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 --> 00:01:03.030 we're sparking Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast, 00:01:03.509 --> 00:01:05.909 your go -to source for the smartest insights 00:01:05.909 --> 00:01:09.329 in the dairy industry. Today, we're diving into 00:01:09.329 --> 00:01:11.810 a critical issue that's quietly costing dairy 00:01:11.810 --> 00:01:14.849 farmers thousands every season, heat stress. 00:01:15.150 --> 00:01:17.810 We'll explore why it's more than just a summer 00:01:17.810 --> 00:01:20.489 slump, the hidden costs that matter, and what 00:01:20.489 --> 00:01:22.989 the most progressive producers are doing to turn 00:01:22.989 --> 00:01:26.310 this challenge into an advantage. Grab your coffee, 00:01:26.430 --> 00:01:29.870 settle in, and let's get into it. Welcome back 00:01:29.870 --> 00:01:32.129 to the Bullvine. the show that digs deep into 00:01:32.129 --> 00:01:34.689 the topics that matter to dairy producers. That's 00:01:34.689 --> 00:01:36.790 right. Today, we're embarking on a deep dive 00:01:36.790 --> 00:01:39.109 into a really interesting feature article from 00:01:39.109 --> 00:01:41.310 The Bullvine that's got, well, everyone talking. 00:01:41.530 --> 00:01:44.989 Our mission for this deep dive is to truly understand 00:01:44.989 --> 00:01:48.670 the hidden, often underestimated costs of dairy 00:01:48.670 --> 00:01:50.969 heat stress. Yeah, those costs that maybe creep 00:01:50.969 --> 00:01:54.469 up on you. Exactly. And more importantly, to 00:01:54.469 --> 00:01:57.069 uncover the proven practical strategies that 00:01:57.069 --> 00:01:59.170 progressive producers are using, not just to 00:01:59.170 --> 00:02:02.280 survive. you know, but to truly thrive even when 00:02:02.280 --> 00:02:04.319 the mercury climbs. We really have to unpack 00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:06.340 this because the article kicks off with something, 00:02:06.439 --> 00:02:09.340 well, kind of surprising. An observation I think 00:02:09.340 --> 00:02:11.300 a lot of producers might be missing on their 00:02:11.300 --> 00:02:13.800 own operations. Okay. It calls heat stress the 00:02:13.800 --> 00:02:16.699 invisible killer. And for good reason, it seems. 00:02:16.939 --> 00:02:20.860 Picture this. A 1 ,200 -cow operation near Eau 00:02:20.860 --> 00:02:23.280 Claire, Wisconsin. Seems well -managed, right? 00:02:23.340 --> 00:02:26.020 Sure. Decent size. Good area. The producer mentions, 00:02:26.099 --> 00:02:28.379 almost casually, how his morning milk weights 00:02:28.379 --> 00:02:30.599 have been bouncing around like corn futures all 00:02:30.599 --> 00:02:33.659 summer. Wow, okay. Volatile. Yeah, exactly. Yet 00:02:33.659 --> 00:02:36.699 he had absolutely no clue it was heat stress 00:02:36.699 --> 00:02:40.219 causing it. Huh. See, that anecdote, it just 00:02:40.219 --> 00:02:42.199 perfectly illustrates what the article's getting 00:02:42.199 --> 00:02:46.439 at, doesn't it? The widespread, you know, unnoticed 00:02:46.439 --> 00:02:49.800 nature of these. pretty significant losses. It 00:02:49.800 --> 00:02:51.939 really does. And the pervasive nature of this 00:02:51.939 --> 00:02:55.139 problem, it's truly eye -opening. The article 00:02:55.139 --> 00:02:57.439 points to recent research, I think it was published 00:02:57.439 --> 00:02:59.919 in Science Advances. Right, the Science Advances 00:02:59.919 --> 00:03:03.530 study. Yeah, and it reveals up to 10 %... daily 00:03:03.530 --> 00:03:05.629 production losses during extreme heat events. 00:03:06.009 --> 00:03:08.909 Ten percent. That's a huge chunk. It is. And 00:03:08.909 --> 00:03:11.650 like that producer in Eau Claire, you know, countless 00:03:11.650 --> 00:03:13.889 operations are experiencing this, but they just 00:03:13.889 --> 00:03:15.949 haven't really quantified the impact. They just 00:03:15.949 --> 00:03:18.590 see the numbers wiggle. Right. I mean, I've spent 00:03:18.590 --> 00:03:21.270 the better part of two decades on dairy farms 00:03:21.270 --> 00:03:25.210 all over from B .C. down to two layer county 00:03:25.210 --> 00:03:27.270 in California. A lot of heat then. Oh, yeah. 00:03:27.409 --> 00:03:30.129 And I've watched this heat stress pattern. Well, 00:03:30.210 --> 00:03:32.150 the article says it. devastates more operations 00:03:32.150 --> 00:03:35.129 than volatile milk prices ever have. And I think 00:03:35.129 --> 00:03:36.689 there's some truth to that. Wow, that's a strong 00:03:36.689 --> 00:03:39.819 statement. It is. But despite that profound impact, 00:03:40.039 --> 00:03:42.419 we often still treat it like, you know, some 00:03:42.419 --> 00:03:45.199 minor seasonal hiccup, something that will just 00:03:45.199 --> 00:03:47.659 fix itself when fall rolls around. It's just 00:03:47.659 --> 00:03:50.639 summer. Exactly. It's just summer. But it's really 00:03:50.639 --> 00:03:54.159 this silent thief just steadily eroding profitability 00:03:54.159 --> 00:03:57.680 without setting off any big immediate alarm bells. 00:03:57.919 --> 00:04:00.400 It really is. And it's not just those sudden 00:04:00.400 --> 00:04:03.060 obvious drops you might see on the, you know, 00:04:03.080 --> 00:04:05.120 the thermometer graph in the office. No, it's 00:04:05.120 --> 00:04:06.759 more subtle sometimes. You've probably noticed 00:04:06.759 --> 00:04:10.810 it, right? Those brutal July afternoons. Air 00:04:10.810 --> 00:04:14.030 so thick you could swim in it. Ugh, yeah. Sticky. 00:04:14.229 --> 00:04:17.990 And your best fresh cows are just barely dragging 00:04:17.990 --> 00:04:20.689 themselves to the parlor. Yeah, low energy. And 00:04:20.689 --> 00:04:22.810 your butterfat numbers are, what did the article 00:04:22.810 --> 00:04:25.490 say? Sliding south faster than a green heifer 00:04:25.490 --> 00:04:27.889 heading for the fence. Ah, that's a good one. 00:04:27.949 --> 00:04:30.470 Captures it perfectly, that rapid, uncontrolled 00:04:30.470 --> 00:04:33.410 drop. Right, and meanwhile, your feed costs are 00:04:33.410 --> 00:04:35.769 climbing like corn futures during a drought. 00:04:36.199 --> 00:04:39.339 It just feels relentless. Makes you wonder if 00:04:39.339 --> 00:04:41.699 this is just the new normal. But the science, 00:04:41.939 --> 00:04:44.360 the University of Wisconsin's Dairy Science Department, 00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:47.959 they're saying climate change is absolutely hammering 00:04:47.959 --> 00:04:50.180 your bottom line right now. Right now. Cow by 00:04:50.180 --> 00:04:52.980 cow, gallon by gallon. It's not just about, you 00:04:52.980 --> 00:04:55.579 know, uncomfortable cows. It's a direct economic 00:04:55.579 --> 00:04:58.379 hit. Which brings up a really critical question, 00:04:58.500 --> 00:05:01.800 doesn't it? Why have we, as an industry, kind 00:05:01.800 --> 00:05:04.589 of... normalize these losses. Yeah. Why do we 00:05:04.589 --> 00:05:06.910 accept it? We rationalize it. We tell ourselves, 00:05:07.069 --> 00:05:08.850 oh, it's just summer. Production always drops 00:05:08.850 --> 00:05:11.790 in July. But that mindset, you know, it actively 00:05:11.790 --> 00:05:14.470 stops us from tackling what's actually a solvable 00:05:14.470 --> 00:05:16.709 problem. You can manage it. You absolutely can. 00:05:16.910 --> 00:05:19.870 Yeah. The article really pushes us to start crunching 00:05:19.870 --> 00:05:22.250 the numbers. And when you do that, you see pretty 00:05:22.250 --> 00:05:24.850 quickly these losses are far from normal or. 00:05:26.129 --> 00:05:28.569 Not just a cost of doing business. Not at all. 00:05:28.610 --> 00:05:30.889 The core argument here is that heat stress is 00:05:30.889 --> 00:05:34.589 a manageable problem, but it's too often treated 00:05:34.589 --> 00:05:37.110 like an act of God, right? Like some unavoidable 00:05:37.110 --> 00:05:38.949 force of nature. You just got to write it out. 00:05:39.279 --> 00:05:41.199 But that's totally different from these producers 00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:43.139 who figured this out. Yeah. They're actually 00:05:43.139 --> 00:05:46.019 turning proactive heat stress management into 00:05:46.019 --> 00:05:48.920 a, well, a competitive advantage. Okay. So they're 00:05:48.920 --> 00:05:50.800 not just surviving there. They're strategically 00:05:50.800 --> 00:05:53.040 positioning their operations to thrive. They're 00:05:53.040 --> 00:05:54.879 ahead of the curve. Okay. Let's talk hard numbers 00:05:54.879 --> 00:05:57.379 then, because this is where that invisible killer 00:05:57.379 --> 00:06:01.040 really shows its financial teeth. Right. The 00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:03.319 dollars and cents. The article gives some genuinely 00:06:03.319 --> 00:06:06.040 sobering calculations. It talks about the temperature 00:06:06.040 --> 00:06:09.470 humidity index, the THI. The standard measure. 00:06:09.629 --> 00:06:13.779 Right. And when that climbs above 68... And just 00:06:13.779 --> 00:06:16.420 for listeners, THI combines temperature and humidity. 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:18.680 So 60 is kind of that threshold where cows start 00:06:18.680 --> 00:06:20.540 feeling it. That's the trigger point. Yeah. Milk 00:06:20.540 --> 00:06:23.720 production drops by up to 14 percent. And this 00:06:23.720 --> 00:06:26.339 isn't some lab number, right? This is real world 00:06:26.339 --> 00:06:29.100 data from operations just like yours. It shows 00:06:29.100 --> 00:06:32.779 the actual impact. 14 percent. OK, so let's put 00:06:32.779 --> 00:06:35.600 that into context for, say, your operation. Think 00:06:35.600 --> 00:06:38.459 about a typical 500 cow dairy averaging maybe 00:06:38.459 --> 00:06:41.959 80 pounds of milk per cow per day. Pretty standard. 00:06:42.329 --> 00:06:47.509 That 14 % drop means you are hemorrhaging 5 ,600 00:06:47.509 --> 00:06:51.329 pounds of milk daily. Daily. During those bad 00:06:51.329 --> 00:06:54.569 heat stress periods. Wow. 5 ,600 pounds. Now 00:06:54.569 --> 00:06:56.810 let's turn that into actual money. Yeah. Walking 00:06:56.810 --> 00:07:00.490 out the door. Use current class I prices just 00:07:00.490 --> 00:07:04.290 as a benchmark. Say around $18 .82 per hundredweight. 00:07:04.430 --> 00:07:08.509 Okay. That translates to $1 ,057 ,000 walking 00:07:08.509 --> 00:07:10.740 straight out of your bulk tank. Every single 00:07:10.740 --> 00:07:13.860 day. Over $1 ,000 a day. Every single day of 00:07:13.860 --> 00:07:15.779 significant heat stress. Think about that. Over 00:07:15.779 --> 00:07:18.399 a typical summer, maybe 60, maybe 90 days where 00:07:18.399 --> 00:07:20.379 the THI is up there. That's tens of thousands 00:07:20.379 --> 00:07:23.339 of dollars. Tens of thousands just gone, vanished. 00:07:23.459 --> 00:07:26.040 It's an immediate tangible loss that maybe you 00:07:26.040 --> 00:07:28.360 don't fully quantify or even notice until the 00:07:28.360 --> 00:07:30.420 margins are already getting thin. Okay, but this 00:07:30.420 --> 00:07:32.600 next point from the article, the transgenerational 00:07:32.600 --> 00:07:35.620 losses, this one is... frankly devastating. This 00:07:35.620 --> 00:07:37.399 one hits hard. The article calls this the most 00:07:37.399 --> 00:07:39.720 devastating part because studies are showing 00:07:39.720 --> 00:07:42.079 that dry cows, you know, these critical animals 00:07:42.079 --> 00:07:44.079 getting ready for their next lactation. Super 00:07:44.079 --> 00:07:46.180 important period. If they suffer heat stress, 00:07:46.279 --> 00:07:49.439 they produce significantly less milk during their 00:07:49.439 --> 00:07:52.680 entire next lactation. The whole lactation. Yeah. 00:07:52.759 --> 00:07:55.100 Not just a short dip. Right. We're not talking 00:07:55.100 --> 00:07:58.040 a few pounds here and there. We're talking substantial 00:07:58.040 --> 00:08:01.800 reductions that compound over months. It's literally 00:08:01.800 --> 00:08:04.600 stealing future profit. Let that really sink 00:08:04.600 --> 00:08:07.240 in. The heat stress your dry cows feel today 00:08:07.240 --> 00:08:11.100 is literally stealing milk from you for the next 00:08:11.100 --> 00:08:14.279 10 months. 10 months. Yeah. The article shares 00:08:14.279 --> 00:08:16.180 this story, right? A producer in Lancaster County. 00:08:16.500 --> 00:08:19.399 His nutritionist showed him the data. connected 00:08:19.399 --> 00:08:22.279 July heat stress losses directly to milk production 00:08:22.279 --> 00:08:25.819 way out into the following spring. It's not just 00:08:25.819 --> 00:08:28.439 about today's bulk tank. It's this long -term 00:08:28.439 --> 00:08:31.300 insidious erosion of future profit, the herd's 00:08:31.300 --> 00:08:33.500 genetic potential. And it goes beyond just quantity 00:08:33.500 --> 00:08:36.019 too, right? Milk quality takes a hit. Oh, absolutely. 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:38.860 Heat stress cows don't just give less milk. The 00:08:38.860 --> 00:08:41.279 quality degrades. Butterfat percentages tank. 00:08:41.700 --> 00:08:43.720 Protein content falls off a cliff. Exactly on 00:08:43.720 --> 00:08:46.299 the milk check. You bet. And somatic cell counts 00:08:46.299 --> 00:08:49.070 climb like they're trying to reach orbit. Which, 00:08:49.110 --> 00:08:52.009 you know, high SEC means utter health issues, 00:08:52.190 --> 00:08:55.149 lower premiums. Penalties even. Exactly. Your 00:08:55.149 --> 00:08:57.809 component premiums, those bonuses for high quality 00:08:57.809 --> 00:09:01.409 milk, gone. Right when you need them most to 00:09:01.409 --> 00:09:03.629 offset other costs. So this whole thing just 00:09:03.629 --> 00:09:06.490 creates a vicious cycle impacting the whole herd. 00:09:06.769 --> 00:09:09.950 Totally. Research consistently shows heat stress 00:09:09.950 --> 00:09:13.309 cows have reduced feed intake that immediately 00:09:13.309 --> 00:09:15.269 messes with their energy balance. Can't eat. 00:09:15.559 --> 00:09:17.620 Can't milk. Right. Then their fertility rates 00:09:17.620 --> 00:09:19.879 drop significantly, creating breeding headaches. 00:09:20.379 --> 00:09:23.139 And their immune function just falls apart, making 00:09:23.139 --> 00:09:25.340 them susceptible to everything. Mastitis, pneumonia. 00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:27.860 You name it. It's this cascading effect. One 00:09:27.860 --> 00:09:29.899 problem leads to another, leads to another. You 00:09:29.899 --> 00:09:31.919 end up with more health issues, higher vet bills, 00:09:31.980 --> 00:09:34.919 and just this overall drag on the entire herd's 00:09:34.919 --> 00:09:37.860 productivity. The physiological toll is immense. 00:09:38.299 --> 00:09:40.480 Affects current output and future resilience. 00:09:40.840 --> 00:09:42.980 Absolutely. And if you thought lactation heat 00:09:42.980 --> 00:09:45.460 stress was bad, here's a real surprise from the 00:09:45.460 --> 00:09:48.200 article. It asserts that heat stress during breeding 00:09:48.200 --> 00:09:51.820 season actually costs more than heat stress during 00:09:51.820 --> 00:09:55.039 lactation. More? How? Well, I've seen it firsthand. 00:09:55.279 --> 00:09:57.620 Pennsylvania, California. The breeding program 00:09:57.620 --> 00:10:00.399 basically just shuts down July through September. 00:10:00.460 --> 00:10:02.100 Forget about it in many places. You just can't 00:10:02.100 --> 00:10:05.159 get cows bred. Right. It's this unseen calamity 00:10:05.159 --> 00:10:07.360 that can cripple your future herd, your replacements, 00:10:07.480 --> 00:10:10.240 impacting profits for years down the line. So, 00:10:10.279 --> 00:10:12.440 okay, let's break that down. What are the specific 00:10:12.440 --> 00:10:15.259 impacts on fertility and pregnancy? The article 00:10:15.259 --> 00:10:17.519 highlights this critical physiological threshold. 00:10:18.279 --> 00:10:21.879 When a cow's core body temp rises just 1 .5 degrees 00:10:21.879 --> 00:10:24.399 above normal. Not much at all. Seems tiny, right? 00:10:24.519 --> 00:10:26.820 Yeah. But conception rates can plummet by 20 00:10:26.820 --> 00:10:30.840 -25%. Wow. A quarter drop. Yeah. For a 500 -cow 00:10:30.840 --> 00:10:33.500 Gary, that's huge. It means an extra 25 -30 cows 00:10:33.500 --> 00:10:35.519 that need to be bred again. More straws, more 00:10:35.519 --> 00:10:37.879 labor, more time. Exactly. And that directly 00:10:37.879 --> 00:10:40.120 leads to stretching your calving interval. You 00:10:40.120 --> 00:10:42.179 want that around 12 -13 months ideally, right? 00:10:42.200 --> 00:10:44.139 For efficiency, yeah. Well, this pushes it out. 00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:46.539 And that sends your replacement costs through 00:10:46.539 --> 00:10:48.899 the roof because you're keeping non -productive 00:10:48.899 --> 00:10:51.019 cows longer, maybe buying in more heifers. And 00:10:51.019 --> 00:10:53.200 it's expensive fast. And it can get even worse. 00:10:53.559 --> 00:10:57.179 Cows bred during heat stress are 2 .5 times more 00:10:57.179 --> 00:10:59.179 likely to lose their pregnancies in the first 00:10:59.179 --> 00:11:03.159 90 days. Oh, that early embryonic loss. That's 00:11:03.159 --> 00:11:07.299 heartbreaking. Devastating. And costly. The estimate 00:11:07.299 --> 00:11:11.860 is around $185 per failed pregnancy. And that's 00:11:11.860 --> 00:11:13.600 not just the semen cost, remember? Right, it's 00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:16.320 labor, lost genetic. Lost genetic progress, the 00:11:16.320 --> 00:11:18.580 extended calving intervals we talked about. This 00:11:18.580 --> 00:11:21.019 breeding disruption alone adds up to substantial 00:11:21.019 --> 00:11:23.519 annual losses that, honestly, most producers 00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:25.940 just don't fully track. So when you put all these 00:11:25.940 --> 00:11:28.279 different pieces together, the milk loss, the 00:11:28.279 --> 00:11:30.720 quality hit, the dry cow effect, the breeding 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:34.740 problems, the total financial impact is just... 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:38.159 It's staggering. It really is. The article lays 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:40.779 out this heat stress impact analysis for a typical 00:11:40.779 --> 00:11:44.100 500 cow operation. And the numbers are genuinely 00:11:44.100 --> 00:11:45.820 jaw -dropping. It shows how many different parts 00:11:45.820 --> 00:11:47.500 of your farm are just silently bleeding money. 00:11:47.620 --> 00:11:50.080 It makes you pause and think, have you actually 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:52.340 sat down and calculated what this is cost of 00:11:52.340 --> 00:11:54.480 your specific operation? Yeah, that's the homework, 00:11:54.639 --> 00:11:57.500 right? For that 500 cow example, the annual cost 00:11:57.500 --> 00:12:00.179 ranges are pretty revealing. Let's break those 00:12:00.179 --> 00:12:02.950 down. Okay. Direct production losses. Just looking 00:12:02.950 --> 00:12:06.110 at maybe 90 days of heat stress, $50 ,000 to 00:12:06.110 --> 00:12:08.830 $70 ,000. That's the immediate milk check hit. 00:12:09.009 --> 00:12:12.470 $50 ,000 to $70 ,000. Wow. Reduced milk quality 00:12:12.470 --> 00:12:15.509 and components, another $15 ,000 to $25 ,000 00:12:15.509 --> 00:12:18.970 lost there. Butterfat protein, SEC premiums, 00:12:18.970 --> 00:12:22.110 gone. $15 ,000 to $25 ,000. Breeding program 00:12:22.110 --> 00:12:25.830 disruption, that insidious cost. Rebreeding, 00:12:25.850 --> 00:12:28.850 pregnancy loss, $15 ,000 to $20 ,000. Right. 00:12:29.009 --> 00:12:31.320 Increased feed costs. Cows are less efficient. 00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:33.659 Maybe you need pro -seer rations. Another $10 00:12:33.659 --> 00:12:37.139 ,000 to $15 ,000. Higher vet bills. Weakened 00:12:37.139 --> 00:12:40.019 immune systems mean more sickness. $8 ,000 to 00:12:40.019 --> 00:12:42.980 $12 ,000. That's a pass. So the total annual 00:12:42.980 --> 00:12:44.779 impact, when you sum it all up, you're looking 00:12:44.779 --> 00:12:47.860 at a range of - Big this. $98 ,000 to $142 ,000 00:12:47.860 --> 00:12:51.500 lost annually. Almost $100 ,000 to nearly $150 00:12:51.500 --> 00:12:55.700 ,000. On a 500 -cow dairy. Yeah. It's incredibly 00:12:55.700 --> 00:12:57.240 sobering when you see it laid out like that, 00:12:57.259 --> 00:13:00.289 isn't it? That's nearly $300 per cow annually 00:13:00.289 --> 00:13:02.850 just evaporating into thin air. Exactly. It's 00:13:02.850 --> 00:13:05.149 not some abstract thing. It's not just a seasonal 00:13:05.149 --> 00:13:08.409 pain. It's real dollars walking out of your tank, 00:13:08.549 --> 00:13:10.769 messing up your breeding, eroding your profit. 00:13:10.929 --> 00:13:13.850 The takeaway seems clear. Tackling heat stress 00:13:13.850 --> 00:13:16.649 isn't just an optional expense. It's a mandatory 00:13:16.649 --> 00:13:19.509 investment for, well, financial survival and 00:13:19.509 --> 00:13:22.120 growth. Here's where the article really pivots, 00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:24.559 right? It shifts to what's actually possible. 00:13:24.740 --> 00:13:27.440 It offers this compelling vision. Okay, some 00:13:27.440 --> 00:13:30.259 hope. Yeah. Progressive producers are fighting 00:13:30.259 --> 00:13:33.409 back. And they're winning. They're using strategies 00:13:33.409 --> 00:13:36.549 that cut heat stress losses by 30 % or more. 00:13:36.710 --> 00:13:39.129 30 % reduction. That's huge recovered revenue. 00:13:39.490 --> 00:13:41.309 Absolutely. And the compelling part is these 00:13:41.309 --> 00:13:43.529 aren't pie -in -the -sky experimental techniques. 00:13:43.830 --> 00:13:46.450 They're not crazy expensive toys. Practical stuff. 00:13:46.830 --> 00:13:49.429 Practical, profitable solutions that pencil out 00:13:49.429 --> 00:13:51.909 from day one. They make financial sense right 00:13:51.909 --> 00:13:54.730 away. So this proactive approach, it becomes 00:13:54.730 --> 00:13:58.230 this massive competitive differentiator. Incredible 00:13:58.230 --> 00:14:01.259 differentiator. Farms doing this aren't just 00:14:01.259 --> 00:14:04.100 surviving the heat. They're using it as a chance 00:14:04.100 --> 00:14:07.419 to absolutely dominate their neighbors. Dominate? 00:14:07.440 --> 00:14:10.460 How so? Well, the article tells this great story 00:14:10.460 --> 00:14:14.480 about a producer near Lancaster. Calls his heat 00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:17.740 stress system his secret weapon. Okay. While 00:14:17.740 --> 00:14:20.379 his neighbors are struggling, may be seeing 25 00:14:20.379 --> 00:14:25.169 -30 % production drops in summer. He's consistently 00:14:25.169 --> 00:14:28.330 maintaining close to 90 % of peak production 00:14:28.330 --> 00:14:31.210 clear through August. 90 % through August. That's 00:14:31.210 --> 00:14:34.190 game -changing consistency. It totally changes 00:14:34.190 --> 00:14:37.110 the economics. And the best part, most of these 00:14:37.110 --> 00:14:40.009 solutions pay for themselves in months, not years. 00:14:40.049 --> 00:14:42.309 But the competitive advantage they give you, 00:14:42.330 --> 00:14:44.450 that can last for decades. Okay, let's dig into 00:14:44.450 --> 00:14:46.629 that. What's this technology revolution that's 00:14:46.629 --> 00:14:49.070 changing the game? Right. We're moving way beyond 00:14:49.070 --> 00:14:51.740 those, you know, old... tunnel ventilation systems 00:14:51.740 --> 00:14:54.299 that basically just moved hot air around like 00:14:54.299 --> 00:14:57.039 some kind of convection oven nightmare. Yeah, 00:14:57.139 --> 00:14:58.919 they weren't always effective, were they? They 00:14:58.919 --> 00:15:01.659 were a start, but they lacked precision adaptability. 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:03.799 So what are the top operations using now? They're 00:15:03.799 --> 00:15:06.480 leveraging variable speed ventilation systems 00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:10.240 with automated controls. These things adjust 00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:13.990 fan speeds based on real -time data. Temperature, 00:15:13.990 --> 00:15:16.889 humidity, even wind direction. Smart fans. Totally. 00:15:17.110 --> 00:15:19.330 They're sophisticated systems designed to create 00:15:19.330 --> 00:15:22.529 actual microclimates. They can reduce the effective 00:15:22.529 --> 00:15:25.409 temperature around the cows substantially. It's 00:15:25.409 --> 00:15:27.669 not just moving air. It's managing the thermal 00:15:27.669 --> 00:15:30.210 environment. And you said automated. Yeah, and 00:15:30.210 --> 00:15:32.429 the key is their predictive capability. They're 00:15:32.429 --> 00:15:34.549 smart enough to ramp up before things get critical, 00:15:34.690 --> 00:15:37.190 not reacting after the cows are already stressed. 00:15:37.429 --> 00:15:39.750 Proactive, not reactive. Minimizes the hits. 00:15:39.850 --> 00:15:43.129 Exactly. The article highlights this 2 ,200 -cow 00:15:43.129 --> 00:15:45.389 operation in Lancaster County again. They heard. 00:15:45.549 --> 00:15:47.990 Yeah. They retrofitted their freestalls with 00:15:47.990 --> 00:15:51.509 these smart systems for about $45 per cow. Okay, 00:15:51.570 --> 00:15:54.669 $45 a cow. Payback. Pay for itself in under three 00:15:54.669 --> 00:15:56.549 months, just from better milk production and 00:15:56.549 --> 00:15:58.970 less feed waste. Under three months? That's incredible 00:15:58.970 --> 00:16:02.990 ROI. Right. The manager is so convinced, he's 00:16:02.990 --> 00:16:04.889 thinking about putting them in the heifer facilities 00:16:04.889 --> 00:16:07.950 now. And what's great is these systems often 00:16:07.950 --> 00:16:11.210 integrate with existing barns. No need for massive 00:16:11.210 --> 00:16:13.669 new construction usually. Speeds up the payback 00:16:13.669 --> 00:16:16.990 even more. Okay, so smart fans. What else? Soakers. 00:16:17.649 --> 00:16:20.470 Progressive producers are installing high -volume, 00:16:20.470 --> 00:16:23.049 low -pressure soaking systems. Soaking systems? 00:16:23.110 --> 00:16:25.570 Where? Usually in the holding pen, designed to 00:16:25.570 --> 00:16:28.330 completely wet cows' backs and necks during those 00:16:28.330 --> 00:16:30.850 crucial 20 -30 minutes they spend waiting to 00:16:30.850 --> 00:16:34.009 be milked. Ah, okay. While they're waiting. Yeah. 00:16:34.110 --> 00:16:37.269 The science is solid. Evaporative cooling from 00:16:37.269 --> 00:16:39.669 soaking can reduce core body temperature significantly 00:16:39.669 --> 00:16:43.289 in just minutes. Helps them dump heat fast. Stops 00:16:43.289 --> 00:16:45.690 that core temp from climbing. Makes sense. Keeps 00:16:45.690 --> 00:16:47.570 them from carrying that heat stress forward. 00:16:47.889 --> 00:16:50.350 It's literally the difference between a cow that 00:16:50.350 --> 00:16:52.389 recovers overnight and one that carries heat 00:16:52.389 --> 00:16:54.710 stress forward for days, which, you know, has 00:16:54.710 --> 00:16:56.710 those cumulative negative effects. And the cost. 00:16:56.909 --> 00:16:59.409 Is that expensive? Surprisingly affordable. About 00:16:59.409 --> 00:17:02.389 $15 per cow for the entire system installation. 00:17:02.789 --> 00:17:06.750 $15? Yeah. Compare that minimal investment to 00:17:06.750 --> 00:17:09.029 the thousands you lose from unmanaged heat stress. 00:17:09.470 --> 00:17:12.710 You see why it pencils out so fast. It's a key 00:17:12.710 --> 00:17:14.769 piece of the cooling puzzle. OK, here's one that 00:17:14.769 --> 00:17:17.349 really caught my eye in the article. The zero 00:17:17.349 --> 00:17:21.349 dollar solution. Ah, yes. Sometimes the best 00:17:21.349 --> 00:17:23.430 fixes don't involve writing a big check, right? 00:17:23.569 --> 00:17:26.170 Exactly. It talks about strategically shifting 00:17:26.170 --> 00:17:29.369 feeding schedules, providing the majority of 00:17:29.369 --> 00:17:32.319 daily ration between 8 p .m. and 6 a .m. During 00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:35.019 the coolest hours of the day. Right. Why does 00:17:35.019 --> 00:17:37.299 that work? Well, the physiological benefit is 00:17:37.299 --> 00:17:40.119 pretty significant. By feeding them mainly during 00:17:40.119 --> 00:17:43.700 cooler periods, you let them consume peak nutrients 00:17:43.700 --> 00:17:46.240 when metabolic heat production from digestion 00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:49.240 is at its lowest. Ah, digestion itself creates 00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:51.880 heat. A lot of heat, especially in the rumen. 00:17:52.279 --> 00:17:55.480 So timing feed delivery strategically helps mitigate 00:17:55.480 --> 00:17:57.720 that internal heat load during the hottest part 00:17:57.720 --> 00:17:59.299 of the day. And does it actually make a difference? 00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:01.660 Farms doing this are seeing measurable improvements 00:18:01.660 --> 00:18:04.720 in feed efficiency during heat stress. Cows are 00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:06.579 just more comfortable eating and digesting. So 00:18:06.579 --> 00:18:09.319 they waste less feed. Exactly. On a 500 -cow 00:18:09.319 --> 00:18:11.859 dairy, that means saving substantial amounts 00:18:11.859 --> 00:18:14.579 of feed per cow per day. That adds up quickly, 00:18:14.680 --> 00:18:16.759 especially with feed costs doing what they do. 00:18:16.859 --> 00:18:19.240 Sure does. Any examples? Yeah, Operation Central 00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:22.299 Wisconsin. They saw feed efficiency improve so 00:18:22.299 --> 00:18:26.079 much, they actually... reduced their TMR tonnage 00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:29.200 by 8 % during the summer months. 8 % less TMR. 00:18:29.380 --> 00:18:31.319 That's huge savings. Just from change to the 00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:33.940 timing. Saved them $12 ,000 in feed costs over 00:18:33.940 --> 00:18:36.380 the summer. $12 ,000 just by feeding at night. 00:18:36.440 --> 00:18:38.759 Wow. Now, the challenge, of course, is often 00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:41.180 getting the crew on board, adjusting schedules, 00:18:41.420 --> 00:18:45.160 ensuring consistency. But the payoff can be massive. 00:18:45.420 --> 00:18:47.680 A testament to how simple management changes 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:50.109 can have a big impact. Okay, so beyond cooling 00:18:50.109 --> 00:18:52.730 and feeding times, genetics. Yeah, genetics is 00:18:52.730 --> 00:18:55.089 the real game changer for long -term resilience. 00:18:55.269 --> 00:18:58.230 Fans and soakers help cows cope, right? But the 00:18:58.230 --> 00:19:00.069 revolution that builds resilience into the herd 00:19:00.069 --> 00:19:01.930 itself, that's happening to the breeding pen. 00:19:02.230 --> 00:19:04.670 Let's talk about the S -L -I -C -K gene. S -L 00:19:04.670 --> 00:19:07.009 -I -C -K gene, heard about it. What's the key 00:19:07.009 --> 00:19:09.109 takeaway? Cattle carrying this specific gene. 00:19:09.889 --> 00:19:12.509 Maintain significantly lower body temperatures 00:19:12.509 --> 00:19:14.769 than conventional cattle under identical heat 00:19:14.769 --> 00:19:17.349 stress conditions. They have shorter, slicker 00:19:17.349 --> 00:19:20.029 hair coats. So they're naturally cooler. Exactly. 00:19:20.130 --> 00:19:21.789 They're not just surviving, they're absolutely 00:19:21.789 --> 00:19:25.609 thriving in heat. Research from LIC shows SLACK 00:19:25.609 --> 00:19:29.869 carriers maintain 1 .5 -1 .0 degrees lower room 00:19:29.869 --> 00:19:33.109 and temperatures when THI exceeds 73. Doesn't 00:19:33.109 --> 00:19:35.490 sound like much. Half a degree. Seems small. 00:19:35.819 --> 00:19:37.660 But that difference in core body temp translates 00:19:37.660 --> 00:19:40.059 to way better performance and comfort. And the 00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:42.839 cost. It's semen expensive. Slightly higher, 00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:45.460 maybe five to eight acres more per unit. But 00:19:45.460 --> 00:19:47.660 the production advantages alone usually justify 00:19:47.660 --> 00:19:49.859 that easily. Any proof it works in the real world. 00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:52.680 Oh, yeah. Operations in hot places like Texas 00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:56.740 and Florida. SLI CK -influenced heifers are literally 00:19:56.740 --> 00:19:58.619 carrying the herd through the summer months, 00:19:58.759 --> 00:20:01.230 keeping significantly better production. While 00:20:01.230 --> 00:20:03.009 others struggle. And you don't lose production 00:20:03.009 --> 00:20:05.170 potential. That's the exciting part. The trait 00:20:05.170 --> 00:20:07.130 stacks with conventional production genetics. 00:20:07.450 --> 00:20:09.809 You're not sacrificing milk production to get 00:20:09.809 --> 00:20:12.150 heat tolerance. You can select for both. High 00:20:12.150 --> 00:20:14.529 production and heat tolerance. That's the dream. 00:20:14.769 --> 00:20:17.549 Pretty much. And it's not just SLICK, the major 00:20:17.549 --> 00:20:19.309 AI companies. They aren't just talking about 00:20:19.309 --> 00:20:21.329 heat tolerance anymore. They're actually delivering 00:20:21.329 --> 00:20:24.329 it. How? Genomic breeding values. Holstein's 00:20:24.329 --> 00:20:27.880 jerseys. Sires now have specific genomic values 00:20:27.880 --> 00:20:30.660 for heat stress performance. So you can select 00:20:30.660 --> 00:20:33.900 for it directly? Exactly. Integrate thermotolerance 00:20:33.900 --> 00:20:36.519 into your existing breeding program without sacrificing 00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:39.400 other important traits. It's about informed choices 00:20:39.400 --> 00:20:41.940 for the next generation. And are people seeing 00:20:41.940 --> 00:20:44.920 results from these genomic selections yet? Early 00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:48.200 adopters are. Heifers sired by these heat -tolerant 00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:51.240 bulls show measurably better heat stress performance, 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:53.740 especially when it gets hot. And that benefit 00:20:53.740 --> 00:20:56.079 just grows over time. It calms down over generations. 00:20:56.460 --> 00:20:58.819 You're gradually building a future herd with 00:20:58.819 --> 00:21:01.099 built -in resilience. Some farms are already 00:21:01.099 --> 00:21:04.619 seeing 10 -15 % less seasonal variation in milk 00:21:04.619 --> 00:21:07.359 production. That's huge for year -round consistency. 00:21:07.700 --> 00:21:09.019 Okay, let's shift back to something maybe more 00:21:09.019 --> 00:21:11.819 fundamental but still critical. Precision, nutrition, 00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:15.019 and water. Yeah, getting the basics right, but 00:21:15.019 --> 00:21:18.319 with a modern, data -driven approach. crucial. 00:21:18.420 --> 00:21:21.380 Like with nutrition, some old ideas are actually 00:21:21.380 --> 00:21:24.279 making things worse. Ooh, like what? That old 00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:26.660 wisdom about reducing protein during heat stress. 00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:29.599 Yeah, I've heard that. Less metabolic heat. Turns 00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:32.119 out, new research, Penn State, I think. shows 00:21:32.119 --> 00:21:35.059 heat stress cows actually have significantly 00:21:35.059 --> 00:21:38.039 increased protein requirements. Increased? Really? 00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:41.240 Specifically, additional bypass protein. That's 00:21:41.240 --> 00:21:43.619 protein that gets absorbed directly, providing 00:21:43.619 --> 00:21:45.740 key amino acids when their feed intake drops. 00:21:46.019 --> 00:21:48.660 So cutting protein is the wrong move. Seems like 00:21:48.660 --> 00:21:51.789 it. And the market context helps here. Corn futures 00:21:51.789 --> 00:21:56.089 for July 2005 look okay, right? $3 .94 to $4 00:21:56.089 --> 00:21:59.529 .80 gives more flexibility for precision nutrition 00:21:59.529 --> 00:22:01.589 strategies. So you can afford to feed them, right? 00:22:01.690 --> 00:22:04.529 Yeah. And the synergy is powerful. Good cooling 00:22:04.529 --> 00:22:07.089 systems plus these precision heat stress rations, 00:22:07.150 --> 00:22:09.269 you get substantially better feed efficiency. 00:22:09.849 --> 00:22:12.029 Cows are comfy in getting the right fuel. So 00:22:12.029 --> 00:22:14.299 what's the secret then? Balancing amino acid 00:22:14.299 --> 00:22:17.039 profiles for increased metabolic efficiency while 00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:19.180 providing additional nutrients to compensate 00:22:19.180 --> 00:22:22.380 for reduced intake. Smart. Targeted feeding. 00:22:22.619 --> 00:22:24.500 The article had a table comparing strategies, 00:22:24.660 --> 00:22:26.240 right? Yeah, that was pretty compelling. Like 00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:29.039 traditional protein management, reduce it 12 00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:32.640 -14%. Precision. Increase bypass protein. Results 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:36.000 in plus 8 -12 % production. Wow. Big difference. 00:22:36.299 --> 00:22:38.819 Mineral programs. Enhanced electrolytes versus 00:22:38.819 --> 00:22:42.259 standard, plus 5 -8 % water intake. Vital for 00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:45.480 hydration. Makes sense. Feeding schedule. Fixed 00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:48.640 versus strategic nighttime feeding. Plus 3 -5 00:22:48.640 --> 00:22:50.920 % efficiency. We talked about that one. And vitamins. 00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:53.660 Targeted antioxidants versus generic. Better 00:22:53.660 --> 00:22:56.019 immune function. It all adds up. Better nutrition 00:22:56.019 --> 00:22:58.440 sets cows up for better performance post -heat 00:22:58.440 --> 00:23:00.799 stress, too. Reduces the toll. Okay. And then 00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:03.720 water, the overlooked profit center. Massively 00:23:03.720 --> 00:23:05.740 overlooked. Here's a mind blower. Lactating cows 00:23:05.740 --> 00:23:08.799 in heat stress need substantially more water, 00:23:08.839 --> 00:23:11.819 like a massive increase. Yeah. Often 20, 50 % 00:23:11.819 --> 00:23:14.839 more than normal. 50 % more water. Yeah. And 00:23:14.839 --> 00:23:17.420 the problem, most operations are way behind on 00:23:17.420 --> 00:23:20.259 water infrastructure to meet that demand. Creates 00:23:20.259 --> 00:23:23.099 bottlenecks. Cows don't drink enough. So what's 00:23:23.099 --> 00:23:26.039 the fix? Just more tross? High flow systems. 00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:29.799 Multiple water points, like 1 per 100 cows, isn't 00:23:29.799 --> 00:23:32.259 crazy. The investment is surprisingly low, maybe 00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:36.519 $25 per cow for installation. $25? But the return, 00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:40.960 $150 - $200 per cow annually in better milk yield 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:44.019 persistence. Pays back super fast. And quality 00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:46.750 matters too, you said. Huge difference. Heat 00:23:46.750 --> 00:23:48.970 -stressed cows get incredibly picky about water 00:23:48.970 --> 00:23:51.309 palatability. Just cleaning lines regularly, 00:23:51.589 --> 00:23:53.930 improving flow rates, makes a measurable difference 00:23:53.930 --> 00:23:56.289 in intake. And timing. When do they drink most? 00:23:56.549 --> 00:23:58.450 They drink a substantial portion in the four 00:23:58.450 --> 00:24:01.109 hours right after milking. Creates this surge. 00:24:01.329 --> 00:24:03.789 You need adequate capacity at water points then. 00:24:03.970 --> 00:24:05.970 So maybe bigger troughs near the parlor exit. 00:24:06.170 --> 00:24:08.329 Some farms are installing dedicated post -milking 00:24:08.329 --> 00:24:11.009 water stations just for that peak demand. And 00:24:11.009 --> 00:24:13.710 water temp matters. Cows prefer 60 -70 degrees 00:24:13.710 --> 00:24:17.109 out of water. Cooler water. So... Water chillers. 00:24:17.130 --> 00:24:19.269 Are those realistic? They might sound pricey, 00:24:19.269 --> 00:24:22.349 maybe $15 ,000. But when you're losing $1 ,000 00:24:22.349 --> 00:24:25.369 plus daily to heat stress, that $15 ,000 starts 00:24:25.369 --> 00:24:27.410 looking pretty reasonable, doesn't it? Quick 00:24:27.410 --> 00:24:30.009 ROI. Yeah, puts it in perspective. Okay, moving 00:24:30.009 --> 00:24:33.809 on. The monitoring revolution, making management 00:24:33.809 --> 00:24:36.930 predictive, not reactive. Exactly. That's the 00:24:36.930 --> 00:24:40.049 key. Advanced monitoring systems, wearable sensors, 00:24:40.430 --> 00:24:44.289 environmental data, giving producers 12, 24 hours 00:24:44.289 --> 00:24:46.970 advance warning of bad heat streets coming. A 00:24:46.970 --> 00:24:49.650 crystal ball for the herd. Pretty much. Allows 00:24:49.650 --> 00:24:52.190 you to intervene before production crashes. What 00:24:52.190 --> 00:24:54.009 are these systems tracking? Continuously tracking 00:24:54.009 --> 00:24:56.170 things like rumination patterns, activity levels, 00:24:56.289 --> 00:24:58.650 body temperature, so you can implement cooling. 00:24:59.240 --> 00:25:01.859 before cows even show visible signs like panting 00:25:01.859 --> 00:25:04.259 or dropping feed intake. Early intervention is 00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:06.559 key. Totally. Cows getting cooled before their 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:08.940 core temp spikes show substantially better recovery 00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:11.299 rates, maintain production better. The impact 00:25:11.299 --> 00:25:14.339 is real. One California farm prevented $40 ,000 00:25:14.339 --> 00:25:16.819 in heat stress losses last summer just from that 00:25:16.819 --> 00:25:19.259 advance warning. 40 grand saved by knowing ahead 00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:21.569 of time. And these systems give deeper insights, 00:25:21.710 --> 00:25:24.509 too, like individual cow responses, which pens 00:25:24.509 --> 00:25:27.369 are struggling more, allows for really targeted 00:25:27.369 --> 00:25:29.869 management. But what if you can't afford the 00:25:29.869 --> 00:25:31.529 high -tech wearables right now? Are there low 00:25:31.529 --> 00:25:34.450 -cost options? Absolutely. The article highlights 00:25:34.450 --> 00:25:36.630 effective, low -cost solutions that actually 00:25:36.630 --> 00:25:40.990 work. Simple stuff. Adequate shade per cow, ensuring 00:25:40.990 --> 00:25:44.029 easy water access. These make a difference. And 00:25:44.029 --> 00:25:47.359 DIY monitoring. Yeah. Stoop producers track things 00:25:47.359 --> 00:25:50.380 like daily water consumption, feed refusal rates, 00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:52.920 and bulk milk temperature as early indicators. 00:25:53.380 --> 00:25:56.410 Water usage is a great trigger. Oh, so? When 00:25:56.410 --> 00:25:58.730 daily water consumption increases significantly 00:25:58.730 --> 00:26:01.829 above normal, that's your signal. Time to ramp 00:26:01.829 --> 00:26:03.589 up cooling before the milk production drops. 00:26:03.890 --> 00:26:06.369 Ah, water intake as the canary in the coal mine. 00:26:06.490 --> 00:26:08.630 Exactly. That Central Valley producer tracks 00:26:08.630 --> 00:26:11.049 water meter readings daily. A big spike means 00:26:11.049 --> 00:26:13.769 he's got exactly 24 hours to implement additional 00:26:13.769 --> 00:26:16.509 cooling before production starts sliding. Simple, 00:26:16.589 --> 00:26:19.250 low -cost foresight. And milk temp. Bulk tank 00:26:19.250 --> 00:26:21.309 temps creeping up, even if the tank cooler is 00:26:21.309 --> 00:26:24.049 working fine. That can indicate the cows giving 00:26:24.049 --> 00:26:26.900 the milk are heat stressed. It's a real -time 00:26:26.900 --> 00:26:28.759 heat stress indicator right there in the milk 00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:31.960 house. Tangible, actionable stuff. This all leads 00:26:31.960 --> 00:26:34.779 to the big question, the economic reality, the 00:26:34.779 --> 00:26:38.680 ROI. Right. And the numbers are impressive. Comprehensive 00:26:38.680 --> 00:26:42.680 heat stress systems delivering 3 .1 to 5 .1 ROI 00:26:42.680 --> 00:26:45.079 in the first year. Three to five times your money 00:26:45.079 --> 00:26:47.880 back in year one. Yeah. Investing maybe $100 00:26:47.880 --> 00:26:51.359 per cow can yield $300, $500 in improved performance 00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:54.180 annually. And it compounds, right. profoundly. 00:26:54.559 --> 00:26:56.799 It's not just surviving this summer. It's building 00:26:56.799 --> 00:27:00.559 long -term resilience. Efficiency pays dividends 00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:03.640 for years. By year three or four, these systems 00:27:03.640 --> 00:27:07.880 often deliver 7 .1 or 8 .1 returns. The profitability 00:27:07.880 --> 00:27:10.339 keeps climbing. The article broke down that investment 00:27:10.339 --> 00:27:12.940 timeline pretty clearly. Makes it seem less daunting. 00:27:13.240 --> 00:27:14.700 It really does. Let's run through those payback 00:27:14.700 --> 00:27:16.500 periods again because they're key. Okay. Basic 00:27:16.500 --> 00:27:19.400 cooling improvements, 3550 cow invested, annual 00:27:19.400 --> 00:27:23.279 return, $150, $200. Payback. Just three, four 00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:25.900 months. Three to four months. Wow. Water system 00:27:25.900 --> 00:27:29.880 upgrades. $25 .40 cow. Return $100 or $150 annually. 00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:32.720 Yeah. Payback. Even faster. Two, three months. 00:27:32.940 --> 00:27:34.900 Two to three months for water. Okay. Precision 00:27:34.900 --> 00:27:37.599 ventilation. Yeah. Bigger investment. $75, $125 00:27:37.599 --> 00:27:41.480 cow. But still yields $300, $450 annually. Payback. 00:27:41.579 --> 00:27:44.240 Two, four months. Still incredibly fast. Monitoring 00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:48.019 systems. $40, $60 cow. Return. $120, $180 annually. 00:27:48.660 --> 00:27:51.369 Payback. Three, five months. Mm -hmm. In a whole 00:27:51.369 --> 00:27:55.269 shebang, a complete package, 275 Cal investment 00:27:55.269 --> 00:28:00.009 returns. 671 ,980 annually. Still pays back in 00:28:00.009 --> 00:28:01.940 three for months. Payback periods in months, 00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:03.619 not years. That really changes the calculation, 00:28:03.900 --> 00:28:05.819 doesn't it? Fundamentally changes how you view 00:28:05.819 --> 00:28:07.680 these investments. And like you said, often the 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:09.279 biggest returns are from the simplest things. 00:28:09.380 --> 00:28:12.140 That one farm, $50 ,000 annual improvement from 00:28:12.140 --> 00:28:14.900 a $25 ,000 investment in fans and water. Five 00:28:14.900 --> 00:28:16.359 -month payback. These are profitable investments, 00:28:16.579 --> 00:28:18.680 period. So why does timing matter so much now? 00:28:18.819 --> 00:28:21.319 Looking towards 2025, market signals are mixed. 00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:23.859 Right. USDA forecast for 2025, all milk price, 00:28:23.920 --> 00:28:26.720 maybe $22, Senate 8. Production up. Okay, decent 00:28:26.720 --> 00:28:29.339 price, more milk. Which means efficiency gains 00:28:29.339 --> 00:28:31.420 from heat stress management become even more 00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:34.319 critical for maintaining profitability. Especially 00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:37.220 if margins get tighter. Every gallon, every pound 00:28:37.220 --> 00:28:39.940 of feed, every pregnancy counts more. Exactly. 00:28:40.559 --> 00:28:42.920 Maintaining consistency isn't just nice. It's 00:28:42.920 --> 00:28:44.859 a competitive necessity. You've got to maximize 00:28:44.859 --> 00:28:48.880 every cow's potential. And the supply side? Heifers. 00:28:48.960 --> 00:28:51.759 Still tight. Inventory remaining near historic 00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:55.240 lows. That makes... every cow more valuable on 00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:57.900 your farm. Makes preventing heat stress losses 00:28:57.900 --> 00:29:01.599 more economically critical than ever. You can't 00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:03.880 easily replace them. Like that Wisconsin producer 00:29:03.880 --> 00:29:06.180 said, I can't replace these cows easily, so I 00:29:06.180 --> 00:29:08.019 better take care of the ones I have. Perfect 00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:10.460 mindset shift. Value and protect your existing 00:29:10.460 --> 00:29:13.099 assets. And labor. That's a constant pressure. 00:29:13.420 --> 00:29:16.400 Getting harder to ignore, right? Costs keep climbing. 00:29:16.599 --> 00:29:19.200 Wages pushed higher. Makes automated cooling 00:29:19.200 --> 00:29:21.960 labor -efficient practices increasingly attractive. 00:29:22.200 --> 00:29:24.680 Reduces manual work during hot periods. Yeah, 00:29:24.720 --> 00:29:27.259 and it's not just cost, it's reliability. Automated 00:29:27.259 --> 00:29:30.420 systems don't forget to turn on fans. They don't 00:29:30.420 --> 00:29:33.500 call in sick during the hottest week. That consistency 00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:36.240 is gold when you're under pressure. Frees up 00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:38.480 your people for higher value stuff. Like cow 00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:41.299 observation preventative care. Exactly. Okay, 00:29:41.359 --> 00:29:44.079 what's next? The innovation pipeline looks pretty 00:29:44.079 --> 00:29:46.619 exciting. Yeah, what's coming? Automated cooling. 00:29:47.099 --> 00:29:50.019 with AI -driven optimization, is already in beta 00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:52.519 testing on some farms. AI cooling? How does that 00:29:52.519 --> 00:29:54.960 work? Adjusts cooling based on individual cow 00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:58.240 response. Not just generic weather data. It learns. 00:29:58.519 --> 00:30:01.559 So it knows which cow needs more cooling. That's 00:30:01.559 --> 00:30:04.200 the direction. Prototypes that can identify individual 00:30:04.200 --> 00:30:06.900 cows showing early heat stress signs and provide 00:30:06.900 --> 00:30:09.440 targeted cooling. Imagine precision sprinklers 00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:12.440 hitting just that one cow. Wow. Personalized 00:30:12.440 --> 00:30:15.180 cooling. And these systems learn from your operation. 00:30:15.710 --> 00:30:17.650 They get custom -tuned to your cows, your barn, 00:30:17.670 --> 00:30:20.230 your weather, continuously optimizing. And genetics, 00:30:20.410 --> 00:30:24.329 beyond S -L -I -C -K. Gene editing, showing real 00:30:24.329 --> 00:30:26.470 promise for enhancing natural heat tolerance 00:30:26.470 --> 00:30:29.990 without sacrificing production genetics. Breeding 00:30:29.990 --> 00:30:32.750 inherently resilient cows without compromise. 00:30:33.109 --> 00:30:36.210 That's the holy grail. Plus, adapting precision 00:30:36.210 --> 00:30:39.109 ag techniques for dairy. Real -time adjustment 00:30:39.109 --> 00:30:42.950 of cooling, feeding, management protocols based 00:30:42.950 --> 00:30:45.710 on individual data. We could see substantial 00:30:45.710 --> 00:30:48.170 improvements in inherent heat tolerance in the 00:30:48.170 --> 00:30:50.130 next five, seven years. Five to seven years. 00:30:50.369 --> 00:30:52.509 Might even see cows that do better in the heat. 00:30:52.630 --> 00:30:55.009 Could happen. Fundamentally shifts things. And 00:30:55.009 --> 00:30:56.930 there's an environmental bonus, too. Oh, yeah. 00:30:57.009 --> 00:30:59.569 Less methane. Many of these strategies do reduce 00:30:59.569 --> 00:31:02.690 methane. Better feed efficiency means less enteric 00:31:02.690 --> 00:31:04.829 methane. Better comfort improves room and function. 00:31:04.950 --> 00:31:07.190 So it's a win -win. Potentially a win -win -win. 00:31:07.529 --> 00:31:09.970 Positions farms for carbon credit opportunities. 00:31:10.289 --> 00:31:12.630 Could add meaningful revenue per cow annually. 00:31:12.809 --> 00:31:15.690 Some farms are already participating. Turn stewardship 00:31:15.690 --> 00:31:18.269 into revenue. Okay, so pulling it all together, 00:31:18.609 --> 00:31:21.589 why is acting now so critical? Because there's 00:31:21.589 --> 00:31:24.309 a clear early adopter advantage. Climate change 00:31:24.309 --> 00:31:26.769 isn't slowing down. Neither is the competitive 00:31:26.769 --> 00:31:29.359 advantage available to early adopters. Get ahead 00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:32.160 or fall behind? Pretty much. Farms acting now 00:31:32.160 --> 00:31:34.200 are building long -term competitive advantages. 00:31:34.640 --> 00:31:37.519 Technology costs are dropping. Performance advantage 00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:41.000 is growing. So delaying is costly. Every season 00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:43.579 you delay implementation is another season of 00:31:43.579 --> 00:31:46.279 lost profits and reduced competitiveness. We 00:31:46.279 --> 00:31:49.559 saw it with robots, with genomics. Early adopters 00:31:49.559 --> 00:31:52.420 dominate. Late adopters struggle. It's a crucial 00:31:52.420 --> 00:31:54.599 window. And that labor efficiency point again. 00:31:54.680 --> 00:31:56.980 Unexpected benefit, right? Modern heat stress 00:31:56.980 --> 00:31:59.299 management brings reduced later requirements, 00:31:59.660 --> 00:32:02.200 automation, precision feeding, better design, 00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:05.660 less daily work. Which means significant annual 00:32:05.660 --> 00:32:09.180 savings. Reinvest or bottom line. And redirect 00:32:09.180 --> 00:32:11.440 your best people to higher value activities. 00:32:12.079 --> 00:32:14.859 Maximize your human capital. Okay, so for a producer 00:32:14.859 --> 00:32:16.960 listening right now, what's the practical path 00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:19.339 forward? How do they start? The article gives 00:32:19.339 --> 00:32:22.299 a clear roadmap. Keep it simple. First step, 00:32:22.460 --> 00:32:25.410 assess your current heat stress losses. Track 00:32:25.410 --> 00:32:28.349 the numbers. Milk drops, conception rates, feed 00:32:28.349 --> 00:32:30.730 efficiency during hot spells. You can't manage 00:32:30.730 --> 00:32:33.029 what you don't measure. Exactly. The data will 00:32:33.029 --> 00:32:35.349 probably shock you, but it'll justify the investment. 00:32:35.849 --> 00:32:39.369 That PA farm losing $85 ,000 annually to preventable 00:32:39.369 --> 00:32:41.450 stress, they didn't realize until they tracked 00:32:41.450 --> 00:32:43.869 it. Simple records are enough to build the case. 00:32:44.089 --> 00:32:46.650 Okay. Assess the losses. Then what? Use that 00:32:46.650 --> 00:32:48.549 three -phase approach. It's brilliant because 00:32:48.549 --> 00:32:51.000 each phase pays for the next. Makes it manageable. 00:32:51.019 --> 00:32:54.079 Zero to 30 days. Immediate action. Feed timing 00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:56.819 changes. Optimized water access. Minimal cost. 00:32:57.319 --> 00:32:59.660 Benefits. Significant improvements in feed efficiency 00:32:59.660 --> 00:33:03.400 and cow comfort. Can cut losses by 15 -20 % right 00:33:03.400 --> 00:33:06.680 away. Okay. Quick wins. Phase 2. 30 to 90 days. 00:33:06.880 --> 00:33:09.380 Build on Phase 1. Install basic cooling, more 00:33:09.380 --> 00:33:11.900 fans, improve shade. Moderate investment benefits. 00:33:12.420 --> 00:33:14.099 Substantial improvements in production stability. 00:33:14.279 --> 00:33:16.720 Another 10 -15 % improvement on top of phase 00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:19.259 one. Getting serious now, phase three. 90 to 00:33:19.259 --> 00:33:22.180 180 days. The comprehensive long -term solutions. 00:33:22.700 --> 00:33:25.240 Precision cooling, advanced monitoring. Bigger 00:33:25.240 --> 00:33:27.420 investment, yes, but delivers comprehensive heat 00:33:27.420 --> 00:33:29.920 stress management with maximum ROI. Often 30 00:33:29.920 --> 00:33:32.359 -40 % improvements over baseline. And financing 00:33:32.359 --> 00:33:34.960 this. Is it tough? Often better than you think. 00:33:35.319 --> 00:33:38.740 Multiple financing options available. USDA programs, 00:33:39.079 --> 00:33:41.799 equipment financing. Those emerging carbon credit 00:33:41.799 --> 00:33:44.700 opportunities can cut upfront costs dramatically. 00:33:45.200 --> 00:33:48.059 Goal is cash flow positive from day one. Right. 00:33:48.099 --> 00:33:50.799 Work with lenders who get ag, who offer seasonal 00:33:50.799 --> 00:33:53.839 payments, and explore those carbon credits. Some 00:33:53.839 --> 00:33:56.319 offer upfront payments for verified efficiency 00:33:56.319 --> 00:33:59.400 games. Finally, don't do it alone. Huge point. 00:33:59.720 --> 00:34:03.059 The partnership advantage. Most success stories 00:34:03.059 --> 00:34:05.740 involve partnerships between producers, nutritionists, 00:34:05.880 --> 00:34:08.780 veterinarians, and technology providers. Integrated 00:34:08.780 --> 00:34:11.059 approach. Delivers substantially better results 00:34:11.059 --> 00:34:13.519 than piecemeal solutions. You need regular collaboration, 00:34:13.760 --> 00:34:15.880 monthly check -ins, data review. Heat stress 00:34:15.880 --> 00:34:18.480 management requires ongoing optimization. So 00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:21.039 the big picture reality check. Climate change 00:34:21.039 --> 00:34:24.300 is reshaping dairy farming, no doubt. Presents 00:34:24.300 --> 00:34:27.500 challenges, but also creating unprecedented opportunities 00:34:27.500 --> 00:34:29.920 for those who adapt. The tools are here today. 00:34:30.159 --> 00:34:33.429 So the choice is? Keep losing money. Keep losing 00:34:33.429 --> 00:34:36.630 substantial money per cow annually to preventable 00:34:36.630 --> 00:34:39.829 losses or strategically invest in solutions that 00:34:39.829 --> 00:34:43.409 add significant value per cow, build resilience, 00:34:43.690 --> 00:34:46.309 create a competitive edge. The producers who 00:34:46.309 --> 00:34:49.110 act now will be the ones still profitable in 00:34:49.110 --> 00:34:52.150 2030. It's about building an operation that can 00:34:52.150 --> 00:34:54.989 thrive regardless of what weather patterns throw 00:34:54.989 --> 00:34:57.579 at us. Mastering heat stress isn't just solving 00:34:57.579 --> 00:34:59.480 a summer problem. It's building a competitive 00:34:59.480 --> 00:35:02.059 advantage for decades. So the ultimate question 00:35:02.059 --> 00:35:04.280 isn't, can you afford to implement comprehensive 00:35:04.280 --> 00:35:06.719 heat stress management? The question is, can 00:35:06.719 --> 00:35:09.659 you afford not to? Exactly. So after all that, 00:35:09.760 --> 00:35:12.059 what's the ultimate key takeaway for a farmer 00:35:12.059 --> 00:35:13.920 listening today? How do they boil this down? 00:35:14.179 --> 00:35:16.519 Okay, connecting it all. There's a clear path. 00:35:16.960 --> 00:35:18.980 First, quantify your losses. You have to measure 00:35:18.980 --> 00:35:21.559 it. Track milk conception, feed use during heat. 00:35:21.699 --> 00:35:24.380 The data shows the real cost justifies action. 00:35:24.579 --> 00:35:27.019 No yambers. Second, grab the low -hanging fruit. 00:35:27.340 --> 00:35:30.360 Optimize water. Adjust feed timing. Minimal cost. 00:35:30.480 --> 00:35:34.300 Big impact. 15 -20 % improvement fast. Generates 00:35:34.300 --> 00:35:36.840 cash for the next steps. Start simple. Get momentum. 00:35:37.280 --> 00:35:41.260 Third, embrace the tech and genetics. Look at 00:35:41.260 --> 00:35:43.500 precision cooling, especially with those fast 00:35:43.500 --> 00:35:47.360 paybacks. Explore SLACK or genomic selection 00:35:47.360 --> 00:35:50.159 for heat tolerance. Invest in future resilience 00:35:50.159 --> 00:35:52.900 and profit. Build for the long term. And finally, 00:35:52.980 --> 00:35:55.619 absolutely crucial. Don't go it alone. Partner 00:35:55.619 --> 00:35:59.039 up. Your nutritionist, your vet, technology providers. 00:35:59.599 --> 00:36:02.019 Create an integrated plan for your farm. Team 00:36:02.019 --> 00:36:04.099 effort. Because this isn't just about getting 00:36:04.099 --> 00:36:05.900 through summer anymore. It's about building a 00:36:05.900 --> 00:36:08.039 fundamentally stronger, more profitable dairy 00:36:08.039 --> 00:36:10.760 that can thrive for years to come. Great points. 00:36:11.219 --> 00:36:13.519 Invaluable insights. And well, that's probably 00:36:13.519 --> 00:36:15.440 all the time we have for today's deep dive into 00:36:15.440 --> 00:36:17.199 heat stress management. Yeah, we covered a lot 00:36:17.199 --> 00:36:19.059 of ground. For more articles and insights like 00:36:19.059 --> 00:36:22.579 this, be sure to visit www .thebullvine .com. 00:36:22.739 --> 00:36:24.400 And don't forget to subscribe wherever you get 00:36:24.400 --> 00:36:26.619 your deep dives. Thanks for listening. Thanks 00:36:26.619 --> 00:36:29.559 for tuning in to The Bullvine Podcast. We hope 00:36:29.559 --> 00:36:32.300 this episode gave you valuable takeaways to protect 00:36:32.300 --> 00:36:35.300 your bottom line from heat stress. Remember, 00:36:35.539 --> 00:36:38.000 the smartest producers don't wait for problems 00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:41.559 to hit. They prepare and act proactively. Stay 00:36:41.559 --> 00:36:43.780 ahead of the curve, and we'll see you next time 00:36:43.780 --> 00:36:46.500 with more no -nonsense dairy industry insights. 00:36:46.860 --> 00:36:50.340 Until then, keep turning challenges into opportunities.