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 --> 00:01:03.070 we're sparking Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast, 00:01:03.549 --> 00:01:05.870 where we challenge conventional dairy wisdom 00:01:05.870 --> 00:01:08.969 and deliver the cutting -edge insights that separate 00:01:08.969 --> 00:01:12.250 industry leaders from the competition. I'm your 00:01:12.250 --> 00:01:15.430 host, bringing you the bold analysis and actionable 00:01:15.430 --> 00:01:17.790 intelligence that progressive dairy professionals 00:01:17.790 --> 00:01:22.329 depend on. Today's episode tackles one of the 00:01:22.329 --> 00:01:24.750 most expensive myths in modern dairy farming, 00:01:24.930 --> 00:01:28.450 the belief that heat stress only matters at 80 00:01:28.450 --> 00:01:30.900 degrees Fahrenheit. New research reveals this 00:01:30.900 --> 00:01:34.400 outdated thinking is costing the industry $245 00:01:34.400 --> 00:01:38.400 million annually while elite operations are weaponizing 00:01:38.400 --> 00:01:40.719 heat -tolerant genetics and precision cooling 00:01:40.719 --> 00:01:45.599 to protect $700 per cow every summer. We're diving 00:01:45.599 --> 00:01:48.040 deep into the uncomfortable truth about how genetic 00:01:48.040 --> 00:01:50.420 selection for production has created thermal 00:01:50.420 --> 00:01:53.719 disasters why small farms are being systematically 00:01:53.719 --> 00:01:57.099 eliminated by heat stress costs, and how the 00:01:57.099 --> 00:02:00.700 slick gene and genomic breeding values are revolutionizing 00:02:00.700 --> 00:02:04.260 thermal management. If you're tired of watching 00:02:04.260 --> 00:02:06.939 profits evaporate with every heat wave while 00:02:06.939 --> 00:02:09.259 your breeding company sells you genetic improvements 00:02:09.259 --> 00:02:12.599 that can't handle modern climate realities, this 00:02:12.599 --> 00:02:15.639 episode will change how you think about summer 00:02:15.639 --> 00:02:19.139 management forever. Let's get started. Okay, 00:02:19.180 --> 00:02:21.870 let's unpack this. You shared some incredibly 00:02:21.870 --> 00:02:24.289 insightful material with us today, and we're 00:02:24.289 --> 00:02:27.270 going to dive deep into a bullvine article that 00:02:27.270 --> 00:02:29.969 takes a sharp look at heat stress in dairy cattle. 00:02:30.150 --> 00:02:34.550 Sounds good. It's a topic that definitely warrants 00:02:34.550 --> 00:02:37.150 a closer look. Yeah, because on the surface, 00:02:37.389 --> 00:02:40.590 heat stress might sound... You know, pretty straightforward. 00:02:40.949 --> 00:02:43.650 Cows get hot, right? We see them panting on a 00:02:43.650 --> 00:02:46.409 sweltering summer day. Sure. That's the obvious 00:02:46.409 --> 00:02:49.110 part. But the core premise of this Bullvine article 00:02:49.110 --> 00:02:51.629 is actually quite surprising. It challenges a 00:02:51.629 --> 00:02:53.389 threshold that I think a lot of people in the 00:02:53.389 --> 00:02:55.849 industry have kind of taken as gospel for years. 00:02:56.409 --> 00:02:58.389 It's not just about cows being uncomfortable 00:02:58.389 --> 00:03:02.060 when we feel hot. It's a... Far more insidious 00:03:02.060 --> 00:03:04.900 than that. Exactly. This bullvine article doesn't 00:03:04.900 --> 00:03:07.080 just scratch the surface. It takes a deep look 00:03:07.080 --> 00:03:09.479 at the underlying science, the stark economics, 00:03:09.740 --> 00:03:14.099 the complexities of genetics, and the potential 00:03:14.099 --> 00:03:16.000 of technology when it comes to managing heat 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:17.939 stress. It's really pulling all those threads 00:03:17.939 --> 00:03:20.539 together. Yeah, it's a fantastic resource, really 00:03:20.539 --> 00:03:22.300 helping you cut through the noise and understand 00:03:22.300 --> 00:03:25.199 what's truly happening on your farm and why those 00:03:25.199 --> 00:03:27.599 seemingly comfortable days can be costing you 00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:31.000 big time. And the stakes? according to this Bullvine 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:34.039 article, are incredibly high. We're not just 00:03:34.039 --> 00:03:35.800 talking about a little dip in milk production 00:03:35.800 --> 00:03:37.979 during a heat wave. Oh, not at all. This is about 00:03:37.979 --> 00:03:41.860 significant quantifiable losses. Both immediate, 00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:44.500 like in the tank. Right, milk flow components. 00:03:44.879 --> 00:03:47.900 But also long -term. Yeah. Things like impacting 00:03:47.900 --> 00:03:50.280 reproductive performance and the very genetic 00:03:50.280 --> 00:03:52.319 potential you've invested so much in. That's 00:03:52.319 --> 00:03:53.879 right. The article really drives home the point 00:03:53.879 --> 00:03:56.180 that in today's environment, and certainly looking 00:03:56.180 --> 00:03:59.090 forward, Heat stress management isn't just, you 00:03:59.090 --> 00:04:02.729 know, a good practice. It's becoming a major 00:04:02.729 --> 00:04:05.849 differentiator. A differentiator? How so? Well, 00:04:05.909 --> 00:04:07.849 there are operations out there that are truly 00:04:07.849 --> 00:04:10.009 mastering this. They're implementing comprehensive 00:04:10.009 --> 00:04:13.289 strategies that mitigate losses and even, as 00:04:13.289 --> 00:04:15.169 the article suggests, find ways to turn summer. 00:04:15.389 --> 00:04:17.990 Which is usually a loss period. Exactly. Turn 00:04:17.990 --> 00:04:20.629 it from a period of decreased profitability into 00:04:20.629 --> 00:04:23.490 an opportunity for relative gain compared to 00:04:23.490 --> 00:04:26.980 others who aren't managing it well. So while 00:04:26.980 --> 00:04:30.360 some are losing ground, others are actually potentially 00:04:30.360 --> 00:04:32.860 gaining an edge. That's the picture it paints. 00:04:32.959 --> 00:04:35.079 Meanwhile, operations that stick to outdated 00:04:35.079 --> 00:04:37.540 approaches are being left behind, facing compounding 00:04:37.540 --> 00:04:40.360 damage and, frankly, increasing competitive pressure. 00:04:40.779 --> 00:04:43.720 Okay. So our mission today is to take this Bullvine 00:04:43.720 --> 00:04:45.959 article, this piece of research you've provided, 00:04:46.139 --> 00:04:49.439 and really dig into its core insights. Yeah, 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:51.459 pull out those key nuggets. So you can be truly 00:04:51.459 --> 00:04:54.800 well -informed, challenge some. Maybe long held 00:04:54.800 --> 00:04:57.459 assumptions. And maybe look at your own heat 00:04:57.459 --> 00:05:01.019 stress management strategies or lack thereof 00:05:01.019 --> 00:05:02.819 a little differently. Let's dive in. Let's do 00:05:02.819 --> 00:05:05.300 it. All right. So the first and perhaps most 00:05:05.300 --> 00:05:07.620 impactful thing this Bullvine article really 00:05:07.620 --> 00:05:10.699 pushes back against is what it calls the 80 degree 00:05:10.699 --> 00:05:14.040 ever heat stress myth. Ah, yes. The big one. 00:05:14.319 --> 00:05:16.959 For years, you've probably heard or assumed that 00:05:16.959 --> 00:05:18.660 you only really need to start worrying about 00:05:18.660 --> 00:05:20.779 heat stress when the temperature hits 80 degrees 00:05:20.779 --> 00:05:23.839 Fahrenheit. Or maybe when the THI, the Temperature 00:05:23.839 --> 00:05:26.459 Humidity Index, climbs past 80. That's been the 00:05:26.459 --> 00:05:29.240 standard advice for a long time. But the source 00:05:29.240 --> 00:05:32.459 argues very strongly that waiting until then 00:05:32.459 --> 00:05:36.220 is... Well, it calls it a costly deception. It's 00:05:36.220 --> 00:05:38.519 far too late by then. It absolutely does. And 00:05:38.519 --> 00:05:40.379 this is where the scientific research cited in 00:05:40.379 --> 00:05:42.860 the article is so critical. It points out that 00:05:42.860 --> 00:05:45.939 the widely accepted 80 degree butt THI threshold 00:05:45.939 --> 00:05:49.720 is simply inaccurate for modern high producing 00:05:49.720 --> 00:05:52.500 dairy breeds. Inaccurate. So what is the real 00:05:52.500 --> 00:05:55.220 number then? The true threshold for thermal stress 00:05:55.220 --> 00:05:58.079 in these animals starts much, much lower. The 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:00.120 research indicates that significant measurable 00:06:00.120 --> 00:06:02.680 performance degradation begins at a temperature 00:06:02.680 --> 00:06:05.339 humidity index of just 68 degrees Fahrenheit. 00:06:05.579 --> 00:06:09.040 68 degrees THI. Wait a second. 68? That feels 00:06:09.040 --> 00:06:10.899 comfortable to me. Yeah. That's like a nice spring 00:06:10.899 --> 00:06:13.180 day, maybe a mild fall afternoon. You'd be walking 00:06:13.180 --> 00:06:15.199 around in a light jacket or maybe even a t -shirt 00:06:15.199 --> 00:06:18.459 feeling perfectly fine. Precisely. And that's 00:06:18.459 --> 00:06:20.959 the deceptive part the article highlights. What 00:06:20.959 --> 00:06:24.319 feels comfortable to you, a human, who generates 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:27.860 far less metabolic heat and has different physiological 00:06:27.860 --> 00:06:31.060 cooling mechanisms, is actually where the stress 00:06:31.060 --> 00:06:34.100 begins for a cow bred for extreme productivity. 00:06:34.420 --> 00:06:37.699 The article really emphasizes this stark contrast 00:06:37.699 --> 00:06:40.720 between how we perceive thermal comfort and what 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:43.180 the science reveals about the biological reality 00:06:43.180 --> 00:06:46.360 for these highly productive animals. So the industry 00:06:46.360 --> 00:06:49.379 standard messaging, it just hasn't caught up. 00:06:49.420 --> 00:06:51.720 It seems it's lagged significantly behind the 00:06:51.720 --> 00:06:53.800 scientific understanding, yeah. Okay, but why? 00:06:54.240 --> 00:06:57.040 Why is this happening at such a seemingly low 00:06:57.040 --> 00:06:59.339 temperature and humidity level for the cows? 00:06:59.800 --> 00:07:01.779 The article digs into the reason, doesn't it? 00:07:01.800 --> 00:07:04.160 It's tied to how we've bred them. Yes, that's 00:07:04.160 --> 00:07:05.899 a key point the article makes, and it's a bit 00:07:05.899 --> 00:07:08.079 of a double -edged sword, really. Oh, so? Well, 00:07:08.259 --> 00:07:10.779 modern dairy breeds, particularly Holsteins, 00:07:10.819 --> 00:07:14.000 have undergone incredibly intensive genetic selection 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:16.920 over the past 50 -plus years. Right, all focused 00:07:16.920 --> 00:07:19.680 on milk. Primarily focused on boosting milk production 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:23.279 to unprecedented levels, this selection pressure 00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:26.399 has resulted in cows with significantly higher 00:07:26.399 --> 00:07:29.040 metabolic rates and a much higher feed intake 00:07:29.040 --> 00:07:31.509 compared to their ancestors. Which is great for 00:07:31.509 --> 00:07:34.750 yield, obviously. Fantastic for yield. But those 00:07:34.750 --> 00:07:37.569 physiological processes involved in converting 00:07:37.569 --> 00:07:40.529 feed into milk generate a tremendous amount of 00:07:40.529 --> 00:07:43.529 internal heat, what scientists call endogenous 00:07:43.529 --> 00:07:46.350 heat. Endogenous heat, okay, internal heat. So 00:07:46.350 --> 00:07:49.709 even at relatively mild ambient temperatures 00:07:49.709 --> 00:07:52.250 and humidity levels, these cows are essentially 00:07:52.250 --> 00:07:55.420 fighting their own internal furnace. Ah, so it's 00:07:55.420 --> 00:07:57.800 not just the sun beating down, it's the heat 00:07:57.800 --> 00:08:00.339 they're creating inside just by doing their job, 00:08:00.399 --> 00:08:03.240 by being so productive. Exactly. The very efficiency 00:08:03.240 --> 00:08:05.980 we've bred into them to produce milk makes them 00:08:05.980 --> 00:08:08.319 more susceptible to heat stress, starting much 00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:11.079 sooner than that traditional outdated 80 degree 00:08:11.079 --> 00:08:13.019 hour mark. They're like little thermal powerhouses. 00:08:13.240 --> 00:08:15.620 That's a good way to put it. And that massive 00:08:15.620 --> 00:08:17.560 amount of metabolic heat needs to dissipate. 00:08:17.899 --> 00:08:21.120 As the THI rises, even slightly from 68 degrees 00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:23.819 Arif, their ability to shed that internal heat 00:08:23.819 --> 00:08:27.060 becomes compromised. And that leads to measurable 00:08:27.060 --> 00:08:30.480 stress. Long before they start outwardly panting 00:08:30.480 --> 00:08:33.679 or seeking shade intensely, yes. The article 00:08:33.679 --> 00:08:35.960 argues that the genetic progress for production 00:08:35.960 --> 00:08:39.379 has inadvertently engineered a significant thermal 00:08:39.379 --> 00:08:43.250 vulnerability. Okay, so the myth is busted. 68 00:08:43.250 --> 00:08:46.450 degrees FTHI is the real threshold where the 00:08:46.450 --> 00:08:48.929 damage starts accumulating. Now let's talk about 00:08:48.929 --> 00:08:51.389 the scale of that damage. The economic impact 00:08:51.389 --> 00:08:53.929 presented in this Bullvine article citing a University 00:08:53.929 --> 00:08:57.940 of Illinois study is... Wow, it's pretty staggering. 00:08:58.120 --> 00:09:00.059 It really is. It should make anyone in the dairy 00:09:00.059 --> 00:09:02.340 business sit up and pay attention. And the study 00:09:02.340 --> 00:09:05.179 itself says massive. It is remarkably comprehensive. 00:09:05.799 --> 00:09:09.600 They analyzed over 56 million individual cow 00:09:09.600 --> 00:09:12.519 production records. 56 million. From 18 ,000 00:09:12.519 --> 00:09:14.879 dairy farms across the United States. So this 00:09:14.879 --> 00:09:17.179 isn't just a small sample. It's a huge data set. 00:09:17.299 --> 00:09:19.299 Painting a really clear picture then. An alarming 00:09:19.299 --> 00:09:21.360 picture, yeah, of the scale of the problem across 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:23.919 the industry. And the numbers. When you look 00:09:23.919 --> 00:09:25.419 at the industry level, what are we talking about? 00:09:25.789 --> 00:09:28.549 They are truly eye -watering. The cumulative 00:09:28.549 --> 00:09:31.129 loss across the U .S. dairy industry over just 00:09:31.129 --> 00:09:33.629 a five -year period, directly attributable to 00:09:33.629 --> 00:09:37.409 heat stress, was approximately 1 .4 billion pounds 00:09:37.409 --> 00:09:42.419 of milk. 1 .4 billion pounds! Wow. Think about 00:09:42.419 --> 00:09:45.639 that. One point four billion pounds. And when 00:09:45.639 --> 00:09:47.740 you translate that into lost revenue for the 00:09:47.740 --> 00:09:50.460 industry, a staggering two hundred and forty 00:09:50.460 --> 00:09:52.940 five million dollars. Two hundred forty five 00:09:52.940 --> 00:09:55.399 million dollars. It's almost hard to grasp that 00:09:55.399 --> 00:09:58.279 number on an industry scale. It feels abstract. 00:09:58.860 --> 00:10:00.799 It does feel abstract. But the article does an 00:10:00.799 --> 00:10:02.519 excellent job of bringing this down to the farm 00:10:02.519 --> 00:10:04.059 level, doesn't it? Yeah, it connects the right 00:10:04.059 --> 00:10:06.980 to your operation. Framing this not just as abstract 00:10:06.980 --> 00:10:10.399 industry losses. But as a direct, tangible hit 00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:12.779 to your milk check, your bottom line. How does 00:10:12.779 --> 00:10:14.679 it do that? What's the example? Absolutely. It 00:10:14.679 --> 00:10:16.860 translates that massive industry loss into terms 00:10:16.860 --> 00:10:18.779 that resonate directly with a farm's profitability. 00:10:19.179 --> 00:10:21.519 The article uses the example of a hypothetical 00:10:21.519 --> 00:10:24.860 500 cow operation. Okay. 500 cows. Pretty standard 00:10:24.860 --> 00:10:27.240 size for many. Right. And it calculates that 00:10:27.240 --> 00:10:30.120 if that farm experiences just 30 days of inadequate 00:10:30.120 --> 00:10:33.179 heat management at that lower 70 degree FTHI 00:10:33.179 --> 00:10:35.679 threshold. So not even the old 80 myth, just 00:10:35.679 --> 00:10:38.600 barely over that 68 mark we talked about. Exactly. 00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:41.220 Just slightly above the 68 degrees starting point. 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:44.320 That farm could lose 150 ,000 pounds of milk 00:10:44.320 --> 00:10:49.059 annually. 150 ,000 pounds of milk for a 500 cow 00:10:49.059 --> 00:10:52.769 herd? Over just 30 days of stress around that 00:10:52.769 --> 00:10:56.389 70 degree FTHI mark, that is a significant amount 00:10:56.389 --> 00:10:58.529 of milk potential just vanishing. Really is. 00:10:58.710 --> 00:11:01.070 And the article puts a very concrete dollar figure 00:11:01.070 --> 00:11:03.720 on that loss too at current pricing. Based on 00:11:03.720 --> 00:11:06.440 typical pricing, that 150 ,000 pounds of lost 00:11:06.440 --> 00:11:09.179 milk translates directly to approximately $31 00:11:09.179 --> 00:11:13.379 ,650 in lost revenue for that single 500 -cow 00:11:13.379 --> 00:11:16.159 farm. Over $30 ,000. Each year. And the article 00:11:16.159 --> 00:11:18.360 makes a powerful point here that really challenges 00:11:18.360 --> 00:11:20.340 common farm economics. What's the challenge? 00:11:20.500 --> 00:11:23.899 It cleverly highlights that $31 ,650 is often 00:11:23.899 --> 00:11:26.480 enough to fund significant, impactful infrastructure 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:30.179 improvements on that very farm. Like what? Fans. 00:11:30.759 --> 00:11:33.120 Sprinklers. Yeah, things like installing advanced 00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:35.659 fan and sprinkler systems or upgrading existing 00:11:35.659 --> 00:11:38.039 ones, the very improvements that many operations 00:11:38.039 --> 00:11:40.779 are resistant to making, citing capital costs. 00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:44.000 The can't afford it argument. Right, yet they 00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:46.419 are potentially losing that much or even more 00:11:46.419 --> 00:11:49.620 by not making those investments. Wow, that's 00:11:49.620 --> 00:11:52.279 a powerful reframing. It flips the script. It 00:11:52.279 --> 00:11:54.379 really does. It transforms the perceived cost 00:11:54.379 --> 00:11:57.360 of investment into the very real cost of inaction. 00:11:57.820 --> 00:12:00.159 You're losing that money anyway, but you're not 00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:03.159 getting the asset that could prevent future losses. 00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:05.700 Precisely. And the article makes it abundantly 00:12:05.700 --> 00:12:10.919 clear that this $31 ,650 loss is just the immediate 00:12:10.919 --> 00:12:14.809 direct milk loss. Which leads us into the longer 00:12:14.809 --> 00:12:17.169 -term stuff, right? The compounding damage heat 00:12:17.169 --> 00:12:19.950 stress inflicts. Right. The impact of heat stress 00:12:19.950 --> 00:12:22.750 is cumulative and far -reaching. It's not confined 00:12:22.750 --> 00:12:25.309 to just the days or weeks the cow is visibly 00:12:25.309 --> 00:12:27.509 feeling the heat and her milk check dips. There's 00:12:27.509 --> 00:12:29.809 more going on under the surface. There are physiological 00:12:29.809 --> 00:12:32.110 and behavioral effects that create ripple effects 00:12:32.110 --> 00:12:34.250 throughout her current lactation, significantly 00:12:34.250 --> 00:12:36.470 impacting her reproductive cycle, her health 00:12:36.470 --> 00:12:38.409 and longevity, and critically, as we'll discuss 00:12:38.409 --> 00:12:40.669 later, even impacting the performance of her 00:12:40.669 --> 00:12:42.860 future offspring. Okay, let's get into those 00:12:42.860 --> 00:12:45.080 physiological impacts then. The article goes 00:12:45.080 --> 00:12:48.080 beyond just saying cows pant more. It details 00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:51.279 precisely how heat stress is fundamentally disrupting 00:12:51.279 --> 00:12:53.639 their internal systems. Yes. The source material 00:12:53.639 --> 00:12:56.299 provides a detailed look at several key physiological 00:12:56.299 --> 00:13:00.220 responses that begin at these lower THI thresholds. 00:13:00.220 --> 00:13:02.419 So beyond just drinking more and eating less. 00:13:02.580 --> 00:13:05.139 Yeah, beyond the obvious behavioral changes like 00:13:05.139 --> 00:13:07.860 increased water intake and reduced dry matter 00:13:07.860 --> 00:13:10.120 intake, which, as you can imagine, immediately 00:13:10.120 --> 00:13:13.240 impact performance by reducing nutrient uptake. 00:13:13.529 --> 00:13:16.129 Sure. Less fuel in, less milk out. The article 00:13:16.129 --> 00:13:19.029 mentions complex internal disruptions. Things 00:13:19.029 --> 00:13:21.690 like electrolyte imbalances, significant acid 00:13:21.690 --> 00:13:24.350 -base disruptions. Acid -base? Like pH level? 00:13:24.470 --> 00:13:26.950 Exactly. Specifically, respiratory alkalosis 00:13:26.950 --> 00:13:30.370 often accompanied by metabolic acidosis and disturbances 00:13:30.370 --> 00:13:33.409 in sodium homeostasis. Okay. Electrolyte imbalances, 00:13:33.409 --> 00:13:36.090 acid -base disruptions, respiratory alkalosis 00:13:36.090 --> 00:13:39.009 with metabolic acidosis, disturbances in sodium 00:13:39.009 --> 00:13:41.899 homeostasis. That sounds... Pretty technical. 00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:44.019 It is technical, yeah. For someone who isn't 00:13:44.019 --> 00:13:46.620 a physiologist, what does that mean in practical 00:13:46.620 --> 00:13:49.639 terms for the cow? How do these translate into 00:13:49.639 --> 00:13:52.860 a sick, less productive animal? That's a crucial 00:13:52.860 --> 00:13:55.279 question. And the article implies these are the 00:13:55.279 --> 00:13:57.480 core mechanisms of harm. Let's try to break them 00:13:57.480 --> 00:14:00.799 down slightly in simple terms. Electrolyte imbalances, 00:14:00.820 --> 00:14:03.960 for instance. The cow is losing critical minerals 00:14:03.960 --> 00:14:06.259 like potassium and sodium as she tries to cool 00:14:06.259 --> 00:14:08.440 herself, often through sweating or increased 00:14:08.440 --> 00:14:10.259 respiration. And those minerals are important. 00:14:10.649 --> 00:14:14.190 Vital. For nerve function, muscle contractions, 00:14:14.190 --> 00:14:17.490 maintaining hydration. Losing them impairs her 00:14:17.490 --> 00:14:20.149 ability to function properly, affects her appetite, 00:14:20.370 --> 00:14:22.629 and contributes to fatigue. Okay, that makes 00:14:22.629 --> 00:14:24.909 sense. What about the acid -base disruption? 00:14:25.070 --> 00:14:27.759 That sounded complicated. Respiratory alkalosis, 00:14:27.879 --> 00:14:30.299 metabolic acidosis. Yeah, that one's particularly 00:14:30.299 --> 00:14:33.159 damaging. When a cow pants heavily to try and 00:14:33.159 --> 00:14:35.480 cool down, she's rapidly expelling carbon dioxide. 00:14:35.539 --> 00:14:38.820 This excessive CO2 loss leads to a condition 00:14:38.820 --> 00:14:41.419 called respiratory alkalosis, which means her 00:14:41.419 --> 00:14:44.769 blood pH becomes too alkaline, too high. Her 00:14:44.769 --> 00:14:46.769 body then tries to compensate, often leading 00:14:46.769 --> 00:14:50.710 to metabolic acidosis. This huge disruption to 00:14:50.710 --> 00:14:53.370 her blood's pH balance messes with virtually 00:14:53.370 --> 00:14:56.169 every metabolic process in her body. How so? 00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:58.960 What does it affect? It impairs nutrient uptake 00:14:58.960 --> 00:15:01.220 from the gut. It can contribute to issues like 00:15:01.220 --> 00:15:03.940 laminitis. It suppresses her immune system, making 00:15:03.940 --> 00:15:06.960 her more vulnerable to disease. Ah, so secondary 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:09.820 infections become more likely. Exactly. And it 00:15:09.820 --> 00:15:12.179 fundamentally reduces her feed efficiency. She 00:15:12.179 --> 00:15:14.559 just can't get as much energy and protein out 00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:17.019 of the feed she does manage to eat. Wow. And 00:15:17.019 --> 00:15:19.419 the sodium homeostasis thing. That ties into 00:15:19.419 --> 00:15:21.919 this. Sodium is critical for maintaining fluid 00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:24.799 balance and is closely linked to potassium and 00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:27.500 chloride balance. When this system is disrupted 00:15:27.500 --> 00:15:30.279 by heat stress, it exacerbates hydration problems 00:15:30.279 --> 00:15:32.919 and can further impair cellular functions and 00:15:32.919 --> 00:15:35.799 overall metabolic efficiency. So, taken together, 00:15:35.980 --> 00:15:37.779 these aren't just minor discomforts. This is 00:15:37.779 --> 00:15:40.159 like a systemic breakdown. It is. A breakdown 00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:42.799 of the cow's internal balance, affecting everything 00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:44.840 from her metabolism and immune system to her 00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:47.360 gut function and even her foot health. This is 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:49.639 the how behind the lost milk and increased health 00:15:49.639 --> 00:15:52.299 issues we see. Okay, that paints a much clearer 00:15:52.299 --> 00:15:55.139 picture of the internal damage. Exactly. The 00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:57.100 article makes it clear these physiological responses 00:15:57.100 --> 00:16:00.080 are the mechanisms by which heat stress directly 00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:02.720 harms the cow's health, severely compromises 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:05.120 her welfare, and critically undermines her ability 00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:07.480 to produce milk efficiently and reproduce successfully. 00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:10.080 The cascade effect. Starting with that slightly 00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:13.080 elevated THI, yeah, and leading to widespread 00:16:13.080 --> 00:16:16.240 internal dysfunction. Now, the article pivots 00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:20.039 to something a bit uncomfortable, something that 00:16:20.039 --> 00:16:22.240 challenges the industry narrative around genetic 00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:25.629 progress. Ah, yes. This is where it asks some 00:16:25.629 --> 00:16:28.789 difficult questions. It suggests that the very 00:16:28.789 --> 00:16:31.450 intensive genetic selection programs we've celebrated 00:16:31.450 --> 00:16:34.309 might have unintended consequences when it comes 00:16:34.309 --> 00:16:36.429 to heat tolerance. It presents the uncomfortable 00:16:36.429 --> 00:16:39.269 truth that the past decades of intensive genetic 00:16:39.269 --> 00:16:42.549 selection focused almost singularly on maximizing 00:16:42.549 --> 00:16:45.029 milk production and related traits. Utter depth, 00:16:45.169 --> 00:16:47.169 somatic cell score, things like that. Right. 00:16:47.250 --> 00:16:50.299 That focus has, in a significant way, engineered 00:16:50.299 --> 00:16:53.320 thermal vulnerability into our modern dairy herds. 00:16:53.340 --> 00:16:55.759 So we bred for more and more milk, higher peaks. 00:16:56.019 --> 00:16:59.840 And in doing so, we inadvertently made the animals 00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:03.419 less able to cope with heat. It's like we optimized 00:17:03.419 --> 00:17:06.480 for output in a perfect air -conditioned environment, 00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:09.240 maybe. That's essentially the tension the article 00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:12.279 discusses. By selecting so heavily for traits 00:17:12.279 --> 00:17:14.799 associated with high metabolic activity and high 00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:17.500 feed intake. Which we just said produces all 00:17:17.500 --> 00:17:20.480 that internal heat. Precisely. We've created 00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:22.980 cows that generate a massive amount of internal 00:17:22.980 --> 00:17:26.180 heat. The focus was on the numerator, the milk 00:17:26.180 --> 00:17:28.680 yield, without fully accounting for the denominator. 00:17:29.160 --> 00:17:31.819 The cow's ability to actually handle the heat 00:17:31.819 --> 00:17:35.200 she produces to make that milk. Exactly. Handle 00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:37.259 it under real -world environmental conditions. 00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:40.019 The article points out that historically, major 00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:42.140 breeding companies haven't prominently featured 00:17:42.140 --> 00:17:44.660 heat tolerance or thermoregulation traits in 00:17:44.660 --> 00:17:46.960 their promotional materials or breeding indexes. 00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:49.019 Even while they're pushing for higher and higher. 00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:50.640 higher production numbers. Right. Numbers that 00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:52.980 inherently load the cow's thermal regulation 00:17:52.980 --> 00:17:55.920 system. And the article puts a challenging question 00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:58.119 directly to you, the listener, doesn't it? To 00:17:58.119 --> 00:18:00.819 anyone making breeding decisions. It does. It 00:18:00.819 --> 00:18:03.640 asks, are you breeding for production at the 00:18:03.640 --> 00:18:06.220 expense of thermal resilience? It highlights 00:18:06.220 --> 00:18:08.880 that breeding company representatives understandably 00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:11.420 focused on selling semen from top production 00:18:11.420 --> 00:18:14.230 bulls. They have a job to do. Yeah. Often focused 00:18:14.230 --> 00:18:16.349 solely on those production numbers and indices 00:18:16.349 --> 00:18:19.509 without necessarily providing sufficient context 00:18:19.509 --> 00:18:22.089 on the animal's potential performance under environmental 00:18:22.089 --> 00:18:24.970 stress, like heat. It forces you to consider 00:18:24.970 --> 00:18:27.849 whether your genetic strategy is fully addressing 00:18:27.849 --> 00:18:30.609 the environmental realities your cows face today. 00:18:30.849 --> 00:18:33.849 And will increasingly face in the future with 00:18:33.849 --> 00:18:36.430 climate change. Absolutely. Are you optimizing 00:18:36.430 --> 00:18:39.309 for peak production in a controlled, ideal environment? 00:18:39.880 --> 00:18:41.839 Or are you strategically building a herd that 00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:44.519 can thrive, not just survive, under practical 00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:46.859 farm conditions that include periods of significant 00:18:46.859 --> 00:18:49.319 heat stress? That's a crucial distinction, a 00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:52.920 significant and somewhat unsettling question. 00:18:53.180 --> 00:18:55.619 It is. But the good news is, the article doesn't 00:18:55.619 --> 00:18:57.940 just leave us with a problem. It also talks about 00:18:57.940 --> 00:19:01.079 how genomic selection, the same tool used to 00:19:01.079 --> 00:19:03.440 increase production, can also be part of the 00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:06.150 solution for heat tolerance. Right. That's the 00:19:06.150 --> 00:19:09.109 flip side. The revolutionary idea presented is 00:19:09.109 --> 00:19:11.390 that genomic selection isn't just potentially 00:19:11.390 --> 00:19:13.930 the source of increased vulnerability. It can 00:19:13.930 --> 00:19:16.190 be a crucial part of the solution for building 00:19:16.190 --> 00:19:18.690 thermal resilience. We can actually select for 00:19:18.690 --> 00:19:21.190 it. We can identify and select for traits that 00:19:21.190 --> 00:19:23.970 help cows cope with heat, yes. And the article 00:19:23.970 --> 00:19:26.930 mentions specific, compelling research backing 00:19:26.930 --> 00:19:29.349 this up. Yes, it details a fascinating study 00:19:29.349 --> 00:19:31.369 published in the prestigious journal Nature. 00:19:31.670 --> 00:19:34.849 Nature, okay. What did it find? This research 00:19:34.849 --> 00:19:37.109 demonstrated that dairy cattle selected using 00:19:37.109 --> 00:19:40.549 genomic breeding values specifically for heat 00:19:40.549 --> 00:19:43.569 tolerance alongside production traits. So not 00:19:43.569 --> 00:19:46.549 instead of, but alongside. Right. Those cows 00:19:46.549 --> 00:19:48.849 had significantly less milk decline and showed 00:19:48.849 --> 00:19:51.450 reduced increases in core body temperature during 00:19:51.450 --> 00:19:54.250 simulated heat wave events compared to animals 00:19:54.250 --> 00:19:56.589 predicted to be heat susceptible based on their 00:19:56.589 --> 00:19:59.809 genomics. So clear scientific proof it can be 00:19:59.809 --> 00:20:01.779 done. Clear evidence that we can genetically 00:20:01.779 --> 00:20:04.039 select for improved thermal resilience without 00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:06.640 necessarily sacrificing desired production traits 00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:09.220 entirely. That's groundbreaking. And then it 00:20:09.220 --> 00:20:11.059 gets into perhaps the most talked about specific 00:20:11.059 --> 00:20:15.279 genetic solution right now, the SLICK gene. Ah, 00:20:15.579 --> 00:20:18.220 the SLICK gene. Yeah, the article calls it the 00:20:18.220 --> 00:20:20.920 most dramatic single gene solution discovered 00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:24.950 so far. for heat tolerance in dairy cattle. SLICK. 00:20:25.289 --> 00:20:27.349 What does it do? It makes them slick. Essentially, 00:20:27.410 --> 00:20:30.569 yes. This gene results in a short, sleek hair 00:20:30.569 --> 00:20:33.299 coat. It's derived from heat -tolerant breeds 00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:35.759 like the Carora and Centipole. Okay, breeds adapted 00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:38.660 to hot climates. Exactly. Crosses of Criollo 00:20:38.660 --> 00:20:41.680 and Red Pole cattle originally. And that short, 00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:45.420 sleek coat is responsible for improved thermoregulation, 00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:47.880 basically. It makes it easier for the cow to 00:20:47.880 --> 00:20:50.099 dissipate heat off her skin. Makes sense. Less 00:20:50.099 --> 00:20:52.539 insulation. And there's specific practical research 00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:55.099 cited from LIC New Zealand on this, a major breeding 00:20:55.099 --> 00:20:57.660 company. Yes. The Bullbine article highlights 00:20:57.660 --> 00:21:00.119 key findings from nine years of research and 00:21:00.119 --> 00:21:02.660 breeding. work by LIC New Zealand, which has 00:21:02.660 --> 00:21:05.200 focused heavily on integrating the SLICK gene 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:07.299 into their breeding program. Nine years is a 00:21:07.299 --> 00:21:09.259 serious commitment. What did they find? Their 00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:12.240 research found that SLICK carriers, even when 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:15.019 crossed into traditional dairy breeds, had significantly 00:21:15.019 --> 00:21:18.450 lower rumen temperatures. Rumen temps. That's 00:21:18.450 --> 00:21:20.250 a good measure of core body temp, right? Very 00:21:20.250 --> 00:21:24.230 accurate indicator, yes. Lower by 0 .5 to 1 .0 00:21:24.230 --> 00:21:27.829 degrees C compared to their non -SLICK counterparts. 00:21:28.289 --> 00:21:30.529 Half a degree to a full degree Celsius lower. 00:21:30.730 --> 00:21:33.069 And crucially, this significant temperature difference 00:21:33.069 --> 00:21:35.690 was observed specifically when the THI exceeded 00:21:35.690 --> 00:21:38.890 73. right when the heat stress is really kicking 00:21:38.890 --> 00:21:41.089 in. That might sound like a small number, half 00:21:41.089 --> 00:21:43.289 a degree or a degree, but the article implies 00:21:43.289 --> 00:21:45.829 it's incredibly significant physiologically. 00:21:46.089 --> 00:21:48.250 It is huge for an animal trying to manage heat 00:21:48.250 --> 00:21:50.710 load. That seemingly small difference in core 00:21:50.710 --> 00:21:53.569 body temperature translates directly into reduced 00:21:53.569 --> 00:21:56.130 physiological stress. So they can put more energy 00:21:56.130 --> 00:21:58.640 into making milk. not just staying cool. Exactly. 00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:01.180 Allows the animal to allocate more energy to 00:22:01.180 --> 00:22:04.079 production and health rather than solely to thermoregulation. 00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:06.680 It makes a real difference in their ability to 00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:09.940 cope. And LIC has made significant progress integrating 00:22:09.940 --> 00:22:12.980 this. They haven't had to heavily backcross with 00:22:12.980 --> 00:22:17.000 low -producing, heat -tolerant breeds to get 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:19.220 this trade, have they? That's always the worry. 00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:21.819 No, and that's the key success the article highlights 00:22:21.819 --> 00:22:25.569 for LIC. After nine years of breeding, They state 00:22:25.569 --> 00:22:28.329 they now have S -L -I -C -K sires with breeding 00:22:28.329 --> 00:22:30.410 worth approaching that of the very best high 00:22:30.410 --> 00:22:32.849 production dairy sires in the New Zealand industry. 00:22:33.089 --> 00:22:35.509 Wow. So top production and the S -L -I -C -K 00:22:35.509 --> 00:22:37.890 gene. And they've achieved this with minimal 00:22:37.890 --> 00:22:40.309 centipole gene content in the resulting animals, 00:22:40.490 --> 00:22:44.609 averaging only 132nd. Only one 32nd centipole. 00:22:44.670 --> 00:22:46.829 That's tiny. Very small genetic contribution 00:22:46.829 --> 00:22:49.329 from the original source breed. So you're getting 00:22:49.329 --> 00:22:51.529 the significant heat tolerance benefit of the 00:22:51.529 --> 00:22:54.769 SLICK gene without introducing a large amount 00:22:54.769 --> 00:22:57.509 of genetics from a less productive non -traditional 00:22:57.509 --> 00:23:00.230 dairy breed. That addresses a major concern dairy 00:23:00.230 --> 00:23:02.130 producers would have. Absolutely. The article 00:23:02.130 --> 00:23:04.309 frames this as powerful proof that you don't 00:23:04.309 --> 00:23:06.650 necessarily have to make a stark choice and sacrifice 00:23:06.650 --> 00:23:08.730 production potential for thermal resilience. 00:23:08.990 --> 00:23:10.730 It can be integrated. It is a treat that can 00:23:10.730 --> 00:23:12.680 be effectively integrated. into high performing 00:23:12.680 --> 00:23:15.200 genetic lines through careful selection and breeding 00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:18.059 programs. It offers a genuine path forward for 00:23:18.059 --> 00:23:20.539 building more resilient herds. The article also 00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:23.460 mentions that SLICK isn't the only genetic solution 00:23:23.460 --> 00:23:26.099 being identified. There are other markers too. 00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:29.640 It does. Beyond the SLICK gene, the Bolvine article 00:23:29.640 --> 00:23:32.319 refers to other validated genetic markers that 00:23:32.319 --> 00:23:34.859 are showing promise. Specifically, it mentions 00:23:34.859 --> 00:23:38.859 single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs. SNPs, 00:23:38.859 --> 00:23:41.480 okay, like tiny variations in the DNA code. Exactly, 00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:46.980 in genes like TLR4, GRM8, and SM83. TLR4, GRM8, 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:50.839 SM83. What are those genes generally involved 00:23:50.839 --> 00:23:53.200 in, and how do favorable markers in them help 00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:55.779 a cow under heat stress? Well, these genes play 00:23:55.779 --> 00:23:58.059 roles in fundamental biological processes that 00:23:58.059 --> 00:24:00.859 are disrupted by heat stress. For example, TLR4 00:24:00.859 --> 00:24:02.960 is involved in immune responses and detecting 00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:05.079 pathogens. And heat stress suppresses immunity, 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:07.599 so that makes sense. Right. Certain TLR4 variants 00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:10.440 might help modulate that response better. GRM8 00:24:10.440 --> 00:24:12.440 is linked to brain function and metabolic regulation, 00:24:12.700 --> 00:24:15.259 both of which go haywire under heat stress. And 00:24:15.259 --> 00:24:18.579 SMAD3 is involved in cell growth and differentiation, 00:24:19.160 --> 00:24:21.680 processes vital for maintaining tissue health 00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:24.539 and function. The research cited indicates that 00:24:24.539 --> 00:24:28.180 cows with favorable variations, these SMPs, in 00:24:28.180 --> 00:24:31.220 these specific genes demonstrate a better ability 00:24:31.220 --> 00:24:33.619 to manage the physiological stress response. 00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:35.940 So they're predictors. They are predictors of 00:24:35.940 --> 00:24:38.460 both milk production potential and the ability 00:24:38.460 --> 00:24:40.839 to cope with thermal challenge in heat -stressed 00:24:40.839 --> 00:24:44.259 Holsteins. So cows with these specific favorable 00:24:44.259 --> 00:24:47.890 markers have like An internal advantage when 00:24:47.890 --> 00:24:50.509 it gets hot. Precisely. The research shows that 00:24:50.509 --> 00:24:53.250 heat -stressed Holstein cows carrying these favorable 00:24:53.250 --> 00:24:56.049 markers were more effective at reducing their 00:24:56.049 --> 00:24:58.210 rectal temperature and respiration rate compared 00:24:58.210 --> 00:25:00.730 to herd mates without them. Lower temp, lower 00:25:00.730 --> 00:25:02.690 breathing rate. By keeping their core temperature 00:25:02.690 --> 00:25:05.210 and respiratory effort lower, they were better 00:25:05.210 --> 00:25:07.710 able to maintain adequate milk production levels 00:25:07.710 --> 00:25:10.309 even when facing significant thermal challenges. 00:25:10.769 --> 00:25:13.130 So it's about having the right genetic tools 00:25:13.130 --> 00:25:15.789 to manage the internal chaos heat stress creates. 00:25:15.980 --> 00:25:18.839 OK, so genetics offers a powerful piece of the 00:25:18.839 --> 00:25:21.920 puzzle, giving cows the internal ability to cope 00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:24.500 better. But the bullvine article makes another 00:25:24.500 --> 00:25:27.519 potentially uncomfortable point, one that circles 00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:32.619 back that $31 ,000 loss example. Ah, yes. Genetics 00:25:32.619 --> 00:25:35.140 isn't a silver bullet on its own, maybe. And 00:25:35.140 --> 00:25:37.319 perhaps our investment priorities on farms are 00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:39.940 a bit off. This is where the article shifts focus 00:25:39.940 --> 00:25:42.779 and introduces another challenging reality. It 00:25:42.779 --> 00:25:45.079 argues that despite the excitement around genetic 00:25:45.079 --> 00:25:47.200 solutions, which are definitely part of the future, 00:25:47.339 --> 00:25:49.740 spending heavily on genetic testing and high 00:25:49.740 --> 00:25:52.740 GEB semen, especially if you're not specifically 00:25:52.740 --> 00:25:55.339 looking for heat tolerance markers, right, with 00:25:55.339 --> 00:25:57.319 potentially uncertain outcomes regarding heat 00:25:57.319 --> 00:25:59.279 tolerance, if you're not selecting for it or 00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:01.759 managing the environment, that spending is not 00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:05.450 necessarily a better investment than proven effective 00:26:05.450 --> 00:26:08.150 cooling infrastructure. And the article uses 00:26:08.150 --> 00:26:10.410 a pretty blunt phrase here. It says most operations 00:26:10.410 --> 00:26:14.009 manage heat stress like it's 1995. Ouch. It's 00:26:14.009 --> 00:26:16.009 a blunt assessment. Yeah. But the article uses 00:26:16.009 --> 00:26:18.329 it to make a point about how much farm level 00:26:18.329 --> 00:26:20.410 heat abatement practices have lagged behind. 00:26:20.470 --> 00:26:22.920 Lagged behind the science. Both the science of 00:26:22.920 --> 00:26:25.359 heat stress and the advancements in cooling technology. 00:26:26.019 --> 00:26:28.960 Many farms are still relying on outdated fan 00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:32.119 placements, simple sprinkling systems, or maybe 00:26:32.119 --> 00:26:34.440 only reacting once cows are clearly distressed. 00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:36.480 While at the same time, maybe spending big on 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:39.420 genetics. Right. investing significant capital 00:26:39.420 --> 00:26:41.539 in genetic technologies focused on production 00:26:41.539 --> 00:26:44.019 without fully addressing the environmental conditions 00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:46.640 that will limit that genetic potential. And the 00:26:46.640 --> 00:26:49.559 article argues the economic reality, the ROI, 00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:54.460 is much clearer for cooling. Yes. It states emphatically 00:26:54.460 --> 00:26:57.539 that comprehensive, well -designed cooling infrastructure 00:26:57.539 --> 00:27:00.740 delivers measurable, significant, and relatively 00:27:00.740 --> 00:27:03.599 rapid returns. Where do those returns come from? 00:27:03.640 --> 00:27:06.450 Just the milk? It's the avoided losses, not just 00:27:06.450 --> 00:27:08.569 the immediate milk production loss, but also 00:27:08.569 --> 00:27:10.950 significant reproductive losses. Think reduced 00:27:10.950 --> 00:27:13.829 conception rates, increased embryo loss and health 00:27:13.829 --> 00:27:15.589 losses, too. Like what kind of health losses? 00:27:15.809 --> 00:27:18.869 Higher incidence of laminitis, mastitis, displaced 00:27:18.869 --> 00:27:21.849 abomasums, things often linked to the systemic 00:27:21.849 --> 00:27:24.970 stress of heat. The article contrasts this clearer 00:27:24.970 --> 00:27:28.589 ROI from cooling with the often uncertain outcomes 00:27:28.589 --> 00:27:31.769 of some genetic strategies when they aren't supported 00:27:31.769 --> 00:27:34.680 by the right environment. Investing in proven 00:27:34.680 --> 00:27:37.059 cooling tech provides a more predictable return 00:27:37.059 --> 00:27:39.740 because you're directly tackling the environmental 00:27:39.740 --> 00:27:42.140 stressor. So it's not just about having more 00:27:42.140 --> 00:27:45.460 fans and water, then. It's about smart, strategic 00:27:45.460 --> 00:27:48.720 cooling. Absolutely. The article emphasizes that 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:51.039 effective cooling isn't just about buying more 00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:54.170 equipment. It's about strategic placement. timing, 00:27:54.309 --> 00:27:57.089 and utilizing advanced techniques, what it calls 00:27:57.089 --> 00:28:00.190 precision cooling. Not just random fans and constant 00:28:00.190 --> 00:28:02.869 sprinklers. Right. Simply adding more fans in 00:28:02.869 --> 00:28:05.069 random locations or running sprinklers continuously 00:28:05.069 --> 00:28:07.930 isn't necessarily efficient or maximally effective. 00:28:08.289 --> 00:28:10.390 Gives us specific detail about advanced soaking 00:28:10.390 --> 00:28:13.140 systems, right? Highlighting efficiency. Yes. 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:15.400 It highlights that modern advanced soaking systems 00:28:15.400 --> 00:28:18.119 can significantly reduce water usage compared 00:28:18.119 --> 00:28:21.559 to traditional methods, often by 50 -70%. 50 00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:24.440 -70 % less water. That's huge. Crucial, yeah. 00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:26.920 Not just for cost and water availability, but 00:28:26.920 --> 00:28:29.259 also for managing bedding, moisture, and hygiene. 00:28:29.559 --> 00:28:31.460 And how they achieve that efficiency? Through 00:28:31.460 --> 00:28:34.880 a precision cycling technique. Instead of continuous 00:28:34.880 --> 00:28:37.940 sprinkling, it involves short, intense soaking 00:28:37.940 --> 00:28:41.480 periods, typically just 30 -45 seconds. Just 00:28:41.480 --> 00:28:44.000 30 -45 seconds, that's it. Enough to thoroughly 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:46.700 wet the cow's coat down to the skin. This is 00:28:46.700 --> 00:28:49.539 immediately followed by a much longer fan -only 00:28:49.539 --> 00:28:52.819 drying period, usually 4 -5 minutes. Okay, soak 00:28:52.819 --> 00:28:56.000 quick, then dry long with fans. Why is that cycling 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:58.440 better than just keeping them wet? The article 00:28:58.440 --> 00:29:00.579 explains the cooling comes from evaporation. 00:29:01.160 --> 00:29:03.099 By thoroughly wetting the cow and then providing 00:29:03.099 --> 00:29:05.900 strong airflow, you maximize evaporative cooling. 00:29:06.180 --> 00:29:09.259 The fan -only period allows significant evaporation 00:29:09.259 --> 00:29:12.099 to occur, carrying heat away from the cow's skin. 00:29:12.440 --> 00:29:14.180 Ah, so the drying phase is actually where the 00:29:14.180 --> 00:29:16.259 cooling really happens. That's the key phase 00:29:16.259 --> 00:29:18.640 for heat removal. It also allows her coat to 00:29:18.640 --> 00:29:21.640 dry somewhat before the next soak cycle. Continuous 00:29:21.640 --> 00:29:23.920 sprinkling can saturate the hair coat and the 00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:26.299 surrounding air, reducing the evaporative potential. 00:29:26.700 --> 00:29:28.759 Making it muggy and less effective. Exactly. 00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:31.519 It actually hinders cooling. The cycling ensures 00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:33.799 you're maximizing the cooling benefit of evaporation 00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:35.920 with minimal water use and avoiding excessive 00:29:35.920 --> 00:29:38.779 humidity buildup around the cow. And the analysis 00:29:38.779 --> 00:29:40.960 here circles back to the core premise of the 00:29:40.960 --> 00:29:44.400 article. Waiting for visible panting to turn 00:29:44.400 --> 00:29:46.279 on the cooling means you've already lost money. 00:29:46.400 --> 00:29:49.019 You're already behind. The article reiterates 00:29:49.019 --> 00:29:51.440 this crucial point. By the time you see a cow 00:29:51.440 --> 00:29:54.279 panting heavily, seeking shade, or dramatically 00:29:54.279 --> 00:29:57.099 reducing feed intake, the physiological disruptions 00:29:57.099 --> 00:29:59.559 we discussed earlier, the electrolyte imbalances, 00:29:59.619 --> 00:30:02.940 the acid -base chaos, the hormonal stress responses, 00:30:03.119 --> 00:30:05.599 they're already well underway. Production is 00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:07.920 already dropping, fertility is already compromised, 00:30:08.279 --> 00:30:10.559 and her health is already potentially impacted. 00:30:10.700 --> 00:30:13.039 So you've to be proactive. Effective cooling, 00:30:13.160 --> 00:30:15.519 especially with precision systems, needs to be 00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:18.619 proactive. Activated based on environmental indicators 00:30:18.619 --> 00:30:21.859 like THI hitting 68 degrees error or just above, 00:30:22.059 --> 00:30:25.559 not reactive based on visible symptoms, you have 00:30:25.559 --> 00:30:27.640 to get ahead of the stress. Okay, so genetics 00:30:27.640 --> 00:30:30.240 offers internal help. Smart cooling addresses 00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:32.920 the external environment. But the article also 00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:35.920 introduces the crucial role of technology, seeing 00:30:35.920 --> 00:30:38.400 things your eyes can't, getting an early warning. 00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:40.519 This is where the promise of modern monitoring 00:30:40.519 --> 00:30:43.480 technology comes in. The article asks a compelling 00:30:43.480 --> 00:30:47.259 question. What if you could reliably detect thermal 00:30:47.259 --> 00:30:49.920 stress in your cows? Before you see it. Yeah, 00:30:49.960 --> 00:30:52.980 12 or even 24 hours before they show any outwardly 00:30:52.980 --> 00:30:55.779 visible symptoms like panting or reduced activity. 00:30:56.119 --> 00:30:58.440 That would be a game changer for implementing 00:30:58.440 --> 00:31:01.059 proactive cooling or other management interventions. 00:31:01.759 --> 00:31:04.400 Definitely. It absolutely would. And the article 00:31:04.400 --> 00:31:06.779 discusses recent advances in sensor technologies 00:31:06.779 --> 00:31:08.720 that are making this possible right now. What 00:31:08.720 --> 00:31:10.980 kind of sensors? We're talking about non -invasive 00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:14.579 or minimally invasive wearable devices like collars 00:31:14.579 --> 00:31:17.839 or ear tags and even internal rumen boluses that 00:31:17.839 --> 00:31:20.339 provide real -time monitoring. Rumen boluses. 00:31:20.420 --> 00:31:22.640 Wow. Measuring from the inside out. Exactly. 00:31:23.180 --> 00:31:25.779 These devices, combined with wireless transmission 00:31:25.779 --> 00:31:28.720 systems, can provide a constant stream of data 00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:31.400 about individual animals. What kind of data are 00:31:31.400 --> 00:31:33.880 these technologies collecting that gives us this 00:31:33.880 --> 00:31:36.259 early warning? What are they measuring? The source 00:31:36.259 --> 00:31:38.740 mentions several key data points. Body surface 00:31:38.740 --> 00:31:41.640 temperature, respiration rate, changes in eating 00:31:41.640 --> 00:31:43.960 and drinking patterns, overall activity levels, 00:31:44.259 --> 00:31:46.920 rumination activity. Rumen contractions. Right, 00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:49.599 and core body temperature via those rumen boluses. 00:31:49.980 --> 00:31:53.119 These provide a window into the cow's physiological 00:31:53.119 --> 00:31:55.940 state beyond just looking at her from a distance. 00:31:56.240 --> 00:31:59.400 And based on the research cited, which of those 00:31:59.400 --> 00:32:01.759 are considered the best early indicators? The 00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:04.359 first signs. The article highlights body surface 00:32:04.359 --> 00:32:06.920 temperature, measured by external sensors and 00:32:06.920 --> 00:32:09.500 respiration rate. Why those two? Because of their 00:32:09.500 --> 00:32:11.559 high fusibility of measurement on a large scale 00:32:11.559 --> 00:32:14.059 and their sensitivity, they react quickly to 00:32:14.059 --> 00:32:16.579 rising thermal load before other, more visible 00:32:16.579 --> 00:32:19.400 symptoms appear. So changes in skin temp and 00:32:19.400 --> 00:32:21.359 breathing rate often happen before they stop 00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:24.440 ruminating or look obviously distressed. That 00:32:24.440 --> 00:32:27.059 seems to be the case, yeah. They often precede 00:32:27.059 --> 00:32:29.599 drops in rumination or activity or noticeable 00:32:29.599 --> 00:32:32.430 panting. And the real power comes from integrating 00:32:32.430 --> 00:32:34.990 this technology, right? Combining animal data 00:32:34.990 --> 00:32:39.450 with environmental data, like THI. Yes. The article 00:32:39.450 --> 00:32:41.509 mentions combining these animal -based sensor 00:32:41.509 --> 00:32:43.730 data streams with environmental data from barn 00:32:43.730 --> 00:32:46.890 sensors using Internet of Things or IoT technologies. 00:32:46.890 --> 00:32:50.210 IoT, connecting everything. to create comprehensive 00:32:50.210 --> 00:32:53.450 data -driven strategies. These strategies are 00:32:53.450 --> 00:32:55.569 based on using both animal -based indicators, 00:32:55.789 --> 00:32:57.869 the cow's internal and external physiological 00:32:57.869 --> 00:33:00.529 responses, and environment -based indicators 00:33:00.529 --> 00:33:04.049 like THI, airflow, etc. together. So you get 00:33:04.049 --> 00:33:06.789 the full picture. Right. This integrated approach 00:33:06.789 --> 00:33:09.910 significantly increases the precision and timeliness 00:33:09.910 --> 00:33:13.150 of early heat stress detection. It allows for 00:33:13.150 --> 00:33:15.519 targeted intervention. Like cooling just one 00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:18.440 pen that needs it. Exactly. Maybe even triggering 00:33:18.440 --> 00:33:21.400 fans or sprinklers in a specific pen based on 00:33:21.400 --> 00:33:23.920 those cows' detected stress levels rather than 00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:26.359 just the overall barn temperature. So technology 00:33:26.359 --> 00:33:28.839 can give us a powerful, proactive early warning 00:33:28.839 --> 00:33:31.720 system that goes far beyond just looking at a 00:33:31.720 --> 00:33:34.259 thermometer. But the article includes an important 00:33:34.259 --> 00:33:36.259 caveat, doesn't it? Something crucial to remember. 00:33:36.670 --> 00:33:38.670 That's a critical point the article makes. It 00:33:38.670 --> 00:33:40.589 notes that while these technologies are promising, 00:33:40.910 --> 00:33:43.430 the specific thresholds they use to trigger alerts 00:33:43.430 --> 00:33:45.869 or interventions often need careful consideration. 00:33:45.970 --> 00:33:48.509 They aren't always plug and play. Not necessarily. 00:33:48.829 --> 00:33:50.930 These thresholds are typically developed under 00:33:50.930 --> 00:33:53.730 specific experimental conditions using a particular 00:33:53.730 --> 00:33:56.549 group of animals. The article stresses that further 00:33:56.549 --> 00:33:59.150 studies are required to truly evaluate and customize 00:33:59.150 --> 00:34:01.250 these thresholds based on different influencing 00:34:01.250 --> 00:34:03.789 factors specific to your particular farm. Like 00:34:03.789 --> 00:34:06.630 breed, stage of lactation, housing. Exactly. 00:34:06.650 --> 00:34:09.690 Things like your breed of cow, their stage of 00:34:09.690 --> 00:34:12.789 lacation, age, housing type, management practices, 00:34:12.909 --> 00:34:16.030 and your specific regional climate all play a 00:34:16.030 --> 00:34:19.110 role. So you can't necessarily just install a 00:34:19.110 --> 00:34:22.309 system and assume the default settings are perfect 00:34:22.309 --> 00:34:24.849 for your cows and your farm. The article implies 00:34:24.849 --> 00:34:27.789 it's not necessarily a one -size -fits -all solution 00:34:27.789 --> 00:34:30.630 right out of the box. Maximizing its effectiveness 00:34:30.630 --> 00:34:33.070 requires understanding how those thresholds were 00:34:33.070 --> 00:34:35.329 derived and potentially working to calibrate 00:34:35.329 --> 00:34:37.909 or adjust them based on how your specific herd 00:34:37.909 --> 00:34:40.050 responds under your conditions. It requires a 00:34:40.050 --> 00:34:42.010 partnership between the tech and your farm knowledge. 00:34:42.190 --> 00:34:44.710 Well put. That adds a necessary piece of nuance 00:34:44.710 --> 00:34:47.309 to the tech conversation. Now the article moves 00:34:47.309 --> 00:34:49.409 into perhaps the most challenging and for many 00:34:49.409 --> 00:34:52.050 uncomfortable part. The reality of farm size, 00:34:52.309 --> 00:34:54.650 consolidation in the dairy industry, and how 00:34:54.650 --> 00:34:57.530 heat stress is acting as a systematic force, 00:34:57.710 --> 00:35:00.449 disadvantaging small farms. This section of the 00:35:00.449 --> 00:35:03.449 Bullvine article is quite stark, yeah. It presents 00:35:03.449 --> 00:35:05.610 a difficult truth about the structure of the 00:35:05.610 --> 00:35:07.989 American dairy industry. It argues that heat 00:35:07.989 --> 00:35:10.190 stress isn't just environmental and biological, 00:35:10.550 --> 00:35:13.329 it's also economic. And it hits smaller farms 00:35:13.329 --> 00:35:16.760 harder. disproportionately impacts smaller operations, 00:35:17.079 --> 00:35:19.820 yes, acting as a driver of consolidation. And 00:35:19.820 --> 00:35:22.119 it goes back to that extensive University of 00:35:22.119 --> 00:35:24.320 Illinois research again to back this up. Yes, 00:35:24.340 --> 00:35:27.360 it reiterates a key finding from that large data 00:35:27.360 --> 00:35:29.599 set we talked about earlier. While the average 00:35:29.599 --> 00:35:31.780 milk yield loss due to heat stress across the 00:35:31.780 --> 00:35:34.699 entire U .S. dairy industry was about 1 % annually. 00:35:34.940 --> 00:35:37.199 Okay, 1 % average loss. That loss wasn't evenly 00:35:37.199 --> 00:35:40.000 distributed. Smaller farms, defined in the study 00:35:40.000 --> 00:35:42.800 by herd size, experienced nearly twice this loss 00:35:42.800 --> 00:35:45.599 on average. Twice, so around 1 .6%. Around 1 00:35:45.599 --> 00:35:49.300 .6 % annually, yeah. Large operations, by contrast, 00:35:49.639 --> 00:35:52.260 averaged closer to that 1 % mark. So smaller 00:35:52.260 --> 00:35:54.739 farms are losing a significantly larger percentage 00:35:54.739 --> 00:35:57.000 of their potential production to heat stress 00:35:57.000 --> 00:36:00.690 compared to larger ones. The article quantifies 00:36:00.690 --> 00:36:04.610 that 1 .6 % loss in a very impactful way. It 00:36:04.610 --> 00:36:06.769 puts it in very relatable terms that hit home. 00:36:06.869 --> 00:36:11.289 A 1 .6 % annual milk yield loss for a farm is 00:36:11.289 --> 00:36:14.449 equivalent to operating unpaid for nearly six 00:36:14.449 --> 00:36:17.710 full days out of the year solely because their 00:36:17.710 --> 00:36:20.409 kis are overheated. Wow. Think about running 00:36:20.409 --> 00:36:23.650 your entire operation, labor, feed, utilities, 00:36:23.750 --> 00:36:26.510 everything for six days and getting zero milk 00:36:26.510 --> 00:36:28.949 check for it. purely due to heat stress impact. 00:36:29.050 --> 00:36:30.690 That's an incredibly visceral way to think about 00:36:30.690 --> 00:36:33.750 it. Six days of work, unpaid, every year. And 00:36:33.750 --> 00:36:35.530 the core reason for this disparity, according 00:36:35.530 --> 00:36:37.530 to the article, comes down to money. capital 00:36:37.530 --> 00:36:39.710 access. Precisely. The article identifies the 00:36:39.710 --> 00:36:41.949 capital barrier as the primary driver of this 00:36:41.949 --> 00:36:44.710 disparity. Large operations with their scale 00:36:44.710 --> 00:36:47.269 and access to financing can justify the big investments. 00:36:47.510 --> 00:36:50.250 They can often justify and secure the capital 00:36:50.250 --> 00:36:52.590 for significant investments in comprehensive, 00:36:52.889 --> 00:36:55.010 state -of -the -art heat abatement infrastructure. 00:36:55.570 --> 00:36:58.969 The article mentions investments of $75 ,000 00:36:58.969 --> 00:37:02.650 or even much more being feasible for large dairies. 00:37:02.829 --> 00:37:06.710 75 grand or more. That's a lot. It is. Small 00:37:06.710 --> 00:37:09.150 farms, on the other hand, often struggle significantly 00:37:09.150 --> 00:37:11.730 with capital access. They operate on tighter 00:37:11.730 --> 00:37:14.130 margins, may have less collateral for loans. 00:37:14.429 --> 00:37:16.030 And the options aren't always there for them. 00:37:16.130 --> 00:37:18.369 Well, the industry currently provides relatively 00:37:18.369 --> 00:37:22.170 few truly cost -effective yet highly effective 00:37:22.170 --> 00:37:24.650 heat abatement solutions that fit within a smaller 00:37:24.650 --> 00:37:27.190 farm's budget constraints and labor availability. 00:37:27.590 --> 00:37:30.530 So larger farms can afford to implement the proactive, 00:37:30.909 --> 00:37:33.289 precision cooling systems that mitigate losses 00:37:33.289 --> 00:37:36.550 effectively. While smaller farms are often stuck 00:37:36.550 --> 00:37:39.570 with less effective, outdated, or partial solutions 00:37:39.570 --> 00:37:42.250 because they simply can't access or afford the 00:37:42.250 --> 00:37:44.670 necessary capital investment. That's the dynamic 00:37:44.670 --> 00:37:46.530 the article describes. It's not necessarily that 00:37:46.530 --> 00:37:48.449 smaller farmers are less skilled or knowledgeable. 00:37:48.710 --> 00:37:51.230 It's an economic reality. They are facing an 00:37:51.230 --> 00:37:53.630 economic reality where effective heat stress 00:37:53.630 --> 00:37:56.849 mitigation requires significant upfront capital 00:37:56.849 --> 00:37:59.010 investment, which is a much higher hurdle for 00:37:59.010 --> 00:38:01.710 them. The article does suggest one potential 00:38:01.710 --> 00:38:04.429 avenue for support though. It mentions grants 00:38:04.429 --> 00:38:08.110 or loans. Yes. The source suggests that targeted 00:38:08.110 --> 00:38:11.269 grants or low -interest loans could be a possible 00:38:11.269 --> 00:38:14.230 mechanism to help small farms adopt the kind 00:38:14.230 --> 00:38:16.449 of advanced management technologies, including 00:38:16.449 --> 00:38:19.309 cooling infrastructure. Help them level the playing 00:38:19.309 --> 00:38:21.750 field a bit? Allow them to better cope with heat 00:38:21.750 --> 00:38:24.570 stress and maintain competitiveness. However, 00:38:24.809 --> 00:38:27.650 this is presented as a potential solution, not 00:38:27.650 --> 00:38:29.650 something widely available right now. Right. 00:38:29.730 --> 00:38:32.250 But the overall picture the article paints is 00:38:32.250 --> 00:38:35.460 that this cost differential in Effectively managing 00:38:35.460 --> 00:38:39.280 heat stress is a significant, perhaps accelerating, 00:38:39.519 --> 00:38:41.820 force -driving consolidation. And fundamentally 00:38:41.820 --> 00:38:44.400 reshaping the American dairy landscape. Yeah. 00:38:44.480 --> 00:38:47.079 The article poses the challenging question derived 00:38:47.079 --> 00:38:50.639 from this finding. It asks, are we as an industry 00:38:50.639 --> 00:38:53.559 creating a system where only large corporate 00:38:53.559 --> 00:38:56.920 dairies can truly afford to implement the measures 00:38:56.920 --> 00:38:59.980 necessary to keep their cows cool and maintain 00:38:59.980 --> 00:39:01.940 profitability under increasing environmental 00:39:01.940 --> 00:39:04.820 pressure? It's presenting that as a finding and 00:39:04.820 --> 00:39:07.139 a critical question, not taking sides. Exactly. 00:39:07.619 --> 00:39:09.920 Highlighting how climate vulnerability and the 00:39:09.920 --> 00:39:12.940 economics of mitigation are interacting to influence 00:39:12.940 --> 00:39:16.099 the future structure of dairy farming. It's presented 00:39:16.099 --> 00:39:18.679 as an observed trend and a question to ponder. 00:39:18.800 --> 00:39:20.659 Okay, wow. We've covered a lot of ground from 00:39:20.659 --> 00:39:22.639 this Bullvine article. We really have. Let's 00:39:22.639 --> 00:39:27.460 recap quickly. Shockingly low real heat stress 00:39:27.460 --> 00:39:30.559 threshold at 68 THI. Not 80. Big difference. 00:39:30.820 --> 00:39:33.500 The massive immediate economic cost, that 31K 00:39:33.500 --> 00:39:36.039 example. From milk loss, yeah. The internal physiological 00:39:36.039 --> 00:39:38.460 damage, acid -base electrolytes. The whole system 00:39:38.460 --> 00:39:40.380 gets disrupted. The uncomfortable truth about 00:39:40.380 --> 00:39:42.780 how genetics bred for production increase vulnerability. 00:39:43.280 --> 00:39:45.139 A double -edged sword. But then the promise of 00:39:45.139 --> 00:39:47.500 using genetics for tolerance with genes like 00:39:47.500 --> 00:39:50.840 SLICK and other markers like TLR4. Showing we 00:39:50.840 --> 00:39:53.219 can breed for resilience too. The essential. 00:39:53.710 --> 00:39:56.730 an often underinvested role of smart precision 00:39:56.730 --> 00:39:59.969 cooling. More than just fans doing it right. 00:40:00.150 --> 00:40:02.469 The potential of technology for early warning 00:40:02.469 --> 00:40:05.130 systems, the sensors. Seeing stress before our 00:40:05.130 --> 00:40:07.690 eyes, Cam. And finally, this pressure heat stress 00:40:07.690 --> 00:40:11.539 puts on small farms driving consolidation. That's 00:40:11.539 --> 00:40:13.739 a comprehensive picture of a significant challenge. 00:40:13.940 --> 00:40:15.760 It really pulls together all these interconnected 00:40:15.760 --> 00:40:19.019 pieces, environment, biology, economics, technology, 00:40:19.300 --> 00:40:21.699 genetics, to paint a full picture of why heat 00:40:21.699 --> 00:40:23.940 stress is far more than just an inconvenience. 00:40:24.119 --> 00:40:26.219 And the article makes it abundantly clear that 00:40:26.219 --> 00:40:28.500 this isn't a problem that's going away. If anything, 00:40:28.619 --> 00:40:31.099 it's getting worse. Right. It reiterates the 00:40:31.099 --> 00:40:33.719 source's point about climate reality. We are 00:40:33.719 --> 00:40:36.559 already experiencing and will continue to experience 00:40:36.559 --> 00:40:39.599 an increasing frequency and intensity of heat 00:40:39.599 --> 00:40:42.659 stress days in many dairy regions. It mentions 00:40:42.659 --> 00:40:44.840 some pretty stark projections. Yeah, specifically 00:40:44.840 --> 00:40:47.980 projections of 100 to 300 annual heat stress 00:40:47.980 --> 00:40:52.260 days in key dairy areas by 2050. 100 to 300 days 00:40:52.260 --> 00:40:54.980 a year. Wow. And potential milk yield losses 00:40:54.980 --> 00:40:57.519 increasing by as much as 30 % within the next 00:40:57.519 --> 00:41:00.099 25 years if mitigation strategies don't improve. 00:41:00.420 --> 00:41:04.300 A 30 % increase in losses. These are not factors 00:41:04.300 --> 00:41:06.760 you can ignore or wish away. Not at all. The 00:41:06.760 --> 00:41:08.719 article concludes that building thermal resilience 00:41:08.719 --> 00:41:11.400 into your operation is no longer optional. It's 00:41:11.400 --> 00:41:13.820 becoming fundamental. Fundamental to sustain 00:41:13.820 --> 00:41:16.340 survival and competitiveness in a changing climate. 00:41:16.480 --> 00:41:19.239 It's becoming a prerequisite for thriving, not 00:41:19.239 --> 00:41:21.480 just scraping by. And the Bullvine article wraps 00:41:21.480 --> 00:41:25.099 up by giving you, the listener, a clear, actionable 00:41:25.099 --> 00:41:27.679 plan based on the insights it has uncovered. 00:41:27.980 --> 00:41:30.139 What are those key takeaways, those concrete 00:41:30.139 --> 00:41:33.300 steps you can take? The article lists five crucial 00:41:33.300 --> 00:41:35.539 actions that forward -thinking dairy operations 00:41:35.539 --> 00:41:37.920 should be taking based on the science and economics 00:41:37.920 --> 00:41:40.539 presented. Okay, number one. One, challenge your 00:41:40.539 --> 00:41:43.679 genetic selection strategy. Demand data on heat 00:41:43.679 --> 00:41:46.119 tolerance from your breeding companies. Don't 00:41:46.119 --> 00:41:48.559 just look at production. Prioritize incorporating 00:41:48.559 --> 00:41:51.760 thermoregulation traits like SLICK alongside 00:41:51.760 --> 00:41:54.139 traditional production traits. Don't chase production 00:41:54.139 --> 00:41:57.480 in isolation. Got it. Two. Two, calculate your 00:41:57.480 --> 00:42:01.010 thermal losses honestly. Use THI data and your 00:42:01.010 --> 00:42:03.750 farm records to rigorously quantify your production, 00:42:03.809 --> 00:42:06.170 reproductive, and health losses that occur during 00:42:06.170 --> 00:42:08.690 heat stress, even at those lower thresholds like 00:42:08.690 --> 00:42:12.809 68, 70 degrees, 8 HI. Know your real cost of 00:42:12.809 --> 00:42:14.869 inaction. Put a real number on it for your farm. 00:42:14.929 --> 00:42:17.949 Okay, three. Three. Invest strategically in precision 00:42:17.949 --> 00:42:21.940 cooling with proven ROI. Move beyond basic, outdated 00:42:21.940 --> 00:42:24.900 systems. Implement strategic, high -efficiency 00:42:24.900 --> 00:42:27.639 fan and sprinkler systems, particularly focusing 00:42:27.639 --> 00:42:30.920 on precision cycling and placement. Recognize 00:42:30.920 --> 00:42:33.159 the measurable return through avoided losses. 00:42:33.539 --> 00:42:40.599 4. Implement early warning monitoring. Explore 00:42:40.599 --> 00:42:42.980 and implement sensor technologies that can provide 00:42:42.980 --> 00:42:45.920 real -time data and alerts. Detect thermal stress 00:42:45.920 --> 00:42:48.440 before visible symptoms appear and trigger cooling 00:42:48.440 --> 00:42:50.619 proactively. Use tech to get ahead of it. And 00:42:50.619 --> 00:42:53.079 the last one, number five. Five. Protect genetic 00:42:53.079 --> 00:42:55.380 investments systematically. This is crucial and 00:42:55.380 --> 00:42:57.679 often overlooked. Ensure comprehensive heat abatement 00:42:57.679 --> 00:43:00.820 specifically for dry cows. Dry cows. Why them 00:43:00.820 --> 00:43:02.760 specifically? Is this the generational thing? 00:43:02.980 --> 00:43:06.940 Yes. Prevent the epigenetic damage that sabotages 00:43:06.940 --> 00:43:09.239 the lifetime productivity of their future daughters. 00:43:09.800 --> 00:43:13.059 Dry cow cooling is not a luxury. It's safeguarding 00:43:13.059 --> 00:43:15.920 your future herd's potential. We didn't dive 00:43:15.920 --> 00:43:17.699 deep into the mechanism there, but the article 00:43:17.699 --> 00:43:20.500 details how heat stress on the dry cow affects 00:43:20.500 --> 00:43:23.219 mammary development, immune function, and metabolic 00:43:23.219 --> 00:43:25.719 efficiency in the daughter through epigenetic 00:43:25.719 --> 00:43:28.739 changes. Wow. So cooling dry cows protects the 00:43:28.739 --> 00:43:31.920 next generation's performance. That's huge. It 00:43:31.920 --> 00:43:34.079 mentioned reduced mammary growth and issues of 00:43:34.079 --> 00:43:36.219 prolactin receptors leading to lower production 00:43:36.219 --> 00:43:38.940 later on. Exactly. Those kinds of long -term... 00:43:39.309 --> 00:43:41.730 programmed impacts. The article quantifies it 00:43:41.730 --> 00:43:44.530 potentially costing thousands of pounds of milk 00:43:44.530 --> 00:43:46.869 over a daughter's lifetime just from being heat 00:43:46.869 --> 00:43:49.269 stressed in utero or as a calf due to mom stress. 00:43:49.590 --> 00:43:52.349 Okay, so those five actions are concrete, challenging, 00:43:52.469 --> 00:43:54.989 but actionable steps derived directly from the 00:43:54.989 --> 00:43:56.909 insights in this Bullvine article. They really 00:43:56.909 --> 00:43:59.489 are. And the article ends with a really powerful 00:43:59.489 --> 00:44:01.590 forward -looking thought, putting the ultimate 00:44:01.590 --> 00:44:04.309 choice directly to you, the listener, and framing 00:44:04.309 --> 00:44:06.780 the consequences clearly. It asks the critical 00:44:06.780 --> 00:44:09.039 question every dairy manager who wants to be 00:44:09.039 --> 00:44:12.219 competitive in the future must answer. Are you 00:44:12.219 --> 00:44:14.619 proactively building thermoresilience into your 00:44:14.619 --> 00:44:17.739 operation's fundamental DNA? Through genetics, 00:44:18.039 --> 00:44:22.119 cooling, management, tech. Exactly. Or are you 00:44:22.119 --> 00:44:24.679 gambling your herd's genetic future and your 00:44:24.679 --> 00:44:27.519 farm's profitability on increasingly unreliable 00:44:27.519 --> 00:44:30.000 weather patterns? While maybe the breeding companies 00:44:30.000 --> 00:44:31.940 profit from traits that lead to vulnerability 00:44:31.940 --> 00:44:34.400 if the environment isn't perfect. That's the 00:44:34.400 --> 00:44:37.360 provocative implication, yes. Are you investing 00:44:37.360 --> 00:44:39.780 in managing the vulnerability or just hoping 00:44:39.780 --> 00:44:41.860 for good weather? It frames the choice starkly. 00:44:42.119 --> 00:44:44.619 Invest wisely in comprehensive thermal management 00:44:44.619 --> 00:44:47.039 now, based on the real science and economics. 00:44:47.320 --> 00:44:49.820 Or watch your herd's genetic potential and your 00:44:49.820 --> 00:44:52.360 farm's hard -earned profits evaporate year after 00:44:52.360 --> 00:44:54.880 year. Potentially becoming a casualty of an industry 00:44:54.880 --> 00:44:58.059 that has, perhaps, been bred for production. 00:44:58.670 --> 00:45:01.449 At the expense of thermal consequences. The article's 00:45:01.449 --> 00:45:03.630 final point is really a call to action rooted 00:45:03.630 --> 00:45:06.010 in foresight. The operations that understand 00:45:06.010 --> 00:45:08.309 this reality and are mastering comprehensive 00:45:08.309 --> 00:45:11.050 thermal management today. They're the ones building 00:45:11.050 --> 00:45:13.449 herds for the future. They're the ones building 00:45:13.449 --> 00:45:16.150 herds that will not just survive, but thrive 00:45:16.150 --> 00:45:19.230 when others are merely struggling. They are creating 00:45:19.230 --> 00:45:22.389 a lasting generational competitive advantage. 00:45:22.849 --> 00:45:24.900 And according to the article. They'll likely 00:45:24.900 --> 00:45:26.840 be the ones setting milk prices down the road. 00:45:26.960 --> 00:45:28.980 Because they can produce more efficiently and 00:45:28.980 --> 00:45:32.460 reliably under real -world conditions. That's 00:45:32.460 --> 00:45:35.300 a powerful and perhaps uncomfortable thought 00:45:35.300 --> 00:45:38.139 to end on, but one that transforms heat stress 00:45:38.139 --> 00:45:41.239 management from just a seasonal chore you dread. 00:45:41.500 --> 00:45:44.719 Into a strategic, future -defining decision for 00:45:44.719 --> 00:45:47.000 your operation. Are you building a resilient 00:45:47.000 --> 00:45:49.599 herd for the future? Or are you leaving your 00:45:49.599 --> 00:45:51.460 genetic investments and your farm's profitability 00:45:51.460 --> 00:45:54.650 to chance and the weather? Something to really 00:45:54.650 --> 00:45:57.230 consider after diving into this insightful Bullvine 00:45:57.230 --> 00:45:59.570 article. That's a wrap on today's episode of 00:45:59.570 --> 00:46:02.590 the Bullvine Podcast. If this analysis challenged 00:46:02.590 --> 00:46:05.250 your thinking about heat stress management, you're 00:46:05.250 --> 00:46:08.110 not alone. The dairy industry's most expensive 00:46:08.110 --> 00:46:11.590 myths are the ones hiding in plain sight. Remember, 00:46:11.789 --> 00:46:14.530 climate change isn't slowing down, and thermal 00:46:14.530 --> 00:46:17.429 resilience is no longer optional. It's survival. 00:46:18.380 --> 00:46:21.019 The operations that master heat -tolerant genetics 00:46:21.019 --> 00:46:23.639 and precision cooling today will be setting milk 00:46:23.639 --> 00:46:26.079 prices while others struggle to survive another 00:46:26.079 --> 00:46:29.639 summer. For the full article with all citations 00:46:29.639 --> 00:46:33.719 and implementation details, visit www .thebullvine 00:46:33.719 --> 00:46:37.139 .com and search for Beat the Heat. You'll find 00:46:37.139 --> 00:46:39.659 our complete analysis, plus related articles 00:46:39.659 --> 00:46:42.949 on cooling strategies, genetic selection, and 00:46:42.949 --> 00:46:45.789 the economic realities facing modern dairy operations. 00:46:46.130 --> 00:46:48.210 Don't forget to subscribe to the Bullvine Podcast 00:46:48.210 --> 00:46:51.670 for more industry -challenging insights, and 00:46:51.670 --> 00:46:54.309 follow us on social media for daily updates that 00:46:54.309 --> 00:46:56.630 cut through the marketing noise to deliver the 00:46:56.630 --> 00:47:00.070 truth progressive dairy professionals need. Until 00:47:00.070 --> 00:47:02.469 next time, keep questioning the conventional 00:47:02.469 --> 00:47:05.349 wisdom. Your operation's survival may depend 00:47:05.349 --> 00:47:10.090 on it. This has been the Bullvine Podcast. Stay 00:47:10.090 --> 00:47:12.829 sharp. Stay profitable. and stay ahead of the 00:47:12.829 --> 00:47:13.190 competition.