Breaking free from the chains of the past Where
truth moves faster than a Holstein calf No law
waiting on some printed page We're charting new
ground in the digital age From genomic codes
to robot facts We cut through the noise, no hold
them back not your daddy's dairy news tonight
we're sparking Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast,
where dairy producers and industry insiders come
together for real talk about the future of dairying.
I'm your host, and today we're diving into the
numbers and the stories behind the hidden genetic
risks that are shaping herd health, profitability,
and the decisions we make in the barn every day.
If you've ever wondered... why your milk checks
aren't growing as fast as your herd's genetic
merit, or if you're questioning whether chasing
the highest genomic proofs is really paying off,
you're in the right place. We'll break down the
latest research, share practical insights from
producers across North America, and give you
the tools you need to make smarter breeding decisions,
without the jargon. So grab a cup of coffee,
settle in, and let's get started with this week's
episode of The Bullvine. Welcome back to The
Deep Dive, the show where we unearth the most
critical insights for dairy producers. If you're
constantly chasing efficiency, battling rising
costs, and trying to get every ounce of profit
from your herd, then today's Deep Dive is definitely
for you. It absolutely is. Today, we're tackling
a really interesting feature article from The
Bullvine that, honestly, it shook me a bit when
I first read it. We're going to uncover a silent,
multi -billion dollar problem that might... be
quietly eroding your profits, even if you think
you're using the most advanced genetics available.
Yeah, we are diving into a piece titled Inbreeding's
Hidden Costs Protecting Dairy Herd Profits. Our
mission today is to reveal some truly surprising
facts about how current breeding practices, even
with the best intentions, the best tools, might
be impacting herd health and, well, your bottom
line. It's really about what your bull proofs
aren't telling you and why that matters for every
single cow in your barn. And that hidden information,
I mean, once you see it, it is game -changing.
We're talking real money, real herd performance,
and really making absolutely sure that our genetic
progress isn't coming at an unforeseen and, frankly,
an unacceptable cost. Okay, let's unpack this.
Have you ever had that nagging feeling like...
You're running faster just to stay in the same
place. You're pouring over bull proofs, chasing
those top genetic numbers. Maybe on paper your
herds never looked better, yet conception rates
might be slumping, health issues seem to creep
up, and something just doesn't quite add up to
that promised genetic leap. Yeah, that feeling.
It's not just in your head. I've heard echoed
by producers from California dry lots all the
way to Wisconsin tie stalls. It's not isolated.
It's a quiet trend, but it's pervasive. The article
calls it a multi -billion dollar genetic reckoning.
It suggests there are costs here that go way
beyond just milk price or feed costs, even though,
yeah, those certainly keep us up at night. Okay,
here's where it gets really interesting and honestly
a bit shocking. Let me hit you with a number
that genuinely stopped me in my tracks. A 2020
study from Penn State. It showed that between
2011 and 2019, the U .S. Holstein industry lost
somewhere between $2 .5 and $6 billion. Wow.
Think about that. Billions. Not from market crashes,
not feed crises, but from something much more
insidious. Rising inbreeding. Quietly eroding
profits right under our noses. Just as genomic
selection was really hitting its stride. That's
an astonishing figure. Almost unbelievable when
you first hear it. And to really put it into
perspective for your operation, the American
Holstein Breeders Association quantifies it even
more precisely. They say every 1 % increase in
inbreeding costs you about... $23 per cow annually
per lactation. $23. Imagine that for a moment.
You're milking, say, 1 ,000 cows. That's $23
,000 a year lost for every single percentage
point of inbreeding your herd picks up over five
years. That's a staggering $115 ,000, enough
to replace, what, 40 solid cows? That's a direct
hit to your bottom line, and a lot of folks aren't
even aware it's happening. It really is a paradox,
isn't it? Because genomic selection, I mean,
it's been a game changer. Right. It's slash generation
intervals, you know, from maybe 5 .5 years down
to less than two. And research from the Council
on Dairy Cattle Breeding, CDCB, shows genetic
gain jumped anywhere from 12 percent to over
100 percent compared to the old progeny testing
days. It feels like rocket fuel for genetic progress.
So how can something so beneficial simultaneously
create such a huge problem? That is the million
dollar question or maybe the six billion dollar
question, right? Yeah. Because that same rocket
fuel. Well, it's speeding up progress. Has inadvertently
driven down the effective population size of
U .S. Holstein bulls. It's down to a historic
low. Just 43 to 66 animals. Yeah. Think about
that number. The genetic diversity of the world's
most dominant dairy breed is now resting on fewer
animals than most high school graduating classes.
We're concentrating our genetic base like never
before. And that creates a systemic vulnerability.
A big one. Okay, we've seen the staggering cost,
but how exactly is this inbreeding working its
silent magic? It's not just one simple number,
is it? Understanding the nuance here is absolutely
critical if you want to fight back. We've traditionally
looked at pedigree -based inbreeding. That's
like, you know, cattle genealogy. Right, pedigree
-based inbreeding. It calculates the odds an
animal inherited identical genes from a common
ancestor way back when. But here's the critical
part the article highlights. It often underestimates
what's truly happening genetically. Genomic inbreeding,
on the other hand, uses what scientists call
runs of homozygosity or ROH. Picture it like
scanning the cow's entire DNA blueprint and highlighting
these long stretches where the genetic code from
both parents is identical. It gives us a much
more precise real -time picture. A real -time
picture of the animal's actual genetic makeup,
not just the probability based on ancestors.
Exactly. And what's really fascinating is that
genomic inbreeding can distinguish between old
inbreeding, you know, stuff from way back in
the pedigree, and recent inbreeding, which comes
from repeatedly using those popular high -ranking
sires we just talked about. This distinction
is vital. Why is that distinction so important
between old and new? Well, a 2023 study from
the University of Gulf showed that this recent
inbreeding, the kind accumulating under genomic
selection, has a sharper, more detrimental impact.
It hits both production and fitness traits harder
than the older sort of traditional inbreeding
our breeds have carried for generations. Okay.
So when you're looking at your numbers, you really
want to use genomic measures if you can get them.
Absolutely. Because they give you the truest
picture of what's happening in your herd right
now. Which naturally leads to the next question.
Where do you actually find these critical numbers
for your herd? Good question. For U .S. herds,
the CDCB website Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding.
That's your primary resource. They publish current
Holstein inbreeding reports offering both pedigree
and genomic levels for AI sires. And it's a free
resource. You just need to look. Okay, CDCB for
the U .S. What about Canada? For Canadian producers,
the info is actually integrated right into their
genetic evaluation system through Lactanit. So
potentially easier to access there. That's good.
But here's an interesting point the article makes.
Most breed associations don't routinely put these
inbreeding levels front and center in their regular
communications. You often have to dig for it,
which the article argues really needs to change
if we're going to tackle this head on as an industry.
Yeah, it needs to be more visible. So when you
do dig, what do you find? Are there big differences?
You find some really interesting comparisons.
Top genomic sires, those young bulls everyone's
chasing, they're averaging around 4 -6 % inbreeding.
Okay. Proven sires, the ones with daughter data,
typically run maybe 3 -5%. Slightly lower. Slightly
lower. Now, it's really important to clarify,
these are the bulls' own inbreeding levels. The
average Holstein cow walking around today is
already at about 11 % genomic inbreeding. 11%.
Wow. So AI companies are actually managing this
to some extent. They're selecting elite bulls
that are often less inbred than the general female
population they'll be bred to. So why are the
genomic bulls still slightly higher in inbreeding
then, if they're managing it? It really comes
back to that selection intensity. When you can
identify the quote -unquote best animals at six
months old instead of waiting five years for
progeny tests, well, the temptation, the economic
pressure, is to concentrate selection on a smaller,
very elite group. Right. Get that gain faster.
Exactly. The math for immediate genetic gain
looks great until it creates these longer -term
diversity issues. The bottleneck gets tighter.
This trend also highlights some really interesting
breed differences, doesn't it? Holsteins versus
jerseys, for example. It really does. Holsteins,
like I said, average around 11 % genomic inbreeding
globally. Jerseys typically run closer to 9%.
Okay, 11 % and 9%. Doesn't sound like a massive
difference, but you're saying it has real implications.
It absolutely does. That seemingly small 2 %
difference means Holsteins bear the brunt of
that $23 per cow hit much more significantly.
Jerseys... partly because of their more regional
breeding patterns historically, and maybe less
reliance on just a handful of global superstar
sires experience less inbreeding depression.
Interesting. So smaller economic losses for them
just from that factor. Exactly. Holstein genetics
flow globally, very interconnected. Jersey breeding,
while it's international, is often a bit more
regionalized, which seems to foster more diverse
sire usage, naturally buffering things a bit.
Okay, let's bring this down to something really
practical, something you can picture on your
own farm. The article shares this compelling
tale of two neighbors, two 80 -cow Holstein herds,
both using genomic selection but with vastly
different philosophies. Yeah, it's a great illustration.
So you've got Farm A. They are laser -focused
on maximizing milk volume, just sheer pounds
in the tank. They've chased the highest -ranking
genomic bulls for milk yield, and their cows
average a really remarkable 100 pounds per day.
Sounds incredible, right? 100 pounds a day average?
Yeah, that sounds great on paper. Look at their
components. Their herd averages 4 .1 % butterfat
and 3 .0 % protein. You do the math, that works
out to about 7 .2 pounds of combined solids per
cow per day. Okay, 7 .2 pounds of solids. Now,
Farm B. Farm B takes a different approach. Their
main goal is maximizing component yield and herd
health, not just sheer volume. They strategically
select bowls based on fat and protein percentages.
Their cows average 90 pounds of milk per day,
a bit less volume on paper. 10 pounds less. 10
pounds less. But... With significantly higher
percentages, 4 .6 % butterfat and 3 .4 % protein,
they also produce 7 .2 pounds of combined solids
per cow per day. Exactly the same amount of solids
shipped as Farm A. Precisely. They're matching
Farm A on the actual product they get paid for.
But here's where it gets really profound. Think
about the difference in their daily lives, the
cows' lives. Farm bees' cows are under significantly
less metabolic stress. Right. Pushing for that
extra 10 pounds takes a toll. A huge toll. So
think about what that means. Less stress for
the cow translates directly to fewer health issues,
better fertility, easier breeding. Lower vet
bills. Lower vet bills. Cows staying in the herd
longer, probably lower cull rates. And think
about the staff. Less burnout, lower turnover.
Absolutely. A less stressful operation overall.
When you pencil it all out. Farm B is just as
profitable, very likely more profitable, running
a less stressful, more sustainable operation.
The lesson there is just incredibly clear, isn't
it? Chasing maximum milk yield isn't always the
path to maximum profit or herd health, especially
when you focus on what truly matters, pounds
of fat and protein shipped, cow well -being,
and a system that actually works for both people
and animals in the long run. And this isn't just
a nice story and anecdote. There are hard numbers
backing this up from research all over the world.
It paints a consistent picture of what inbreeding
depression actually costs you. Okay, let's get
specific. What are the direct hits? Well, for
production, every 1 % increase in inbreeding
typically knocks off 26 to 41 kilograms of milk
annually. That's, what, 57 to 90 pounds less
milk per cow per year. Per cow. Multiply that
across the herd. Exactly. And for fat and protein,
you're looking at losses of maybe one to two
kilograms each per percent inbreeding. Again,
multiply that out. It adds up fast, silently
draining profits. Okay. Production takes a hit.
What else? The article mentioned fertility. Fertility
takes the biggest hit. That's what the article
really emphasizes and what many studies show.
Calving intervals stretch out by about a quarter
of a day, 0 .25 days for every 1 % of inbreeding.
A quarter day sounds tiny, but... It sounds tiny,
but when you're already fighting to get cows
bred back on time, every single day matters to
your bottom line. Those open days are expensive.
Definitely. And then there are the hitting costs.
Yeah, the less obvious stuff, but just as costly.
Increased somatic cell counts, higher culling
rates for vague reasons, more stillbirths, and
those frustrating mystery ailments. Cows that
aren't clinically sick with something obvious,
but they just don't thrive. They don't perform
like they should on paper. Right. They're just
not doing well, cows. Exactly. And what's particularly
concerning, especially from recent research coming
out of places like Australia and Europe, is that
the inbreeding we're accumulating now under intense
genomic selection seems to be more detrimental
than the traditional inbreeding from past generations.
Why would that be? The thinking is we're making
genetic changes faster than natural selection
can comfortably keep up with. We're concentrating
not just good genes, but potentially hidden negative
ones, too, very quickly. And speaking of hidden
negatives, we can't forget the actual genetic
defects, the junk that can accumulate. Oh, yeah.
There are over 130 known genetic defects in cattle,
and that's just what we have reliable tests for.
And a lot of losses probably come from early
embryonic death, right? Cows that just seem not
to settle. Exactly. That's a huge, often invisible
cost. Organizations like Lactanet and CDCB are
tracking these and developing tests, which is
great. Most AI companies now provide carrier
status for about 22 known defects on their bulls.
Which is helpful. A good start, definitely. But
it's still a small fraction of what might be
out there lurking in the gene pool. And the real
nightmare scenario for geneticists. Is the possibility
of new influential mutations popping up. Especially
in a super popular AI sire. If a widely used
bull carries a new harmful mutation, maybe even
a mosaic one where only some sperm carry it,
that mutation can spread like wildfire through
the global population before anyone even realizes
it's there. Right, until you start seeing problems
crop up everywhere. The classic, really stark
example is Pawnee Farm Arlinda Chief. One sire,
one mutation. It's estimated to have caused over
half a million spontaneous abortions worldwide.
The economic loss. Around $420 million globally.
From one bull. From one bull. That's a really
sobering reminder of the risks we run with such
a concentrated genetic base. Okay, so we've definitely
laid out the scale of the challenge. It is a
sobering picture. But this isn't just about identifying
problems, right? It's about empowering producers
with solutions. So let's pivot. Let's talk about
some truly smart strategies that are building
genetic resilience right now in the real world.
Absolutely. Because there are solutions. One
key strategy is called optimum contribution selection
or OCS. OCS. OK, what is that exactly? It's essentially
informed genetic planning. Yeah. Taking a much
more holistic approach than just picking the
hashtag one bull. Yeah. Instead of just ranking
bulls individually. OCS analyzes an entire group
of candidate bulls together. It figures out the
optimal genetic contribution from each one. The
goal is always maximizing genetic gain, yes,
but doing it while keeping inbreeding firmly
under control across the whole herd, generation
after generation. Okay, so instead of putting
all your eggs in one genetic basket, say using
the hashtag 1TPI bull on almost everything. Right.
You might use that hashtag 1TPI bull, but maybe
only on 40 % of your herd. Then the hashtag 5
bull might go on 30%. And then you strategically
use a few others, maybe lower ranking overall,
but bringing in different sire lines to add critical
diversity. So you're still getting tremendous
genetic progress from that top tier. I feel like.
But you're not concentrating all your risk into
just one or two pedigrees. You're spreading it
out, building resilience. And does it work? Is
there proof? Yeah. The research really backs
this up. Studies, including work involving Cornell
University, have shown OCS programs can actually
achieve higher long -term genetic gain than traditional
selection methods. All while keeping those inbreeding
rates squarely in check. It's not just theory.
It's proven science. It balances that immediate
game with future sustainability. OK. OCS is one
powerful tool. What else? The article mentions
crossbreeding. Crossbreeding is another strategy
that's definitely gaining traction, especially
for commercial producers, particularly those
paid primarily on components, not just fluid
milk. Right. If fat and protein are king. Exactly.
A well -planned three -way. Cross, maybe Holstein,
Jersey, and then something like a Montbelliard
or a Brown Swiss can deliver significant measurable
improvements. You get that hybrid vigor, which
often translates to better fertility, better
health, more robustness. So healthier cows, fewer
vet visits, easier breeding, cows staying in
the herd longer. That's real money saved, real
efficiencies gained. Even if your specific market
demands purebreds, maybe it's not for you. But
for commercial operations focused on profit per
cow and herd robustness, it's definitely worth
a serious look. And gene banking. That sounds
a bit sci -fi. It might sound that way, but it's
becoming more practical. Think of it as genetic
insurance. Storing semen and embryos from diverse
animals, maybe older lines or... different breeds,
just provides vital options down the road if
current breeding trends create unforeseen problems
or if needs change. It's about keeping options
open. Okay, OCS, crossbreeding, gene banking,
these sound fantastic on paper, but we both know
the real world throws up hurdles. What are the
challenges to actually doing this? Oh, for sure,
logistics is a big one. If you commit to an OCS
program, for example, you might get a breeding
plan calling for very specific matings. Bull
A to cow 123, bull B to cow 456. Yeah, that requires
serious organization. Meticulous record keeping.
A super organized semen tank. Knowing exactly
which straw goes to which cow. It's more complex
than just using one or two main bowls. And inventory
costs, using more bowls. That's another one.
Using a more diverse group of sires often means
keeping more different bowls in your tank, which
ties up more capital in semen inventory. And
then there's the human element. Always the human
element. It takes discipline. It takes a significant
mindset shift, really. Moving away from maximizing
every single mating for immediate, short -term
milk yield. Of course, optimizing the long -term
health, production efficiency, and welfare of
the entire herd. That needs buy -in from everyone
involved. From the owner, the herd manager, the
AI technician, everyone has to be on the same
page. Absolutely. It's a team effort. Yes, here's
the encouraging news, right? Producers who have
made this transition, who've embraced these strategies.
They consistently report that, yeah, it might
be tricky at first, but it gets easier with time
and the results. They absolutely speak for themselves.
They see it in improved herd health, better longevity,
and ultimately, more sustainable profitability.
The payoff is there. Okay, looking forward then.
What's next? How is the future of genetic diversity
management shaping up? It's only getting more
sophisticated. Artificial intelligence, AI, is
starting to play a really crucial role. AI algorithms
can analyze vast amounts of data to optimize
breeding strategies, not just for gain, but simultaneously
managing inbreeding and diversity across multiple
generations. They can see complex patterns humans
might miss. That's fascinating. And sequencing.
Whole genome sequencing. It's rapidly becoming
more affordable. It's dropped from thousands
of dollars per animal down to just hundreds now.
That's a huge drop. It is. Yeah. And it means
we'll soon be much better at identifying harmful
mutations before they spread widely. through
the population. We could potentially head off
the next Pawnee Farm Arlinda Chief scenario before
it happens. Proactive rather than reactive. Exactly.
And what's truly exciting, I think, are the combined
strategies of herging. Research is looking at
using multiple approaches at the same time. Things
like combining OCS with maybe weighted selection
for rare but beneficial genes, some strategic
outcrossing, and active management of known genetic
defects. Layering the approaches. Precisely.
Early research suggests these combined, integrated
approaches might deliver the best of both worlds.
Continued, strong genetic progress with much
better, more deliberate diversity maintenance.
So what does this all boil down to for you, the
listener? It feels like we're truthfully at a
crossroads in dairy genetics. We can continue
down the path of chasing maximum short -term
genetic gain and just kind of accept the hidden
costs of genetic erosion as, well, the price
of doing business. Or we can get smarter about
how we breed our cattle. We can capture that
incredible... And the evidence is just unequivocally
clear on this. Producers who take genetic diversity
seriously, they don't sacrifice genetic progress.
Not in the long run. In fact, they optimize it
for the long haul. They're not accepting lower
profits. They're building more sustainable, more
robust operations, ultimately more competitive
advantages for their farms. That multi -billion
dollar hit the industry has already taken. It's
both a stark warning. And an incredible opportunity.
The producers who heed that warning now are going
to be the ones who capture the opportunity and
build a more resilient future for their dairies.
So here's our challenge to you, our listener.
Next time you're sitting down to select sires,
ask yourself and maybe ask your genetics advisor
some tough, specific questions. Like, what's
my herd's current inbreeding level, really? And
how is it trending? Is it going up? And how can
we apply some of these OCS principles, even in
a simplified way, to strike a healthier balance?
a balance between our genetic goals and maintaining
diversity. And maybe, what outcrossed Sires,
if any, would be suitable for my system to introduce
some fresh genetics without wrecking my overall
goals? Because the real question here, the provocative
thought the article leaves us with, isn't whether
you can afford to implement these strategies.
It's whether you can afford not to. Oof. The
smartest, most forward -thinking producers in
2025 and beyond are actively protecting their
herds and their profits by thinking beyond just
the next bull proof. They're planning for genetic
resilience. So after all that, what's the key
takeaway? If a farmer listening today only does
one thing, what should it be? Give us those actionable
insights. Okay, yeah, let's boil it down. Here
are the key takeaways to really chew on, the
immediate actions you can consider. First, stop
those silent profit leaks. Just remember that
number. Every 1 % rise in inbreeding costs you
about $23 per cow per year. 23 bucks. Action.
Check your herd's inbreeding numbers. Go to the
CDCB or LactaNet website today or ask your advisor
to pull them. Know your number. Okay, know your
number. Got it. Second, understand that genomic
testing is powerful, but it's a double -edged
sword. Yes, it boosts genetic gain like crazy,
12 to 100%. Amazing. But it's also shrinking
your genetic base fast. Action. Ask your genetics
rep for the inbreeding coefficient on every single
bull you consider buying. Aim for bulls below
the breed average if you can. That's around 11
% for Holsteins right now. Be picky about the
bull's own inbreeding. Makes sense. Third, components
consistently beat sheer volume for real ROI.
Remember the tale of two neighbors. Same solid
shipped, vastly different operations. Don't just
chase milk pounds. Action. Shift your sire selection
index, or at least how you mentally weight it,
to prioritize fat and protein percentages and
yield, not just total milk yield. Focus on what
you get paid for and the cow's health. Fourth,
diversify or pay the price down the line. Herds
using OCS principles or strategic crossbreeding
are seeing better health, lower vet bills, longer
cow lifespans. Even if daily milk isn't record
shattering, action. Maybe try OCS planning for
a portion of your herd or introduce one suitable
crossbred bull. Just observe. See how it impacts
your call rate, your vet bills, even your staff
workload and morale. Experiment a little. See
the results. Exactly. And finally, number five.
Resilience is the name of the game for 2025 and
beyond. Feed costs aren't dropping. Labor is
tight. Your genetics program has to deliver more
than just big numbers on paper. It needs to build
a robust, healthy, efficient herd that lasts.
Action. Review your entire breeding plan. Look
at it through the lens of long -term genetic
diversity and operational sustainability. Don't
get left behind focusing only on short -term
index gains. Powerful points. Build resilience.
That's the key message. Great points. And I think
that's about all the time we have for today's
Deep Dive. For more articles and insights that
matter to your dairy operation, be sure to visit
www .thebullvine .com. And don't forget to subscribe
wherever you get your Deep Dives so you don't
miss the next one. Thanks so much for listening.
That's it for this episode of the Bullvine Podcast.
We hope today's discussion gave you new ideas
and maybe a few tough questions to bring back
to your next breeding meeting. Remember, the
choices you make in your genetics program today
will shape your herd's health and profitability
for years to come. If you enjoyed the show, don't
forget to subscribe, leave us a review, and share
this episode with your fellow dairy producers.
research, and resources, head over to www .thebullvine
.com. Thanks for listening, and until next time,
keep your cows healthy, your milk check strong,
and your genetic decisions smart.