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 --> 00:01:02.439 we're sparking Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast, 00:01:02.939 --> 00:01:05.760 where we dive deep into the vital issues shaping 00:01:05.760 --> 00:01:09.620 the modern dairy industry worldwide. I'm your 00:01:09.620 --> 00:01:12.560 host, and today we're exploring the crucial balance 00:01:12.560 --> 00:01:15.200 between genetic progress and maintaining herd 00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:17.519 health. Whether you're a seasoned dairy producer, 00:01:17.859 --> 00:01:20.640 breeder, or anyone interested in the future of 00:01:20.640 --> 00:01:23.739 dairy genetics, this episode is packed with insights 00:01:23.739 --> 00:01:26.909 for you. Let's get started. Welcome back to the 00:01:26.909 --> 00:01:29.530 Bullvine Podcast, the show that digs deep into 00:01:29.530 --> 00:01:31.989 the topics that matter to dairy producers. That's 00:01:31.989 --> 00:01:34.390 right. Today, we're tackling a really interesting 00:01:34.390 --> 00:01:36.209 feature article from the Bullvine that's got 00:01:36.209 --> 00:01:37.769 everyone talking. We're going to break it all 00:01:37.769 --> 00:01:40.109 down. Today, we're taking a deep dive into an 00:01:40.109 --> 00:01:42.549 incredibly important piece from the Bullvine 00:01:42.549 --> 00:01:45.469 titled The Silent Cost of Elite Dairy Genetics. 00:01:46.090 --> 00:01:49.310 Our mission with this deep dive is really to 00:01:49.310 --> 00:01:50.950 pull back the curtain on something that's... 00:01:51.469 --> 00:01:54.750 quietly yet significantly draining profits from 00:01:54.750 --> 00:01:57.849 dairy operations worldwide. That's the often 00:01:57.849 --> 00:02:01.310 overlooked financial impact of inbreeding. We're 00:02:01.310 --> 00:02:03.390 going to explore why focusing only on those high 00:02:03.390 --> 00:02:06.730 genomic indexes and TPI numbers, you know, without 00:02:06.730 --> 00:02:08.969 considering the bigger genetic picture, could 00:02:08.969 --> 00:02:11.229 be costing you a lot more than you realize. Yeah, 00:02:11.289 --> 00:02:13.629 it's a hidden cost. Exactly. And we'll unpack 00:02:13.629 --> 00:02:15.710 the critical industry -wide shift that's now 00:02:15.710 --> 00:02:18.530 happening towards prioritizing, well, true genetic 00:02:18.530 --> 00:02:21.259 diversity in dairy breeding. It's a topic that 00:02:21.259 --> 00:02:24.539 might make some people a bit uncomfortable, especially 00:02:24.539 --> 00:02:26.539 those who've prided themselves on achieving, 00:02:26.699 --> 00:02:29.479 you know, top genomic scores and building what 00:02:29.479 --> 00:02:32.159 they think are the most elite herds. But a crucial 00:02:32.159 --> 00:02:34.860 point the article makes is that while we've been 00:02:34.860 --> 00:02:37.259 relentlessly chasing those high TPI numbers, 00:02:37.500 --> 00:02:39.939 often with the best intentions, maybe trying 00:02:39.939 --> 00:02:43.699 to maximize profit, there's been this significant 00:02:44.479 --> 00:02:47.180 often unseen costs just piling up in the background. 00:02:47.319 --> 00:02:49.659 So we're going to challenge some common assumptions 00:02:49.659 --> 00:02:53.479 about what elite really means in today's dairy 00:02:53.479 --> 00:02:56.060 world and discuss why it's, well, it's never 00:02:56.060 --> 00:02:58.099 been more critical to look beyond just the immediate 00:02:58.099 --> 00:03:00.659 performance numbers for long -term herd health, 00:03:00.759 --> 00:03:03.300 resilience, and yeah, ultimately profitability. 00:03:03.840 --> 00:03:06.639 Okay, let's unpack this then. Our first major 00:03:06.639 --> 00:03:09.599 theme from the article is the hidden drain unpacking 00:03:09.599 --> 00:03:12.219 the silent cost of inbreeding. Right. The piece 00:03:12.219 --> 00:03:15.280 kicks off by highlighting this growing feeling 00:03:15.280 --> 00:03:18.340 among industry leaders, globally, actually, that 00:03:18.340 --> 00:03:20.199 the genetic diversity challenge isn't just crucial 00:03:20.199 --> 00:03:22.319 anymore. It's rapidly turning into, well, potentially 00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:24.840 a crisis. Yeah, like it's poised to become a 00:03:24.840 --> 00:03:27.840 major industry problem if we don't, you know, 00:03:27.860 --> 00:03:30.280 get ahead of it. Exactly. Get ahead of it fast. 00:03:30.400 --> 00:03:31.840 It really makes you rethink things, doesn't it? 00:03:31.879 --> 00:03:35.020 For so long, we've poured resources into chasing 00:03:35.020 --> 00:03:37.500 the highest genomic indexes, those impressive 00:03:37.500 --> 00:03:40.479 TPI numbers. We celebrate them. We aim for them. 00:03:41.180 --> 00:03:42.860 But the article points out we hardly ever dig 00:03:42.860 --> 00:03:45.120 into what's lurking underneath those shiny scores, 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:47.800 which is the escalating risk of losing genetic 00:03:47.800 --> 00:03:51.479 diversity and, crucially, just quietly bleeding 00:03:51.479 --> 00:03:54.180 cash without even noticing. Yeah, it's like finding 00:03:54.180 --> 00:03:56.360 a silent leak, like you said, in the strongest 00:03:56.360 --> 00:03:58.599 part of your barn. You never knew to look for 00:03:58.599 --> 00:04:01.759 it until, whoops, the floorboards are damp. That's 00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:04.080 a great analogy. It perfectly captures it. And 00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:05.800 it brings to mind that specific anecdote from 00:04:05.800 --> 00:04:07.979 the article, too. Oh, yeah, the farm visit. Right, 00:04:08.020 --> 00:04:11.639 the writer visiting that pretty solid 2 ,500 00:04:11.639 --> 00:04:14.039 cow operation up in New York State. The owner 00:04:14.039 --> 00:04:16.759 was, you know, understandably beaming. Proud 00:04:16.759 --> 00:04:20.199 his herd's average TPI had hit 2 ,800. And on 00:04:20.199 --> 00:04:22.600 the surface, those are fantastic numbers. That's 00:04:22.600 --> 00:04:24.620 the benchmark most producers would love to hit. 00:04:24.959 --> 00:04:29.019 Absolutely. But then the conversation took this 00:04:29.019 --> 00:04:32.459 sharp, kind of unexpected turn. The article describes 00:04:32.459 --> 00:04:35.600 how behind those glittering stats, the herd's 00:04:35.600 --> 00:04:38.699 genetic base looked, and I quote, dangerously 00:04:38.699 --> 00:04:43.100 narrow. Dangerously narrow. Yeah. And that's 00:04:43.100 --> 00:04:45.139 when the comfortable chat about elite genetics 00:04:45.139 --> 00:04:47.319 suddenly shifted. It became about facing this 00:04:47.319 --> 00:04:50.139 looming threat of a shrinking gene pool. And 00:04:50.139 --> 00:04:53.199 the writer just says, and honestly, it got uncomfortable 00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:56.339 real quick. That phrase really hits home, doesn't 00:04:56.339 --> 00:04:58.620 it? It captures that unspoken tension that's 00:04:58.620 --> 00:05:00.949 gripping the industry now. It's uncomfortable 00:05:00.949 --> 00:05:04.470 because for years we've chased these high TPIs 00:05:04.470 --> 00:05:06.449 as the ultimate sign of success, right? We've 00:05:06.449 --> 00:05:09.110 invested heavily. And now the very foundation 00:05:09.110 --> 00:05:12.089 of that success is being questioned. It exposes 00:05:12.089 --> 00:05:14.509 this hidden vulnerability that could honestly 00:05:14.509 --> 00:05:16.689 cost a fortune. Uncomfortable, real quick, is 00:05:16.689 --> 00:05:18.470 definitely putting it mildly. When you start 00:05:18.470 --> 00:05:20.329 talking about the math that should keep you awake 00:05:20.329 --> 00:05:22.069 at night, that's the next big thing the article 00:05:22.069 --> 00:05:23.389 tackled. Yeah, the dollars and cents. Because 00:05:23.389 --> 00:05:25.490 this isn't some abstract genetic theory. This 00:05:25.490 --> 00:05:27.689 is about real money just walking right out your 00:05:27.689 --> 00:05:30.860 barn door totally unnoticed. Right. The article 00:05:30.860 --> 00:05:34.100 specifies that every single 1 % increase in a 00:05:34.100 --> 00:05:37.800 cow's inbreeding coefficient, which is basically 00:05:37.800 --> 00:05:40.819 a measure of how likely she is to have identical 00:05:40.819 --> 00:05:43.699 genes from both parents because of shared ancestry. 00:05:43.879 --> 00:05:47.600 Shared family lines. Right. That 1 % uptick can 00:05:47.600 --> 00:05:50.620 cost you around $22 to $24 in lifetime profit 00:05:50.620 --> 00:05:55.360 per cow. $22 to $24 per cow for every 1%. Yeah. 00:05:55.790 --> 00:05:57.629 Let's really put that into perspective. If you've 00:05:57.629 --> 00:06:01.509 got, say, a 500 -cow herd and your average inbreeding 00:06:01.509 --> 00:06:04.389 goes up by just 1%, you're potentially losing 00:06:04.389 --> 00:06:07.350 $11 ,000 to $12 ,000 in lifetime profit across 00:06:07.350 --> 00:06:10.129 that herd. Wow. And that's not a one -off hit. 00:06:10.189 --> 00:06:12.449 It compounds year after year, cow after cow. 00:06:12.910 --> 00:06:14.870 And it shows up in ways you might not immediately 00:06:14.870 --> 00:06:17.649 connect to inbreeding, right? Like reduced fertility. 00:06:17.850 --> 00:06:20.170 Exactly. More breeding attempts, longer calving 00:06:20.170 --> 00:06:22.029 intervals. Higher disease susceptibility. So 00:06:22.029 --> 00:06:24.730 more vet bills, more treatments. Yep. Lower calf 00:06:24.730 --> 00:06:27.290 figure, maybe higher calf mortality rates, meaning 00:06:27.290 --> 00:06:29.529 fewer good replacements coming through. Which 00:06:29.529 --> 00:06:31.490 then leads to, I guess, a shorter productive 00:06:31.490 --> 00:06:34.050 life for the cow overall. You got it. Higher 00:06:34.050 --> 00:06:36.290 replacement costs. Each one of those things just 00:06:36.290 --> 00:06:38.750 quietly chips away at your bottom line. Well, 00:06:39.029 --> 00:06:40.810 that's only part of the picture because here's 00:06:40.810 --> 00:06:42.990 the real kicker, the thing that should genuinely 00:06:42.990 --> 00:06:45.649 make you sit up and pay attention. There was 00:06:45.649 --> 00:06:49.209 a 2023 Italian study, the article cites it, and 00:06:49.209 --> 00:06:51.230 it suggested that the real damage from inbreeding 00:06:51.230 --> 00:06:54.569 might be, get this, 40 % worse than we previously 00:06:54.569 --> 00:06:58.470 thought. 40 %? Wow. No, the older estimates were 00:06:58.470 --> 00:07:00.589 based on pedigree calculations, you know, just 00:07:00.589 --> 00:07:02.829 looking at the family tree. Right. Those suggested 00:07:02.829 --> 00:07:06.850 about a 44 kilogram loss of milk per 1 % increase 00:07:06.850 --> 00:07:10.740 in inbreeding. But now, with genomic data, where 00:07:10.740 --> 00:07:12.939 you can actually see the identical DNA segments, 00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:16.660 that figure jumped to 61 kilograms of milk loss. 00:07:16.839 --> 00:07:19.699 61 kilograms instead of 44. That's huge. It's 00:07:19.699 --> 00:07:22.480 a massive difference. It reveals a much higher 00:07:22.480 --> 00:07:25.000 unseen cost, reflecting the true biological hit 00:07:25.000 --> 00:07:26.699 that we just couldn't measure accurately before 00:07:26.699 --> 00:07:30.180 genomics. That's a 40 % higher unseen cost hitting 00:07:30.180 --> 00:07:32.920 production directly. And when you put those losses 00:07:32.920 --> 00:07:35.740 in today's market, The article mentioned, you 00:07:35.740 --> 00:07:39.180 know, milk prices around $18 .93 a hundredweight, 00:07:39.319 --> 00:07:42.300 labor costs pushing $18 an hour. Yeah, the current 00:07:42.300 --> 00:07:44.459 realities. When you combine that direct profit 00:07:44.459 --> 00:07:47.980 loss per cow, the $22, $24, with this bigger 00:07:47.980 --> 00:07:49.899 underestimated milk production drop and then 00:07:49.899 --> 00:07:51.660 multiply that across your whole herd. It adds 00:07:51.660 --> 00:07:53.879 up incredibly fast. It's definitely not small 00:07:53.879 --> 00:07:57.519 potatoes. It's quietly eroding years of hard 00:07:57.519 --> 00:08:00.160 work, hitting your bottom line hard. It really 00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:02.339 is a wake -up call. And the article then asks 00:08:02.339 --> 00:08:05.569 this really... pointed question. Have you actually 00:08:05.569 --> 00:08:08.129 calculated your operations in breeding exposure? 00:08:08.589 --> 00:08:11.649 Good question. It goes on. Most producers I know 00:08:11.649 --> 00:08:14.350 haven't. And I get why it's not exactly the sexy 00:08:14.350 --> 00:08:16.910 topic your AI rep brings up during sire selection 00:08:16.910 --> 00:08:19.889 meetings. No, probably not the first thing they 00:08:19.889 --> 00:08:22.269 lead with. Which leads us to why elite has become 00:08:22.269 --> 00:08:24.730 this kind of double -edged sword and why there's 00:08:24.730 --> 00:08:28.029 this unspoken consensus in the industry that 00:08:28.029 --> 00:08:30.589 nobody really wants to tackle head on. Right. 00:08:30.689 --> 00:08:32.629 Because genomic selection, I mean, it's been 00:08:32.970 --> 00:08:35.769 undeniably powerful right it drove incredible 00:08:35.769 --> 00:08:38.169 genetic progress helped us find the best performers 00:08:38.169 --> 00:08:40.730 way faster than before absolutely game changer 00:08:40.730 --> 00:08:43.669 but at the same time it's acted like this massive 00:08:43.669 --> 00:08:47.009 accelerant for inbreeding it concentrated those 00:08:47.009 --> 00:08:50.580 elite genetics so quickly that it's kind of inadvertently 00:08:50.580 --> 00:08:53.620 created this genetic bottleneck that now directly 00:08:53.620 --> 00:08:55.919 threatens the health and productivity of our 00:08:55.919 --> 00:08:58.299 herds. That's the paradox, isn't it? Yeah. The 00:08:58.299 --> 00:09:01.460 tool that pushed us forward so fast is now creating 00:09:01.460 --> 00:09:03.700 this major long -term challenge. Exactly. And 00:09:03.700 --> 00:09:05.740 the numbers really back this up. The Council 00:09:05.740 --> 00:09:08.220 on Dairy Cattle Breeding data showed that even 00:09:08.220 --> 00:09:11.440 back in 2017, the genetic concentration in North 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:14.139 American AI programs was already at concerning 00:09:14.139 --> 00:09:16.629 levels. Concerning how? Well, we're talking about 00:09:16.629 --> 00:09:19.850 a situation where just a handful of elite sires 00:09:19.850 --> 00:09:22.330 were basically fathering the vast majority of 00:09:22.330 --> 00:09:25.230 young bulls entering AI programs worldwide. Wow, 00:09:25.330 --> 00:09:27.750 a small group having a huge impact. Think about 00:09:27.750 --> 00:09:30.429 the ripple effect. If the top 10 or 20 bulls 00:09:30.429 --> 00:09:33.169 are used everywhere, overwhelmingly, their genes 00:09:33.169 --> 00:09:35.929 quickly dominate the whole population. Now, take 00:09:35.929 --> 00:09:39.029 that level of concentration and multiply it across... 00:09:39.259 --> 00:09:42.440 millions, literally millions, of breeding decisions 00:09:42.440 --> 00:09:46.039 made by dairy producers everywhere, you can see 00:09:46.039 --> 00:09:48.360 how that genetic bottleneck doesn't just become 00:09:48.360 --> 00:09:50.799 possible. It becomes, like the article says, 00:09:50.960 --> 00:09:55.240 inevitable. Inevitable. That's a strong word. 00:09:55.360 --> 00:09:58.080 And the reluctance to talk about it openly. It 00:09:58.080 --> 00:10:00.559 often comes down to challenging that prevailing 00:10:00.559 --> 00:10:04.620 idea that just chasing the highest TPI is always 00:10:04.620 --> 00:10:07.120 the best, most profitable move. Right. Because 00:10:07.120 --> 00:10:09.419 that's been the mantra for so long. But as we're 00:10:09.419 --> 00:10:12.080 seeing, it's quietly eating away at profitability 00:10:12.080 --> 00:10:15.100 and resilience. And if your AI rep isn't bringing 00:10:15.100 --> 00:10:17.639 it up, well, it's often because the focus is 00:10:17.639 --> 00:10:19.779 still on that immediate performance kick, not 00:10:19.779 --> 00:10:23.320 the long -term genetic health and the true cost 00:10:23.320 --> 00:10:25.460 of that genetic erosion. Okay, so if that's the 00:10:25.460 --> 00:10:27.600 problem, what's the solution? Where do we go 00:10:27.600 --> 00:10:29.480 from here? This is where the conversation gets 00:10:29.480 --> 00:10:31.059 really interesting as we pivot into what the 00:10:31.059 --> 00:10:33.340 article calls the elite outcross revolution. 00:10:33.480 --> 00:10:36.809 Right. The fix. Now, for a long time, outcrossing, 00:10:36.809 --> 00:10:38.549 well, it had a pretty bad rap in the dairy industry, 00:10:38.669 --> 00:10:41.529 didn't it? Oh, yeah, definitely. People worried 00:10:41.529 --> 00:10:43.690 it would dilute their prized bloodlines. They 00:10:43.690 --> 00:10:45.789 thought it meant, you know, random mating with 00:10:45.789 --> 00:10:48.710 some genetically distant animal that might actually 00:10:48.710 --> 00:10:51.610 be inferior overall. And you can see why, right? 00:10:51.750 --> 00:10:53.850 That would set a serious breeding program back. 00:10:54.190 --> 00:10:56.909 Nobody wants to just throw random, potentially 00:10:56.909 --> 00:11:00.070 negative genetics into years of careful work, 00:11:00.169 --> 00:11:03.370 undo decades of progress just to be different. 00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:06.480 Absolutely not. But the article really emphasizes 00:11:06.480 --> 00:11:09.740 that this new approach to outcrossing, it's fundamentally 00:11:09.740 --> 00:11:12.980 different from that old risky idea. How so? It's 00:11:12.980 --> 00:11:15.779 not a wild gamble anymore. It's precision science. 00:11:15.919 --> 00:11:18.620 It's about leveraging all this robust genomic 00:11:18.620 --> 00:11:21.779 data we now have to make calculated, almost surgical 00:11:21.779 --> 00:11:24.080 strikes in breeding programs. Surgical strikes. 00:11:24.240 --> 00:11:26.620 I like that. Yeah. It's about bringing in new 00:11:26.620 --> 00:11:28.960 genetics deliberately with a clear understanding 00:11:28.960 --> 00:11:31.019 of what they offer and their potential impact, 00:11:31.159 --> 00:11:33.340 not just, you know, throwing darts at a board, 00:11:33.379 --> 00:11:35.600 hoping for some genetic wildcard. Makes sense. 00:11:35.740 --> 00:11:37.759 And here's a crucial insight the article shares. 00:11:38.809 --> 00:11:41.549 Many industry insiders, you know, people at major 00:11:41.549 --> 00:11:45.149 companies like Select Sires, ABS, they're actually 00:11:45.149 --> 00:11:47.769 moving away from the term outcrossing altogether. 00:11:48.129 --> 00:11:51.309 Oh, why is that? Because of that historical baggage, 00:11:51.429 --> 00:11:53.789 that negative connotation, they're talking about... 00:11:53.919 --> 00:11:57.000 diversity instead. Diversity. And their reasoning 00:11:57.000 --> 00:11:59.519 makes a lot of sense. The real goal isn't just 00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:02.179 finding one genetically distant bull who's an 00:12:02.179 --> 00:12:04.100 outlier. I mean, that might bring in some novelty, 00:12:04.259 --> 00:12:06.299 sure, but that one bull could still be pretty 00:12:06.299 --> 00:12:09.000 mediocre overall. Right. Different doesn't automatically 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:12.500 mean better. Exactly. The true objective, as 00:12:12.500 --> 00:12:15.279 they see it, is strategically using many different 00:12:15.279 --> 00:12:18.440 genetic lines, building genuine long -term resilience. 00:12:19.039 --> 00:12:22.759 and breadth in your herd's genetic base. It's 00:12:22.759 --> 00:12:24.940 about variety on both sides of the pedigree siren 00:12:24.940 --> 00:12:26.740 dam to construct something that's fundamentally 00:12:26.740 --> 00:12:29.740 stronger, more adaptable, and ultimately more 00:12:29.740 --> 00:12:32.350 sustainable. Okay, so it's not just finding a 00:12:32.350 --> 00:12:34.429 stranger, it's finding a complementary stranger. 00:12:34.669 --> 00:12:37.409 Someone who adds real genetic value and broadens 00:12:37.409 --> 00:12:40.129 the base in a targeted way. Precisely. And the 00:12:40.129 --> 00:12:42.529 article gives some solid, proven examples that 00:12:42.529 --> 00:12:45.350 show the strategy works. It shows that outcrossing 00:12:45.350 --> 00:12:47.730 isn't gambling when it's backed by good genomic 00:12:47.730 --> 00:12:51.009 data and clear breeding goals. Like who? Well, 00:12:51.090 --> 00:12:54.110 think about bulls like co -op boss -eyed Massey. 00:12:54.549 --> 00:12:57.090 He brought really wide appeal by offering something 00:12:57.090 --> 00:12:59.470 genetically different but still high -performing. 00:12:59.740 --> 00:13:02.539 He essentially created a whole new valuable branch 00:13:02.539 --> 00:13:04.980 on the Holstein family tree. I remember Massey, 00:13:04.980 --> 00:13:07.980 yeah. Or Zannie Bolton -Maskely's. He famously 00:13:07.980 --> 00:13:10.620 brought European bloodlines into North America, 00:13:10.740 --> 00:13:12.919 which really diversified the gene pool here at 00:13:12.919 --> 00:13:15.659 a crucial time. Brought in fresh genetic combos 00:13:15.659 --> 00:13:18.000 we didn't have. Okay. And more recently, you've 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:22.000 got stars like 14 -015 -15 -179, Trooper, and 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:26.460 his son, 7 -H -0162 -76, Sheepster. They showed 00:13:26.460 --> 00:13:28.659 how you can meticulously blend unique maternal 00:13:28.659 --> 00:13:31.690 lines. with high merit sires to create real lasting 00:13:31.690 --> 00:13:34.129 value. So these aren't just flukes, it's strategic 00:13:34.129 --> 00:13:36.509 planning paying off. Exactly. These bulls weren't 00:13:36.509 --> 00:13:38.330 just different, they were purposefully different, 00:13:38.529 --> 00:13:41.149 carefully picked to bring in new desirable genes 00:13:41.149 --> 00:13:43.110 without wrecking the overall performance package. 00:13:43.450 --> 00:13:45.750 And this fundamentally changes the conversation 00:13:45.750 --> 00:13:47.789 for producers, right, when they're making breeding 00:13:47.789 --> 00:13:50.409 decisions. Absolutely. It's not just about asking 00:13:50.409 --> 00:13:52.929 the simple question, what's his TPI? anymore. 00:13:53.149 --> 00:13:54.830 I mean, TPI is still important, tells you about 00:13:54.830 --> 00:13:57.570 performance potential. Sure. But the smart money, 00:13:57.669 --> 00:14:00.190 as the article puts it, is now asking much more 00:14:00.190 --> 00:14:03.470 nuanced questions like, okay, what's his relationship 00:14:03.470 --> 00:14:08.429 to my herd? Deeper dive. Yeah. It forces you 00:14:08.429 --> 00:14:10.750 to look at the pedigree and the genomic data 00:14:10.750 --> 00:14:13.889 to see how closely related this potential sire 00:14:13.889 --> 00:14:17.230 is to your existing cows. Make sure you're not 00:14:17.230 --> 00:14:19.570 just chasing high numbers within an already narrow 00:14:19.570 --> 00:14:21.850 pool. And the other key question. Critically. 00:14:22.250 --> 00:14:25.490 How does his genetic background really complement 00:14:25.490 --> 00:14:28.049 what I've already got? It's not just about avoiding 00:14:28.049 --> 00:14:30.409 inbreeding. It's about actively looking for genetic 00:14:30.409 --> 00:14:33.450 profiles that fill gaps in your herd. Like adding 00:14:33.450 --> 00:14:35.690 disease resistance or heat tolerance, maybe? 00:14:35.889 --> 00:14:38.789 Exactly. Things like that. Introduce new strengths. 00:14:39.309 --> 00:14:43.090 Enhance overall herd health. Productivity. It's 00:14:43.090 --> 00:14:45.909 about building true long -term resilience and 00:14:45.909 --> 00:14:48.629 adaptability, not just chasing those short -term 00:14:48.629 --> 00:14:51.330 gains that might come with these hidden accumulating 00:14:51.330 --> 00:14:54.950 costs down the line. It's strategic thinking 00:14:54.950 --> 00:14:57.490 for the sustainability and profitability of your 00:14:57.490 --> 00:15:00.669 dairy. Which brings us right to how the smart 00:15:00.669 --> 00:15:04.769 money is playing this game. Because the AI companies, 00:15:04.909 --> 00:15:06.269 well, they definitely figured this out, haven't 00:15:06.269 --> 00:15:09.159 they? And they're adapting fast. Oh, yeah. They 00:15:09.159 --> 00:15:10.919 see the writing on the wall. They're realizing 00:15:10.919 --> 00:15:13.259 they aren't just selling semen packages anymore. 00:15:13.379 --> 00:15:15.740 It's more like they're selling sophisticated 00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:18.139 genetic risk management. That's a good way to 00:15:18.139 --> 00:15:20.000 put it. It's a whole new ballgame. And the ones 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:21.820 who are doing it right are really innovating, 00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:24.100 setting themselves apart. But the article points 00:15:24.100 --> 00:15:26.019 out a challenge they face, too, right? Yeah, 00:15:26.019 --> 00:15:27.879 there's this market reality they have to deal 00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:30.779 with. The article mentions German AI professionals 00:15:30.779 --> 00:15:33.620 observing that, look. a lot of large commercial 00:15:33.620 --> 00:15:36.399 operations, they still prioritize those top performance 00:15:36.399 --> 00:15:39.480 indexes above everything else, including pedigree 00:15:39.480 --> 00:15:42.659 diversity. So the market still rewards the highest 00:15:42.659 --> 00:15:45.980 TPI bull. In many cases, yeah, regardless of 00:15:45.980 --> 00:15:48.220 genetic relationships, which, you know, unfortunately 00:15:48.220 --> 00:15:50.379 doesn't always incentivize companies in the short 00:15:50.379 --> 00:15:53.279 term anyway to maintain those really diverse 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:57.769 genetic portfolios. That's tricky. It is. But 00:15:57.769 --> 00:16:00.129 despite that, some companies are making really 00:16:00.129 --> 00:16:03.289 significant strides. The Canadian approach, using 00:16:03.289 --> 00:16:05.850 Cemex as an example, is pretty interesting. What 00:16:05.850 --> 00:16:07.590 are they doing? They've deliberately maintained 00:16:07.590 --> 00:16:10.590 what they call genetically free female lines. 00:16:11.009 --> 00:16:14.149 These are unique cow families, basically, that 00:16:14.149 --> 00:16:17.029 aren't heavily related to the mainstream Holstein 00:16:17.029 --> 00:16:19.730 population. Wow. It's a long -term vision. It 00:16:19.730 --> 00:16:20.929 means they can always bring something genuinely 00:16:20.929 --> 00:16:23.330 different, genetically unique to the market when 00:16:23.330 --> 00:16:25.889 diversity becomes absolutely critical for producers 00:16:25.889 --> 00:16:28.070 down the road. That's like building a genetic 00:16:28.070 --> 00:16:31.110 insurance policy. Kind of. It's a proactive approach, 00:16:31.350 --> 00:16:34.029 reflects maybe a Canadian perspective on sustainable 00:16:34.029 --> 00:16:36.870 breeding, that values future resilience, genetic 00:16:36.870 --> 00:16:39.929 flexibility, not just immediate gains. They're 00:16:39.929 --> 00:16:42.429 curating a genetic library for future needs. 00:16:42.940 --> 00:16:45.620 That's incredibly forward thinking. And it's 00:16:45.620 --> 00:16:48.379 not just Cemex, right? ABS Global is mentioned 00:16:48.379 --> 00:16:50.879 too. Right. ABS Global has their genetic management 00:16:50.879 --> 00:16:55.879 system 2 .0. This system uses advanced genomic 00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:58.960 intelligence to guide mating choices. And crucially, 00:16:59.059 --> 00:17:01.799 it specifically includes genomic inbreeding calculations. 00:17:02.320 --> 00:17:05.299 So more precise than just pedigree. Way more 00:17:05.299 --> 00:17:08.019 precise. It's moving from a rough guess based 00:17:08.019 --> 00:17:11.380 on the family tree to a much more accurate data 00:17:11.380 --> 00:17:13.900 -driven approach using the actual DNA. Instead 00:17:13.900 --> 00:17:15.779 of just knowing a bull and cow share a great 00:17:15.779 --> 00:17:18.359 -grandparent, they can pinpoint the exact DNA 00:17:18.359 --> 00:17:20.680 segments that are identical. Gives you a much 00:17:20.680 --> 00:17:23.059 clearer picture of the true genetic relationship 00:17:23.059 --> 00:17:26.059 and the risk. Okay. And CEMEX has tools for farmers, 00:17:26.119 --> 00:17:28.839 too. Yeah. CEMEX also has tools like CEMEXworks 00:17:28.839 --> 00:17:31.049 and Optimate. These essentially hand the keys 00:17:31.049 --> 00:17:33.170 over to the farmers. They let producers define 00:17:33.170 --> 00:17:35.849 their own economic parameters, build personalized 00:17:35.849 --> 00:17:38.230 selection indexes based on their specific herd 00:17:38.230 --> 00:17:40.430 goals. Maybe it's milk fat, maybe fertility, 00:17:40.670 --> 00:17:43.029 maybe longevity, or some combinations. You can 00:17:43.029 --> 00:17:45.289 customize it to your farm. Exactly. It's like 00:17:45.289 --> 00:17:47.109 giving you the GPS for your breeding program 00:17:47.109 --> 00:17:49.410 instead of just telling you where to turn. You 00:17:49.410 --> 00:17:51.430 set your destination based on your herd's needs, 00:17:51.650 --> 00:17:54.289 and the tool helps you navigate the complex genetic 00:17:54.289 --> 00:17:57.549 map, avoiding those genetic potholes and optimizing 00:17:57.549 --> 00:18:00.220 for your unique path. What about Select Sires? 00:18:00.400 --> 00:18:02.720 Select Sires isn't sitting still either. They 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:06.160 combine sort of high -touch consulting with tech 00:18:06.160 --> 00:18:08.900 through programs like Stratagen. Stratagen, okay. 00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:11.279 What does that do? What Stratagen does is manage 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:14.319 inbreeding by rotating distinct, unrelated sire 00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:17.630 lines every 18 months. Oh, interesting. Simple 00:18:17.630 --> 00:18:20.289 idea. Simple, but pretty brilliant in practice. 00:18:20.609 --> 00:18:23.490 It creates this natural break in genetic concentration 00:18:23.490 --> 00:18:26.430 by ensuring new, diverse bloodlines are regularly 00:18:26.430 --> 00:18:28.849 introduced before inbreeding can build up too 00:18:28.849 --> 00:18:31.589 much within one specific line. So it prevents 00:18:31.589 --> 00:18:33.970 that accumulation. Right. It offers dairies a 00:18:33.970 --> 00:18:36.750 clear path to manage genetic risk without necessarily 00:18:36.750 --> 00:18:39.859 sacrificing performance. This whole discussion, 00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:41.779 though, it brings up a key point for you, the 00:18:41.779 --> 00:18:44.359 producer, standing there with your AI catalog. 00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:46.720 What's the takeaway? My advice, and the article 00:18:46.720 --> 00:18:50.019 really hammers this home, is clear. Don't just 00:18:50.019 --> 00:18:52.519 take the sales pitch at face value. You need 00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:55.500 to ask the hard questions. Ask about true genetic 00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:58.779 diversity in their outcross catalogs. Who's really 00:18:58.779 --> 00:19:02.160 giving you genuinely diverse genetics with low 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:05.000 expected future inbreeding? And who's just selling 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:07.880 shiny TPI promises that might be masking underlying 00:19:07.880 --> 00:19:11.019 risks? So demand transparency. Absolutely. Demand 00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:13.759 transparency. Ask your genetic providers about 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:16.599 their inbreeding management strategies. Ask about 00:19:16.599 --> 00:19:18.680 their free lines. Ask how their tools... can 00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:21.279 help you specifically analyze your herd's relationships 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:23.819 and manage your inbreeding coefficient. Push 00:19:23.819 --> 00:19:26.480 them. Make them show you the data, not just the 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:28.960 glossy brochure. And looking even further ahead, 00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:31.200 the article points to some really groundbreaking 00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:33.140 stuff on the horizon, things that could totally 00:19:33.140 --> 00:19:36.019 reshape dairy genetics. We're talking the future 00:19:36.019 --> 00:19:39.140 horizon AI, global policies, and gene editing. 00:19:39.319 --> 00:19:41.960 Yeah, the really futuristic stuff. The future, 00:19:42.140 --> 00:19:44.599 as the article sees it, belongs to machine learning. 00:19:46.169 --> 00:19:49.509 Imagine AI just crunching these massive genomic 00:19:49.509 --> 00:19:52.430 databases, optimizing matings through incredibly 00:19:52.430 --> 00:19:55.329 powerful algorithms like optimal contribution 00:19:55.329 --> 00:19:58.990 selection. OCS. OCS. It's not just about picking 00:19:58.990 --> 00:20:02.009 the best bull for one cow. It's operating on 00:20:02.009 --> 00:20:04.109 a whole different level, looking at the entire 00:20:04.109 --> 00:20:06.730 population. How does it work, basically? Well, 00:20:06.750 --> 00:20:09.349 a truly groundbreaking part of OCS is that it's 00:20:09.349 --> 00:20:12.329 like... Playing chess on a global scale. Every 00:20:12.329 --> 00:20:15.210 move, every mating it suggests, considers not 00:20:15.210 --> 00:20:17.210 just the immediate genetic gain you might get 00:20:17.210 --> 00:20:19.569 in the next generation, but also the crucial 00:20:19.569 --> 00:20:21.730 long -term sustainability of the whole breed. 00:20:22.289 --> 00:20:25.130 OCS calculates the ideal genetic contribution 00:20:25.130 --> 00:20:27.970 from each potential parent to maximize overnight 00:20:27.970 --> 00:20:30.230 progress across the herd, while simultaneously 00:20:30.230 --> 00:20:32.589 keeping inbreeding constrained to healthy levels. 00:20:32.750 --> 00:20:35.430 So it optimizes for both performance and health. 00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:38.759 Exactly. It proactively prevents the kind of 00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:40.920 bottlenecks we've been talking about by making 00:20:40.920 --> 00:20:42.819 sure parental contributions are diverse across 00:20:42.819 --> 00:20:45.180 the population. The companies that master this, 00:20:45.240 --> 00:20:47.400 this intersection of artificial intelligence 00:20:47.400 --> 00:20:50.359 and artificial insemination. They are absolutely 00:20:50.359 --> 00:20:52.960 going to dominate the next chapter of dairy breeding. 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:55.240 It won't just be about who has the highest TPI 00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:57.819 bulls anymore. It'll be about who has the sharpest 00:20:57.819 --> 00:21:01.319 algorithms to use all that genomic data. effectively, 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:04.539 strategically, to build a sustainable genetic 00:21:04.539 --> 00:21:07.819 future. It's a fundamental shift. And this isn't 00:21:07.819 --> 00:21:10.380 just about your individual farm, is it? The article 00:21:10.380 --> 00:21:13.339 makes that point. Your herd doesn't exist in 00:21:13.339 --> 00:21:15.259 isolation. Crucial point. And here's something 00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:17.500 that might surprise people, but the article highlights 00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:20.720 it. The Holstein breed. It's now effectively 00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:24.660 a single global population. Really? How so? Elite 00:21:24.660 --> 00:21:27.559 genetics just flow freely across borders. North 00:21:27.559 --> 00:21:30.759 American bloodlines, driven by those early genomic 00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:33.400 selection wins, basically dominate worldwide 00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:36.700 now. In some regions, it's over 90 % North American 00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:39.420 genetics being used. Wow. So that genetic bottleneck 00:21:39.420 --> 00:21:41.740 isn't just a U .S. or Canadian issue. It's a 00:21:41.740 --> 00:21:44.039 global one. It affects everyone with Holstein 00:21:44.039 --> 00:21:45.779 genetics. It makes the problem exponentially 00:21:45.779 --> 00:21:48.480 bigger, more complex. It shows the reach of these 00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:51.180 genetics. But it's also a stark warning about, 00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:54.630 you know, shared vulnerability. And that global 00:21:54.630 --> 00:21:58.309 context means policy and international coordination 00:21:58.309 --> 00:22:01.069 becomes super important, right, for managing 00:22:01.069 --> 00:22:03.609 this shared resource. Exactly. And what's really 00:22:03.609 --> 00:22:06.650 fascinating here is Italy's leadership on the 00:22:06.650 --> 00:22:09.009 policy front. They've actually updated their 00:22:09.009 --> 00:22:12.609 National Genetic Index, the PFT, to include a 00:22:12.609 --> 00:22:15.950 direct mathematical correction based on a bull's 00:22:15.950 --> 00:22:18.410 expected future inbreeding. What does that mean? 00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:21.740 It's groundbreaking. Bulls predicted to increase 00:22:21.740 --> 00:22:24.420 inbreeding in the population get penalized in 00:22:24.420 --> 00:22:26.920 their official rankings. Bulls that actively 00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:29.440 bring diversity and reduce future inbreeding 00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:32.039 get a boost. So they're actively rewarding diversity 00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:34.799 at a national level. Yes. It's the first time 00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:36.940 I've seen a country build inbreeding management 00:22:36.940 --> 00:22:40.619 right into its national breeding policy. So it's 00:22:40.619 --> 00:22:42.819 a powerful example other countries might follow 00:22:42.819 --> 00:22:44.940 as they face similar issues. And there are international 00:22:44.940 --> 00:22:47.299 groups working on this too. Yeah, beyond just 00:22:47.299 --> 00:22:49.420 national policies, you've got organizations like 00:22:49.420 --> 00:22:51.900 the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding, CDCB, and 00:22:51.900 --> 00:22:54.559 InterBull working hard behind the scenes. They 00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:56.619 coordinate international genetic evaluations, 00:22:57.019 --> 00:23:00.279 ensure data integrity across borders so producers 00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:03.420 worldwide can compare bulls fairly. Okay. Their 00:23:03.420 --> 00:23:05.640 systems help you understand how genetics will 00:23:05.640 --> 00:23:08.000 perform under specific conditions, which is vital, 00:23:08.140 --> 00:23:11.200 but they also play a huge role in managing global 00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:14.319 diversity by providing that transparent, standardized 00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:17.140 data. And then there's the really cutting -edge 00:23:17.140 --> 00:23:21.039 tech, gene editing. CRISPR. Yeah, yes, CRISPR 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:24.339 holds incredible promise for really precise genetic 00:23:24.339 --> 00:23:27.490 tweaks. Like that. Imagine being able to make 00:23:27.490 --> 00:23:30.170 super precise changes, like adding polled genetics 00:23:30.170 --> 00:23:32.369 to elite lines so you skip dehorning altogether. 00:23:32.750 --> 00:23:35.210 Okay. Boosting disease resistance, maybe cutting 00:23:35.210 --> 00:23:38.430 down vet bills and antibiotic use, or even modifying 00:23:38.430 --> 00:23:41.430 milk composition directly for, say, better cheese 00:23:41.430 --> 00:23:44.390 yield. All without that linkage drag you get 00:23:44.390 --> 00:23:46.410 with traditional breeding. Linkage drag. Yeah. 00:23:46.470 --> 00:23:48.589 That's when you get unwanted traits along with 00:23:48.589 --> 00:23:50.849 the good ones. Exactly. It's a common headache. 00:23:51.690 --> 00:23:54.880 CRISPR... By precisely cutting and pasting DNA 00:23:54.880 --> 00:23:58.440 could be the ultimate elite outcross. The surgical 00:23:58.440 --> 00:24:00.799 introduction of a desired trait or diversity 00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:03.799 without any of the associated baggage or risk 00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:06.759 of bringing in junk genetics. Pinpoint accuracy. 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:09.599 So like targeting heat tolerance or mastitis 00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:12.500 resistance directly. Precisely. Researchers are 00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:14.200 actively working on things like that instead 00:24:14.200 --> 00:24:16.700 of relying on the slower, less predictable conventional 00:24:16.700 --> 00:24:19.099 breeding path. But it's not quite mainstream 00:24:19.099 --> 00:24:21.859 yet, is it? No, definitely not. It's truly revolutionary 00:24:21.859 --> 00:24:24.519 in potential. But we have to acknowledge there 00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:27.539 are significant hurdles. Regulatory hurdles are 00:24:27.539 --> 00:24:29.980 huge. How do you classify these animals and their 00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:32.440 products? Are they GMOs? Something else. That 00:24:32.440 --> 00:24:34.730 affects everything from labels to trade. And 00:24:34.730 --> 00:24:37.430 ethical concerns. Big ones. Animal welfare implications, 00:24:37.769 --> 00:24:40.109 broader public acceptance of, you know, designer 00:24:40.109 --> 00:24:42.930 animals and gene edited food. Getting the science 00:24:42.930 --> 00:24:44.849 right is one thing. Getting society on board 00:24:44.849 --> 00:24:47.430 is another. Exactly. Public perception will be 00:24:47.430 --> 00:24:50.069 massive in its adoption. It holds immense potential 00:24:50.069 --> 00:24:52.690 to reshape dairy genetics, offering unprecedented 00:24:52.690 --> 00:24:56.309 control. But its journey to widespread use depends 00:24:56.309 --> 00:24:58.549 on a lot more than just the science working. 00:24:58.910 --> 00:25:02.759 OK. So after digesting all of that. What's the 00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:05.019 key takeaway? What are the really actionable 00:25:05.019 --> 00:25:07.599 insights for pharma listening right now? Right. 00:25:07.700 --> 00:25:09.920 Well, their article provides a clear action plan 00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:13.200 because, as it wisely says, knowledge without 00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:16.519 action is just expensive education. Good point. 00:25:16.660 --> 00:25:20.559 So step one. First. Audit your genetic risk exposure. 00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:23.119 Most producers just don't have a clear data -driven 00:25:23.119 --> 00:25:25.559 handle on their herd's inbreeding levels. So 00:25:25.559 --> 00:25:27.660 step one is start genomic testing your breeding 00:25:27.660 --> 00:25:30.440 females. Establish a baseline for their inbreeding 00:25:30.440 --> 00:25:32.660 coefficients. Using that FROH measure you mentioned. 00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:34.859 Exactly. Fraction of runs of homozygosity. It's 00:25:34.859 --> 00:25:36.680 not just a number. It actually identifies the 00:25:36.680 --> 00:25:38.500 segments of DNA that are identical from both 00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:41.740 parents. Gives you a much clearer genomic snapshot 00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:44.819 of true relatedness than old pedigrees ever could. 00:25:44.940 --> 00:25:47.740 And this saves money. The article is clear. This 00:25:47.740 --> 00:25:51.740 can save you up to $24 per cow annually. Think 00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:54.279 of it like getting a report card for your herd's 00:25:54.279 --> 00:25:56.519 hidden genetic liabilities, letting you tackle 00:25:56.519 --> 00:25:58.680 issues before they cost you next year's profits. 00:25:59.240 --> 00:26:01.299 Especially with the margin squeeze we're seeing 00:26:01.299 --> 00:26:04.400 in 2025 from high feed and energy costs, you 00:26:04.400 --> 00:26:06.599 need to understand and manage this. Okay, audit 00:26:06.599 --> 00:26:10.119 the risk. What's number two? Second, demand diversity 00:26:10.119 --> 00:26:13.039 to recover production. you need to really evaluate 00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:16.099 your AI company's diversity management. Don't 00:26:16.099 --> 00:26:19.279 just look at the top TPIs. Ask your rep specifically 00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:23.539 about elite outcross sires bulls that bring genuine 00:26:23.539 --> 00:26:25.900 genetic diversity without sacrificing merit. 00:26:26.059 --> 00:26:28.359 Ask about their strategies. Yes. Ask about their 00:26:28.359 --> 00:26:30.940 strategies for maintaining variety in their bullsteds. 00:26:31.259 --> 00:26:33.599 This approach, backed by that Italian study, 00:26:33.779 --> 00:26:36.599 could recover potentially 61 kilograms of lifetime 00:26:36.599 --> 00:26:40.019 milk per cow just by reducing the impact of those 00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:42.640 genetic bottlenecks. This isn't just future -proofing. 00:26:42.680 --> 00:26:45.000 It's part of a global shift towards sustainable 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:47.500 genetics that's happening now. Get on board early 00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:49.960 for a competitive edge. Got it. Demand diversity. 00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:53.599 Third. Third, embrace advanced mating strategies. 00:26:54.250 --> 00:26:56.690 Push your AI provider for strategies that use 00:26:56.690 --> 00:26:59.109 tools like Optimal Contribution Selection, OCS. 00:26:59.430 --> 00:27:02.289 These AI -driven approaches balance that immediate 00:27:02.289 --> 00:27:05.650 genetic gain with long -term genetic health and 00:27:05.650 --> 00:27:07.930 diversity. And the benefit there? By using these 00:27:07.930 --> 00:27:10.990 tools actively, you can directly cut vet and 00:27:10.990 --> 00:27:12.970 replacement costs. You get better fertility, 00:27:13.230 --> 00:27:16.009 less disease, improved longevity. Forward -thinking 00:27:16.009 --> 00:27:18.049 farms are already seeing real results with these 00:27:18.049 --> 00:27:21.109 AI tools in 2025. They're practical, profitable 00:27:21.109 --> 00:27:24.220 solutions, not just theory. Embrace advanced 00:27:24.220 --> 00:27:27.430 strategies. And finally, future -proof your operation 00:27:27.430 --> 00:27:29.490 against this genetic squeeze that's tightening 00:27:29.490 --> 00:27:31.730 worldwide. That means demanding transparency 00:27:31.730 --> 00:27:34.009 from your genetics provider about the actual 00:27:34.009 --> 00:27:36.549 genetic relationships in their bull lineup. Don't 00:27:36.549 --> 00:27:39.569 just take TPI at face value. Exactly. Don't just 00:27:39.569 --> 00:27:42.390 trust the marketing. Ask for detailed genomic 00:27:42.390 --> 00:27:45.190 relationship info. Understand how truly diverse 00:27:45.190 --> 00:27:48.450 their outcrossed bulls really are. This understanding 00:27:48.450 --> 00:27:52.109 is critical as global Holsteinization keeps consolidating 00:27:52.109 --> 00:27:55.049 the gene pool faster than ever. It's about positioning 00:27:55.049 --> 00:27:57.230 your herd for long -term health, productivity, 00:27:57.410 --> 00:27:59.910 and profit in a world where genetic diversity 00:27:59.910 --> 00:28:03.410 is becoming a super valuable asset. That's incredibly 00:28:03.410 --> 00:28:06.369 practical, vital advice. It really drives home 00:28:06.369 --> 00:28:08.670 that ignoring this genetic risk management stuff 00:28:08.670 --> 00:28:11.950 is, well, perilous. It just quietly drains profits 00:28:11.950 --> 00:28:14.359 when you're not looking. Precisely. And the article 00:28:14.359 --> 00:28:17.220 leaves us with this really powerful, almost unsettling 00:28:17.220 --> 00:28:19.420 thought that I think every dairy producer should 00:28:19.420 --> 00:28:22.079 really internalize. What's that? The most expensive 00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:24.039 cow isn't the one that costs the most up front. 00:28:24.160 --> 00:28:26.240 It's the one that silently costs you money for 00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:28.579 years without you knowing it. Wow. That is hard. 00:28:29.319 --> 00:28:32.480 Doesn't it? Those who act now gauge their risk, 00:28:32.640 --> 00:28:35.940 rethink sire selection, demand transparency and 00:28:35.940 --> 00:28:38.400 advanced tools. They're the ones who will be 00:28:38.400 --> 00:28:40.480 the winners in the next decade. They'll be the 00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:42.799 thriving operations, while others are scrambling 00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:45.059 to catch up when adversity truly becomes the 00:28:45.059 --> 00:28:47.660 scarcest resource. This conversation is just 00:28:47.660 --> 00:28:50.240 getting started and waiting. Waiting just makes 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:52.259 managing the risk more expensive and finding 00:28:52.259 --> 00:28:54.640 solutions harder. It's really time to make genetic 00:28:54.640 --> 00:28:56.839 diversity a non -negotiable part of your breeding 00:28:56.839 --> 00:28:59.339 strategy. Great points. And that's all the time 00:28:59.339 --> 00:29:01.740 we have for today's Deep Dive. For more articles 00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:05.039 and insights, be sure to visit www .thebullvine 00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:07.500 .com. Don't forget to subscribe wherever you 00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:09.630 get your podcasts. Thanks for listening. Thank 00:29:09.630 --> 00:29:12.470 you for joining us on the Bullvine Podcast. We 00:29:12.470 --> 00:29:14.589 hope today's episode gave you valuable knowledge 00:29:14.589 --> 00:29:17.170 to improve your breeding strategies and protect 00:29:17.170 --> 00:29:20.089 your herd's longevity. Don't forget to subscribe, 00:29:20.430 --> 00:29:23.210 leave a review, and share this episode with fellow 00:29:23.210 --> 00:29:26.829 farmers. Follow us on social media to stay updated 00:29:26.829 --> 00:29:30.589 and connected. Until next time, keep innovating 00:29:30.589 --> 00:29:32.089 and keep your herd healthy.