes beyond A2. You could enhance kappa 00:08:43.649 --> 00:08:45.549 casein for better cheese making, think higher 00:08:45.549 --> 00:08:48.470 yields, faster setting. A research actually showed 00:08:48.470 --> 00:08:50.830 they could potentially double kappa casein using 00:08:50.830 --> 00:08:53.490 gene editing. Double it. Wow. And then there's 00:08:53.490 --> 00:08:56.389 removing allergens like beta -lactoglobulin to 00:08:56.389 --> 00:08:59.259 create hypoallergenic milk options. With fluid 00:08:59.259 --> 00:09:01.940 milk consumption facing challenges, these specialty 00:09:01.940 --> 00:09:03.940 milks could be a real opportunity, couldn't they? 00:09:04.039 --> 00:09:06.659 New markets, added value. Absolutely. It fits 00:09:06.659 --> 00:09:08.860 right into diversification, meaning changing 00:09:08.860 --> 00:09:11.539 consumer tastes. Which leads to a question for 00:09:11.539 --> 00:09:14.159 the processors and co -ops listening. Are you 00:09:14.159 --> 00:09:17.000 exploring these specialty milk potentials? Are 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:18.980 you looking at how gene editing could create 00:09:18.980 --> 00:09:21.460 new value streams? Okay, let's shift gears to 00:09:21.460 --> 00:09:25.399 the practical side. Timelines. Economics. When 00:09:25.399 --> 00:09:28.580 can farmers actually get these genetics and what's 00:09:28.580 --> 00:09:31.240 it going to cost? Right. The nitty gritty. Access, 00:09:31.460 --> 00:09:33.139 as we said, likely through the breeding companies, 00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:35.799 AI services, the usual channels. And because 00:09:35.799 --> 00:09:39.019 AI is so widespread, once a good gene edited 00:09:39.019 --> 00:09:41.559 trait gets into elite bulls. it can spread pretty 00:09:41.559 --> 00:09:43.519 quickly. Okay, so what are the estimated timelines? 00:09:43.899 --> 00:09:46.940 The report had some figures based on USDA, ARS, 00:09:46.940 --> 00:09:49.039 and university work. It did. So hornlessness, 00:09:49.340 --> 00:09:51.720 the polled trait, we mentioned three, five years, 00:09:51.840 --> 00:09:54.779 maybe $40 per animal saved. Mastitis resistance, 00:09:55.240 --> 00:09:57.940 targeting genes like CD18, looking more like 00:09:57.940 --> 00:10:00.480 five, seven years out. But with that huge $2 00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:03.320 billion potential industry impact, heat tolerance, 00:10:03.480 --> 00:10:06.860 the SLICK gene, maybe six, eight years, offering 00:10:06.860 --> 00:10:09.879 that 8 -12 % reduction in heat loss. And further 00:10:09.879 --> 00:10:12.580 out, maybe 8 -10 years. Things like tuberculosis 00:10:12.580 --> 00:10:15.500 resistance, targeting the NRAMP1 gene, which 00:10:15.500 --> 00:10:18.240 could save the industry $150 million a year. 00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:21.179 The report also mentioned an uncomfortable truth. 00:10:21.710 --> 00:10:23.950 that these timelines might drag on because of 00:10:23.950 --> 00:10:27.389 regulations or just industry inertia, not just 00:10:27.389 --> 00:10:29.409 technical hurdles. That's a really important 00:10:29.409 --> 00:10:32.789 caveat. Yes, the tech might be ready or nearly 00:10:32.789 --> 00:10:35.429 ready, but the pathway to market can be slow. 00:10:35.590 --> 00:10:38.049 Economic analyses suggest every year of delay 00:10:38.049 --> 00:10:40.570 costs the industry billions in lost opportunities. 00:10:40.950 --> 00:10:43.110 Billions. Billions lost. And what about the cost 00:10:43.110 --> 00:10:45.230 to the farmer for these genetics? Premium price 00:10:45.230 --> 00:10:48.190 expected. Probably. At least initially. You'd 00:10:48.190 --> 00:10:50.830 expect a premium over conventional semen or embryos. 00:10:50.889 --> 00:10:53.429 That reflects the R &D costs and the extra value 00:10:53.429 --> 00:10:55.570 these traits bring. We saw the same pattern with 00:10:55.570 --> 00:10:57.889 sex semen, with high genomic embryos when they 00:10:57.889 --> 00:10:59.509 first came out. But you have to weigh that initial 00:10:59.509 --> 00:11:01.710 cost against the long -term savings, right? That's 00:11:01.710 --> 00:11:03.929 the calculation. Exactly. The report stresses 00:11:03.929 --> 00:11:06.309 that. You weigh the upfront cost against, say, 00:11:06.370 --> 00:11:10.210 $40 saved per pulled calf, maybe $400 plus saved 00:11:10.210 --> 00:11:13.570 per avoided mastitis case. That 8 -12 % less 00:11:13.570 --> 00:11:17.190 production lost to heat. Plus, maybe better growth. 00:11:17.580 --> 00:11:20.159 Lower stress, better longevity. And feed efficiency, 00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:23.340 too. Potentially huge savings there. Huge. Feed 00:11:23.340 --> 00:11:26.139 is, what, 50, 60 percent of costs? And like genomic 00:11:26.139 --> 00:11:28.179 testing, the expectation is that access costs 00:11:28.179 --> 00:11:30.259 will probably come down over time as the tech 00:11:30.259 --> 00:11:32.159 becomes more common. Economies of scale kick 00:11:32.159 --> 00:11:34.899 in. So the report kind of asks farmers, are you 00:11:34.899 --> 00:11:36.679 going to wait until your neighbor has a resistant 00:11:36.679 --> 00:11:39.700 herd before you demand access yourself? Pretty 00:11:39.700 --> 00:11:42.080 much. Industry publications like Dairy Herd Management 00:11:42.080 --> 00:11:44.240 suggest the early adopters, the ones pushing 00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:46.259 for this, they'll likely see the benefits first. 00:11:46.340 --> 00:11:47.720 It's something to really think about in your 00:11:47.720 --> 00:11:49.750 long -term planning. Definitely food for thought. 00:11:49.950 --> 00:11:52.769 Okay, another massive piece of this puzzle. Consumer 00:11:52.769 --> 00:11:55.929 acceptance. Will people buy milk from gene -edited 00:11:55.929 --> 00:11:58.149 cows? The million -dollar question, isn't it? 00:11:58.269 --> 00:12:00.350 Crucial for the whole supply chain, co -ops, 00:12:00.350 --> 00:12:03.230 processors, everyone. Research seems mixed, but 00:12:03.230 --> 00:12:05.590 generally more positive than for older GMOs. 00:12:05.750 --> 00:12:07.429 Well, studies in the Journal of Agricultural 00:12:07.429 --> 00:12:09.909 Communications suggest more acceptance, especially 00:12:09.909 --> 00:12:12.549 if the edits are within the same species, not 00:12:12.549 --> 00:12:15.169 bringing in foreign genes. University surveys 00:12:15.169 --> 00:12:17.789 found something like 45 % of consumers think 00:12:17.789 --> 00:12:20.950 food from CRISPR -modified organisms is safe. 00:12:21.090 --> 00:12:24.250 Okay, 45%. That's not overwhelming yet. No, and 00:12:24.250 --> 00:12:27.210 there's a potential snag. The report notes that 00:12:27.210 --> 00:12:30.070 specifically labeling milk as from gene -edited 00:12:30.070 --> 00:12:33.610 cows might make people less willing to pay. So 00:12:33.610 --> 00:12:35.549 you could have farmers paying a premium for the 00:12:35.549 --> 00:12:38.740 genetics, but consumers wanting a discount. A 00:12:38.740 --> 00:12:40.919 bit like the RBST situation back in the day. 00:12:40.980 --> 00:12:43.159 Ah, right. That parallel again. So how do you 00:12:43.159 --> 00:12:46.039 bridge that gap? The benefit story. That seems 00:12:46.039 --> 00:12:47.940 absolutely critical. Research by the American 00:12:47.940 --> 00:12:49.940 Dairy Science Association shows public support 00:12:49.940 --> 00:12:52.120 goes way up when the benefits are clear. Like 00:12:52.120 --> 00:12:54.159 what kind of benefits? Animal welfare is a big 00:12:54.159 --> 00:12:56.980 one. Pulled cattle, no dehorning. That gets around 00:12:56.980 --> 00:13:00.200 71 % support. Also clear health advantages like 00:13:00.200 --> 00:13:02.580 less antibiotic use or environmental benefits. 00:13:03.179 --> 00:13:05.139 And just explaining clearly how gene editing 00:13:05.139 --> 00:13:07.860 is different from old GMOs, that alone can boost 00:13:07.860 --> 00:13:11.159 acceptance maybe 19%. So communication is key. 00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:15.460 Framing it around animal well -being, lower environmental 00:13:15.460 --> 00:13:17.539 impact. Absolutely. The industry needs to be 00:13:17.539 --> 00:13:20.279 proactive, tell that positive story, address 00:13:20.279 --> 00:13:23.039 concerns head on. It really puts the onus on 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:25.700 dairy marketers and communicators. What's the 00:13:25.700 --> 00:13:28.379 plan to educate consumers effectively about why 00:13:28.379 --> 00:13:31.019 this is beneficial? Okay, let's tackle the regulatory 00:13:31.019 --> 00:13:34.200 maze. The report says it's very different depending 00:13:34.200 --> 00:13:36.179 on where you are in the world. Let's start with 00:13:36.179 --> 00:13:39.149 the US. Right. In the States, the FDA treats 00:13:39.149 --> 00:13:41.889 gene -edited animals under the banner of Intentional 00:13:41.889 --> 00:13:45.149 Genomic Alterations, or IGAs. Basically, they 00:13:45.149 --> 00:13:47.090 regulate them kind of like new animal drugs. 00:13:47.370 --> 00:13:49.769 Like drugs. So lots of hoops to jump through. 00:13:49.889 --> 00:13:52.110 Pretty much. Extensive safety assessments, you 00:13:52.110 --> 00:13:53.769 need data showing the trade is stable across 00:13:53.769 --> 00:13:56.450 generations. And with cattle having long generation 00:13:56.450 --> 00:13:58.769 times, getting that multi -generational data 00:13:58.769 --> 00:14:01.710 can add years, maybe four years or more, to the 00:14:01.710 --> 00:14:04.250 approval process. That sounds slow. Are there 00:14:04.250 --> 00:14:06.769 any signs of it speeding up? Well, the report 00:14:06.769 --> 00:14:09.009 mentions some positives, like the FDA giving 00:14:09.009 --> 00:14:11.490 low -risk determinations for some IGAs, like 00:14:11.490 --> 00:14:14.230 the SLICK trait in beef cattle, but it also asks 00:14:14.230 --> 00:14:16.809 a pretty pointed question. Should regulatory 00:14:16.809 --> 00:14:20.169 agencies, who might not fully grasp day -to -day 00:14:20.169 --> 00:14:23.070 farm realities, be setting the pace for this 00:14:23.070 --> 00:14:26.289 kind of innovation? Hmm. A fair question. Is 00:14:26.289 --> 00:14:28.309 the current system maybe overly cautious, treating 00:14:28.309 --> 00:14:30.789 gene editing as riskier than the science suggests? 00:14:31.309 --> 00:14:34.970 That's the concern raised, especially for precise... 00:14:35.210 --> 00:14:38.750 within species edits and studies show these regulatory 00:14:38.750 --> 00:14:41.269 delays aren't just theoretical they cost the 00:14:41.269 --> 00:14:44.409 industry billions in lost opportunities and you 00:14:44.409 --> 00:14:47.480 could argue prolong animal suffering from things 00:14:47.480 --> 00:14:49.720 we could potentially prevent okay what about 00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:52.480 canada how are they handling it canada looks 00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:54.980 at products with novel traits no matter how they 00:14:54.980 --> 00:14:57.679 were created interestingly health canada and 00:14:57.679 --> 00:15:00.860 cfia recently exempted some gene edited plants 00:15:00.860 --> 00:15:02.980 and feeds from certain assessments if they don't 00:15:02.980 --> 00:15:05.440 have foreign dna but not animals animals with 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:07.899 novel traits even from gene editing still face 00:15:07.899 --> 00:15:10.919 significant scrutiny the key distinction in canada 00:15:10.919 --> 00:15:14.230 seems to be no foreign dna versus having a novel 00:15:14.230 --> 00:15:16.750 trait. That difference dictates the level of 00:15:16.750 --> 00:15:18.730 regulation. It's a bit like the difference between, 00:15:18.769 --> 00:15:20.950 say, grass -fed and organic, different labels, 00:15:21.070 --> 00:15:22.809 different rules. I see. And then there's the 00:15:22.809 --> 00:15:26.149 EU, known for being pretty strict on GMOs. Extremely 00:15:26.149 --> 00:15:28.970 strict. Gene -edited animals fall under their 00:15:28.970 --> 00:15:32.889 comprehensive GMO laws. And to date, zero GM 00:15:32.889 --> 00:15:34.909 animals have been approved for food in the EU. 00:15:35.129 --> 00:15:38.850 Zero. Zero. There's talk about maybe easier paths 00:15:38.850 --> 00:15:41.389 for some gene -edited plants, but not animals 00:15:41.389 --> 00:15:44.700 right now. So EU dairy farmers could find themselves 00:15:44.700 --> 00:15:47.220 at a competitive disadvantage compared to farmers 00:15:47.220 --> 00:15:49.700 elsewhere using these technologies. Again, echoes 00:15:49.700 --> 00:15:52.019 of the RBST situation there. Okay, the report 00:15:52.019 --> 00:15:54.720 brings up a really fascinating, maybe tricky 00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:58.460 area. Organic dairy and gene editing. Ideology 00:15:58.460 --> 00:16:01.399 versus animal welfare. It's a really complex 00:16:01.399 --> 00:16:03.980 intersection. Current organic rules, the NOP 00:16:03.980 --> 00:16:06.279 standards, flat out prohibit genetic engineering, 00:16:06.440 --> 00:16:09.159 and that includes gene editing. So organic farmers 00:16:09.159 --> 00:16:11.480 simply can't use these genetics and stay certified. 00:16:11.639 --> 00:16:13.480 Correct. Can't use the animals, can't use their 00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:16.139 products. But the report poses this ethical question. 00:16:16.340 --> 00:16:19.720 Is it truly upholding organic principles to potentially 00:16:19.720 --> 00:16:22.720 let animals suffer from, say, severe heat stress 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:25.440 when a specific genetic could offer a humane 00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:27.659 solution? That's a tough one for organic producers. 00:16:28.039 --> 00:16:30.580 The report mentioned that California organic 00:16:30.580 --> 00:16:34.000 farmer, again, saying they would consider S -L 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:36.220 -I -C -K cattle for heat stress if the rules 00:16:36.220 --> 00:16:38.720 allowed it and it didn't hurt productivity. Right. 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:42.100 It shows there might be openness. if the benefits, 00:16:42.220 --> 00:16:45.419 especially welfare benefits, are clear. It suggests 00:16:45.419 --> 00:16:47.360 maybe there needs to be a conversation within 00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:49.919 the organic community as these technologies mature 00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:52.779 and their impacts become undeniable. A bit like 00:16:52.779 --> 00:16:55.340 how robotics were maybe viewed skeptically at 00:16:55.340 --> 00:16:57.539 first in organic circles, but are now being adopted 00:16:57.539 --> 00:17:00.500 more. Possibly a similar dynamic, yeah. A careful 00:17:00.500 --> 00:17:02.879 weighing of principles versus practical benefits, 00:17:03.100 --> 00:17:05.599 especially for animal well -being. So pulling 00:17:05.599 --> 00:17:07.299 this all together, we've covered the science, 00:17:07.339 --> 00:17:09.799 the benefits, the hurdles. What's the bullvine 00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:12.099 bottom line? What are the actionable takeaways 00:17:12.099 --> 00:17:14.240 for farmers listening right now? Okay, several 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:17.420 key things. First, stay informed. This stuff 00:17:17.420 --> 00:17:20.250 is moving fast. And importantly, advocate. Talk 00:17:20.250 --> 00:17:22.170 to your co -op, your breed association, industry 00:17:22.170 --> 00:17:25.049 groups. Push for sensible regulations and faster 00:17:25.049 --> 00:17:27.089 adoption of where it makes sense. Use your extension 00:17:27.089 --> 00:17:29.369 services. They're great resources. Okay, stay 00:17:29.369 --> 00:17:33.170 informed, advocate. What else? Second, look at 00:17:33.170 --> 00:17:34.789 your farm. What are your biggest challenges? 00:17:35.630 --> 00:17:39.670 Mastitis, heat stress, dehorning labor. Figure 00:17:39.670 --> 00:17:41.869 out which of these potential gene -edited traits 00:17:41.869 --> 00:17:43.789 would give you the biggest bang for your buck. 00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:46.740 Think about it like any other major farm investment. 00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:49.880 A barn upgrade, new equipment. Where's the best 00:17:49.880 --> 00:17:53.519 ROI? Makes sense. Prioritize based on your specific 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:56.880 needs. Third, think long -term breeding strategy. 00:17:57.279 --> 00:17:59.579 How could these traits fit into where you want 00:17:59.579 --> 00:18:02.380 your herd to be in 5 -10 years? Is it pulled 00:18:02.380 --> 00:18:04.799 for easier management? Mastitis resistance for 00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:07.000 lower costs and better milk. It's really just 00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:08.900 an extension of the genetic planning you're already 00:18:08.900 --> 00:18:11.380 doing. Right, integrating it into existing plans. 00:18:11.700 --> 00:18:14.589 Fourth, get involved in the conversation. Industry 00:18:14.589 --> 00:18:16.890 discussions matter. Farmer input shapes research. 00:18:17.089 --> 00:18:19.150 It shapes public perception. Bring these topics 00:18:19.150 --> 00:18:20.990 up at your co -op meetings, your breed meetings. 00:18:21.190 --> 00:18:23.829 And fifth, prepare your marketing story. Yes, 00:18:23.930 --> 00:18:26.970 crucial. Think now about how you talk about the 00:18:26.970 --> 00:18:30.009 benefits to consumers. Animal welfare, fewer 00:18:30.009 --> 00:18:32.869 antibiotics, environmental pluses. The communication 00:18:32.869 --> 00:18:35.430 piece is huge, as we discussed. The report frames 00:18:35.430 --> 00:18:38.430 this historically, right? Like AI in the 40s, 00:18:38.450 --> 00:18:41.769 genomics in the 2000s. Gene editing is the next 00:18:41.769 --> 00:18:44.579 big step. That's the perspective. The dairy industry 00:18:44.579 --> 00:18:48.000 always evolves by adopting technology. Gene editing 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:50.660 looks like the next frontier. So the question 00:18:50.660 --> 00:18:53.700 is, do you want to lead the charge or risk falling 00:18:53.700 --> 00:18:55.880 behind? But approach it carefully, right? Like 00:18:55.880 --> 00:18:58.319 not breeding your whole herd to one unproven 00:18:58.319 --> 00:19:01.220 bull. Absolutely. Measured steps. But the core 00:19:01.220 --> 00:19:04.420 message from university research is clear. The 00:19:04.420 --> 00:19:06.480 farmers who are informed, who understand this, 00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:08.720 they'll be the ones best positioned to benefit. 00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:11.079 The report ends with a real zinger. Oh, yeah. 00:19:11.369 --> 00:19:14.009 It asks, if gene editing can save a baby's life, 00:19:14.230 --> 00:19:17.109 what could it do for your herd's health, welfare, 00:19:17.349 --> 00:19:20.190 profitability? Are you ready for that next revolution? 00:19:20.450 --> 00:19:22.490 Because according to the major research institutions, 00:19:22.789 --> 00:19:25.539 it's not if. It's when. Okay, so let's recap 00:19:25.539 --> 00:19:27.519 this deep dive. We've seen the huge potential 00:19:27.519 --> 00:19:29.880 of gene editing for precise improvements in dairy 00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:32.420 cattle, big benefits for farmers tackling tough 00:19:32.420 --> 00:19:35.700 issues like disease, heat stress, but also critical 00:19:35.700 --> 00:19:38.740 hurdles, regulations, cost, and maybe the biggest 00:19:38.740 --> 00:19:41.819 one, consumer trust. The need for farmers to 00:19:41.819 --> 00:19:45.039 be proactive, informed, and really own the narrative 00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:47.579 about the benefits seems paramount. That sums 00:19:47.579 --> 00:19:50.180 it up well. Gene editing offers targeted solutions, 00:19:50.460 --> 00:19:52.420 but realizing that potential means navigating 00:19:52.420 --> 00:19:55.079 regulations. smartly, handling the economics 00:19:55.079 --> 00:19:57.920 and building consumer confidence. This report 00:19:57.920 --> 00:20:00.599 is basically a call to action for farmers. Stay 00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:03.359 informed, get engaged, and be ready to make strategic 00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:05.380 choices about incorporating these innovations. 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:07.480 So we'll leave you with this final thought to 00:20:07.480 --> 00:20:09.980 chew on. What happens long term? For your farm, 00:20:09.980 --> 00:20:12.779 for the whole industry? If we embrace these technologies 00:20:12.779 --> 00:20:15.539 thoughtfully versus if we ignore them, what does 00:20:15.539 --> 00:20:18.119 dairy farming look like in 10 or 15 years? And 00:20:18.119 --> 00:20:21.319 what part will gene -edited cows play? It's about 00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:23.450 shaping the future, really. Are you ready to 00:20:23.450 --> 00:20:25.950 dig deeper and be part of that? Thanks for joining 00:20:25.950 --> 00:20:28.809 us on The Bullvine Podcast. If this episode sparked 00:20:28.809 --> 00:20:31.549 your curiosity, share it with a fellow farmer. 00:20:31.950 --> 00:20:35.029 Leave us a review and subscribe wherever you 00:20:35.029 --> 00:20:38.190 get your podcasts. Want the full story? Dive 00:20:38.190 --> 00:20:40.750 deeper into the research and resources we discussed 00:20:40.750 --> 00:20:44.650 today at www .thebullvine .com. Got questions 00:20:44.650 --> 00:20:47.049 or topics you'd like us to tackle? Slide into 00:20:47.049 --> 00:20:50.069 our DMs or drop us an email. We're here to amplify 00:20:50.069 --> 00:20:53.339 your voice in this conversation. Until next time, 00:20:53.339 --> 00:20:55.839 keep your herds healthy, your margins sharper, 00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:57.099 and your vision bold.