Breaking free from the chains of the past Where
truth moves faster than a Holstein calf No law
waiting on some printed page We're charting new
ground in the digital age From genomic codes
to robot facts We cut through the noise, no hold
them back not your daddy's dairy news tonight
we're sparking Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast,
your go -to for no -nonsense, real talk about
dairy farming. Today we're diving into a game
-changer, how polled genetics are shaking up
dairy herds across North America. If you've been
wondering whether to stick with the old ways
or jump into the polled future, we've got you
covered with the facts and what it means for
your bottom line. Grab a cup of coffee and let's
get started. Welcome back to the Bullvine podcast,
the show that digs deep into the topics that
matter to dairy producers. And today we're diving
headfirst into a really fascinating and frankly,
groundbreaking feature article from the Bullvine.
It's got everyone talking in the industry, I
think. Yeah, it really does. It's about a shift
so fundamental, it could really reshape how we
think about herd management and profitability,
too. Exactly. We're going to break it all down
for you. Absolutely. Today, we're embarking on
a deep dive into, well, a monumental shift in
the dairy world, the unstoppable rise of pulled
genetics. For decades, it really felt like producers
were stuck with this uncomfortable choice, you
know, a perceived tradeoff between natural hornlessness,
which we wanted for welfare, for safety and the
elite production or, you know, superior health
traits you need for a competitive herd. Right.
That was always the argument. But as our sources
from the bullfine, specifically the articles,
the end of the iron. Paul genetics take the lead
and the polled revolution, a strategic analysis
as they unequivocally show that era of compromise.
It's definitively over. Yeah, the game has changed.
So our mission today is to unpack this paradigm
shift, explore its true economic impact, which,
spoiler alert, is far greater than many probably
realize. Oh, much greater. Understand the powerful
external pressures that are now driving rapid
adoption, and most importantly, map out a practical
sort of boots -on -the -ground strategy for producers
like you to navigate this new landscape. Yeah,
how to actually do it. Exactly. Get ready to
rethink everything you thought you knew about
dehorning. because the future of dairy, it seems
to be hornless and it's here now. Okay, let's
unpack this monumental news then. It's really
reverberating through the industry. Our first
source, the end of the iron. It practically shouts
it from the headlines. Stanton's remover, PP,
just claimed the number one spot on Canada's
August 2025 proven Holstein LPI rankings. Number
one. And this isn't just another high ranking
bull. This is a homozygous pulled bull, meaning,
you know, he guarantees every single one of his
offspring will be born hornless. Every single
one. Topping a major national index based on
actual real world daughter performance. For a
producer who's been in this industry for a while,
how significant is this achievement? Look, it's
fascinating. Yeah. Because this isn't just a
new bull hitting the charts. This is the irrefutable,
the undeniable proof producers have been patiently
and maybe even a little skeptically waiting for.
Right, waiting a long time. And for literally
decades, the argument against pole genetics was
simple. And to be fair, historically accurate.
Yeah, it was. You had to give up something significant.
Production? Health, overall genetic merit, whatever
it was, if you wanted that hornless herd. And
the numbers, for a long time, they backed that
up. Elite genetics simply came with horns. Dehorning
felt like a, well, a necessary evil for many.
A cost of doing business. But Stanton's Rover
PP, with an incredible 38897 LPI and LPI, the
Lifetime Profit Index in Canada, it's comprehensive,
right? It factors in everything. Milk, fat, durability,
health, fertility. Basically, overall herd profitability.
Right. The whole package. Remover's number one
spot fundamentally changes that math. It just
shatters it. This isn't just a feel -good animal
welfare pick anymore. This is top -tier genetic
performance without compromise. Wow. It's that
moment where ethics and economics finally, truly
align. And that clears the path for an industry
-wide transformation driven by both sides of
the equation. And it really is a monumental shift
when you think about that historical context
you just mentioned. For nearly 30 years, the
conventional wisdom for, you know, keeping on
with dehorning was rock solid. Producers had
a legitimate excuse, as the Bullvine article
puts it. They really did. Choosing pulled genetics
meant sacrificing vital production, health, confirmation
traits. The pulled gene pool was... Well, it
was too limited, which led to legitimate concerns
about lower genetic merit and, frankly, the practical
challenge of potential inbreeding because of
that restricted genetic diversity. Exactly. You
didn't have many options. Historically, the polled
allele frequency in, say, the U .S. Holstein
population was less than 1%. Can you imagine
trying to find a competitive polled sire back
then, one that could truly stand shoulder to
shoulder with the top horned bulls? Almost impossible.
Where you took a big hit somewhere else. Incredibly
difficult. So for a long time, the dehorning
iron, yeah, not ideal for the animals or the
farm, but it felt like a necessary evil to maintain
herd performance and stay competitive. It did.
That excuse, as our source so powerfully states,
it has just died. Yeah, it's gone. And what truly
killed that excuse, what shattered that 30 -year
-old barrier, was the genomic revolution. No
question. Ah, genomics. Okay. The introduction
of genomic testing back in 2009. Absolute game
changer. fundamentally altered the pace, the
direction of genetic progress, instead of waiting
years for daughters to prove a bull's worth.
Yeah, the old progeny testing. Right. Genomics
allows for early and incredibly accurate identification
of genetically superior polled animals just by
analyzing their DNA markers. It's like having
a crystal ball for breeding, almost. It really
is. And this dramatically accelerated genetic
progress in a way that conventional breeding
just couldn't touch. We're seeing this play out
in the numbers. Look at the polled gene frequency
among Canadian Holsteins. It surged from just
1 .5 % in 2015. Tiny. To an estimated 12 .5 %
by 2025. That's not just slow growth. That's
exponential growth. Oh, huge jump. Fueled directly
by the ability to find and use these high -ranking
polled sires that were sort of hidden in those
hornless bloodlines. One of our sources really
highlights this. And the proof of purity is there
too, right? It's not just potential anymore.
It's undeniable. The April 2025 Holstein Canada
LPI evaluation had nine polled bulls in the top
100 LPI. That solidifies their mainstream status
right there. Nine in the top 100. Okay. And in
the U .S., top mazagas polled PP sires now average
over 1 ,100 in net merit, NM. And net merit,
that's a robust economic index, predicts lifetime
profitability. Right. And the heterozygous, the
PFIRs, genetically on par with their horned counterparts.
This isn't just theory anymore. It's proven demonstrable
parity. The numbers are there. So it's not just
about catching up to horn genetics anymore, is
it? The sources actually highlight an accelerated
rate of gain for polled. That's fascinating.
It is. Between 2011 and 2015, for example, top
polled bulls improved their LPI by 162 points
annually. Okay. While the top horn bulls, they
improved by only 91 points per year in that same
period. So polled gained faster. Much faster.
Polled sires showed a 178 % higher rate of genetic
gain. during that specific window. This isn't
just parity. This data suggests a really compelling
trajectory where polled genetics might very well
soon lead the entire industry. Dude, not just
match. Pushing the boundaries of what's possible
in genetic improvement. So for a producer, investing
in polled isn't just keeping pace anymore. It's
potentially getting ahead of the curve. Okay.
And Stanton's remover PP is the poster child
for this then? Precisely. He's the poster child
for this new, exciting era. His number one ranking
at 388097 LPI is a landmark achievement, not
just for him, but for the whole polled breeding
movement. And the critical distinction here,
Sarah, is that he is the first homozygous polled
bull to top a major national index based on actual
daughter performance. Not just genomics, real
daughters. Exactly. This isn't just a prediction,
which is powerful, don't get me wrong. This is
real -world proof, derived from hundreds of daughters
across dozens of herds. That gives incredibly
high reliability and consistency in his performance.
Right, confidence. So for producers, this means
you're investing in a bull that doesn't just
promise, but guarantees 100 % polled offspring.
Guarantees it. This eliminates that last bit
of the trade -off. It allows for a rapid, seamless
polled transition without any compromise on top
-tier genetics. It just fundamentally reshapes
the risk -reward calculation, gives producers
real confidence in that investment. And Remover
isn't an anomaly, which is another really crucial
point for listeners. The sources also point to
other elite examples, right? Definitely not an
anomaly. They mention FB8084, Adabao PET. He
consistently ranks among elite proven peace hires
on the US TPI lists. TPI, Total Performance Index,
another big one. Right. Another major index balances
production, health, type. These examples show
there's a diverse growing pool of high ranking
poll genetics available. It's not a one off miracle
bull. It's a clear, sustained trend. The depth
is there now. OK, so the trend is clear. For
producers looking to embrace this, maybe we should
quickly cover the basics of polled inheritance,
just to be sure everyone's on the same page.
Yeah, good idea. It's actually pretty straightforward.
It's controlled by a single dominant gene. You
know, dominant. Meaning, if an animal inherits
just one copy of the polled allele, they'll be
born hornless. Just one copy does it. This simple
pattern gives us three main genotypes, each with
different implications for your breeding program.
First, you have PP homozygous polled, two copies
of the polled allele. Okay, PP, double polled.
They are, of course, phenotypically hornless.
But the strategic part is they will pass a polled
allele to 100 % of their offspring. Every single
calf is guaranteed hornless, no matter who the
mate is. Doesn't matter what the cow is. Doesn't
matter. This PP genotype is truly the cornerstone
for an accelerated, really rapid herd transition.
If you want to get there fast, PP is the tool.
Right. So use a PP bowl. Every single calf is
pulled. Simplifies things immensely. Then we
have PP heterozygous pulled. Right. PP, one pulled
allele, one horned allele. So mixed genetically.
Mixed genetically, but they're also phenotypically
pulled. They won't have horns themselves. They
look pulled. They look pulled. However, on average,
they only transmit that pulled allele to 50 %
of their progeny. Half get it, half don't. Okay.
50 -50 chance. Exactly. So this genotype is central
to more gradual, maybe more balanced transition
strategies. Because you can still get horned
calves, which has cost implications we'll talk
about. It requires careful management. Okay.
And the last one is PP. Simple. PP is homozygous
horned. Two horned alleles. These animals will
always be born with horns. Always horned. Understanding
these distinctions, PP, PP and PP, is just crucial
for making smart, targeted breeding decisions
that align with your herd's transition goals,
whether you want to go fast or take a more measured
approach. Got it. Okay, one common point of confusion
our sources bring up, and I've heard this too,
is the scurs anomaly. Ah, yes, scurs. Producers
might see scurs, those little loose horn -like
growths, and mistakenly think, oh, the polled
breeding failed, or this animal isn't really
polled, but that's not right, is it? Not at all.
And it's really critical to clarify this. Scurs
are definitely not a genetic failure of the polled
trait itself. They are actually controlled by
a completely separate gene. Different gene entirely.
Different gene. And its expression is sex -influenced.
It acts dominant in males but recessive in females.
Oh, interesting. So more common in bulls. You'll
see them more often in bulls, yes. But here's
the key point. Scurs only appear on heterozygous
polled animals. Only on the poop ones. Only on
the pee -pee. You will never see scurs on a homozygous
polled pee -pee or a homozygous horned pee -pee
animal. So in a way, their presence is actually
a useful visual indicator that an animal is a
pee -pee carrier. Like a little flag saying,
I'm PP. Exactly. Which highlights the critical
importance of staff training for accurate identification
and recording. You absolutely do not want to
accidentally dehorn a calf with scurs thinking
it's fully horned when it's actually carrying
that valuable pole gene. Oh, yeah. That would
be a very costly mistake, genetically and financially.
Huge mistake. Wipes out the benefit right there.
So what does this all mean for you, the dairy
producer listening today? Big picture on the
genetics. Big picture. The genetic quality is
no longer a barrier. Full stop. You can have
elite, high -performing cows and be hornless.
You no longer have to choose between optimal
performance and enhanced animal welfare or improved
farm safety. That choice, it's now obsolete.
The genetics are there. Okay, so the genetic
barrier is clearly gone. Incredible possibilities
for breeding there. But in farming, breakthroughs
only really matter if they make economic sense,
right? The bottom line. Always comes back to
the bottom line. So let's peel back the layers
of what you think dehorning costs. Because our
sources reveal a financial brain that's far deeper
than most producers probably realize. Oh, yeah.
Much deeper. When we talk about the comprehensive
economic calculus of dehorning, what does this
actually uncover for our listeners? Well, it
raises a really important question, doesn't it?
Are producers truly calculating the full financial
drain of keeping a horned herd? Probably not
everything. Exactly. Maybe just look at the obvious,
the direct costs, which, frankly, are just the
tip of a very large and eroding iceberg. The
iceberg. OK. The indirect costs, the ones that
are often unquantified, maybe ignored. They are
continuous silent drag on profitability. And
for a typical 500 cow operation, we're not talking
minor expenses here. These figures can quickly
hit six digits over time, accumulating silently
in the background. Six digits. Wow. It's a significant,
often overlooked burden on your bottom line.
Okay, let's break those costs down then, starting
with the direct expenses, because even they've
become more complex lately, haven't they? They
absolutely have. Industry analyses traditionally
put the procedure and labor for dehorning somewhere
between, say, $6 to $25 per head. Wide range.
Wide range, yeah. But a widely accepted average
was... often in the $12 to $13 range. But like
you said, that's not even the full direct cost
anymore. Right. What changed? Mandatory pain
mitigation. This is now, frankly, non -negotiable
across most of North America. Okay. The regulations.
Exactly. New regulations. like the NFACC Code
of Practice in Canada, updated in 2023, and the
U .S. National Dairy Farm Program 5 .0, which
covers, what, over 98 % of the U .S. milk supply?
Pretty much everyone, yeah. Both now mandate
documented pain control for any horn removal
procedure? Yeah. Disbutting, dehorning, doesn't
matter? Mandate, not optional. Not optional.
It's a strict compliance requirement. And this
adds, at a minimum, about $3 .25 per calf just
for the local anesthetic and the systemic NSAI,
the anti -inflammatories. Okay, so $3 .25 just
for pain meds. Just for the required pain meds.
To manage both the immediate pain and the post
-procedural discomfort. So you combine the procedure,
the labor, and the mandatory pain medication.
The minimum direct cost of dehorning a single
calf now sits somewhere around $15 to $18. $15
to $18 minimum direct cost. Okay, and that's
before we even touch the indirect costs, which
are often much larger. And those hidden costs,
that's where the economic argument for polled
really gets strong, isn't it? Undeniable. Let's
start with what our sources call growth performance
loss. Okay. Growth loss. They highlight that
the physiological stress and the pain from dehorning
cause a well -documented setback in calf performance.
It's proven science. How so? We're talking reduced
feed intake, slower average daily gain. ADG,
for weeks following the procedure. Weeks, not
just days. Weeks. And this isn't just about a
few pounds here or there. There's a strong scientifically
proven link between pre -weaning ADG and a heifer's
subsequent first lactation milk production. Oh,
yeah. So it affects them long term. Exactly.
This early life stressor isn't just temporary.
It has lasting negative economic consequences
on that animal's lifetime productivity. The estimated
economic value of just this production drag,
around $4 .50 per calf. $4 .50 just from slower
growth. And it compounds across your entire calf
crop year after year after year. Wow. Okay, what
else? Health complications. Absolutely. Very
real health complications. Dehorning, by its
nature, creates an open wound. Any open wound
significantly elevates the risk of infection,
other complications, things that need extra treatments,
vet care. Makes sense. Our sources indicate the
probability of needing treatment is somewhere
between 3 % and 8 % for dehorned calves. Okay.
Compare that to only 1 % to 3 % for their polled
counterparts. Much lower risk. Big difference.
Big difference. When you average this across
a herd, factor in the cost of antibiotics, anti
-inflammatories, maybe vet call -outs. This risk
translates to an additional cost of roughly $2
.75 per head. Another $2 .75 for health issues.
Money directly out of your pocket that you just
wouldn't be spending on a pulled animal. Okay.
Another cost the sources mention is carcass bruising
penalties. How does that fit in? Yeah, this one's
often overlooked, especially maybe on dairies
not focused on beef crosses. But horns are a
leading cause of carcass bruising. During transport
and handling? Exactly. Not just bruising the
horned animal itself, but also its herd mates.
Packers hate it. Because they have to trim it
off. Right. It resulted in financial penalties
from packers due to trim loss at the processing
plant. Our sources estimate this cost at about
$1 .25 to $1 .90 per head. Doesn't sound like
much per head, but. But it adds up, especially
relevant if you're running dairy beef cross programs
or even just marketing your cull cows. Every
penny adds up quickly in volume, directly hits
the final value of those animals. Right. And
what about just handling them day to day, worker
safety? Huge factor. We certainly can't forget
handling inefficiencies and the critical aspect
of worker safety. It's harder to put an exact
dollar figure on every single instance, maybe.
But horns undoubtedly cost producers an estimated
$1 to $3 per head. Increased time spent sorting,
moving, treating horned animals. They slow down
routines in parlors and headlocks. Reduces overall
labor efficiency. More hassle. More hassle. But
more importantly, they pose a constant risk of
injury. to the animals themselves bruising, stress,
and crucially a significant safety risk for your
staff. Yeah, that's a big one. During daily chores,
treatments, moving animals through facilities,
it's an ongoing drag on labor and a potential
liability for your operation. Huge liability.
So when you add all that up, direct costs, growth
loss, health, bruising, handling, what's the
total hit per calf? When all those factors are
combined, the direct procedure, the mandatory
pain meds, the growth setbacks, increased health
issues, carcass bruising, handling inefficiencies,
the total cost ranges from $22 to $35 per head.
$22 to $35 per calf. That's not small change.
Not at all. Our sources illustrate this. For
a typical 500 cow operation, this totals a staggering
$6 ,000 to $8 ,000 annually, just to keep dehorning.
$6 ,000 to $8 ,000 a year, just gone. and the
University Extension analyses, they suggest these
cumulative costs could easily exceed $100 ,000
over 15 to 20 years. Wow. In fact, one of our
sources gets really specific. A cumulative financial
drain of over $116 ,400 over a 20 -year period
for that 500 -cow dairy. Over $116 ,000. That's
a tractor. That's a significant down payment
on something major. It's a huge amount. That
unquantified cumulative drain over a decade.
It can absolutely eclipse the cost of major equipment
or expansion capital. It's not a minor expense.
It's a significant silent capital drain that
is now entirely avoidable. Entirely avoidable.
Okay. And what about this trap of partial adoption
the sources mention? That sounds bad. It is bad.
It's a critical point often overlooked. This
is a particularly damaging financial scenario
where a producer starts paying premiums for pulled
semen. Which, like we said, can be 15 -25 % more
expensive. Right. The PPE or good PPE semen costs
more. Costs more. But because they're maybe primarily
using heterozygous PPE lapires to manage cost,
they still get maybe 50 % horned calves. So they
still incur roughly half the traditional dehorning
costs. for those horned calves born from those
matings. Ah, so you're paying extra for semen
A and D still paying to dehorn half the calves.
Exactly. It's like buying a hybrid car but only
using electric mode half the time while still
paying for premium gas the rest of the time.
You're paying a premium for only partial savings.
The worst of both worlds, kind of. Pretty much.
Higher input cost for the genetics without fully
realizing the operational savings of having a
truly hornless herd. It's a cash flow drain without
the full benefit. Really inefficient. That's
a really important distinction. Highlights the
need for a clear strategy, not just dabbling.
And it's not just about what you save, right?
It's also about what you might gain in market
value. Good point. Our sources highlight that
the 100 % poll designation is rapidly becoming
a recognized premium for breeding stock. For
heifers, bulls. Especially high -value replacement
heifers, service bulls, particularly in private
sales. Maybe not always tracked consistently
in public auctions here yet. Not yet, maybe.
But data from places like Australia, it shows
tangible premiums. $15 to $30 AUD per head for
polled breeding animals. That shows an emerging
market preference. A value signal. Definitely.
And beyond direct sales, polled status also acts
as a crucial risk management tool. Insurers continue
to access to high value markets, which I think
leads nicely into our next theme. OK, but first,
the bottom line on economics for the listener.
Bottom line, you are quite literally hemorrhaging
money every single year through dehorning. And
these costs are only going up with new regulations,
mandatory pain mitigation. The cost is increasing,
not decreasing. Exactly. Eliminating dehorning
isn't just a feel good measure or just responding
to pressure. It's a direct, measurable return
on investment that will significantly impact
your bottom line, not just next year, but for
decades to come. It's a smart business decision
now. OK, so we've clearly established the genetics
are here. They're elite. The economics demand
going polled when you look at the whole picture.
But beyond the farm gate, there are these powerful
external forces at play. It really seems like
regulators and the market are making this transition
less of an option, more of an imperative. That's
absolutely right. It's not just about what's
happening on your farm anymore. Right. If we
connect this to the bigger picture, these external
pressures are fundamentally reshaping the business
environment for dairy. They're creating a scenario
where polled status is rapidly becoming the expected
standard, not just a nice -to -have. The expectation.
The expectation. And critically, failing to adapt
poses a significant market access risk. This
isn't just about keeping up. It's about future
-proofing your entire operation, securing your
place in the supply chain going forward. Okay,
let's dig into this new regulatory landscape
first. Because it's already here. It's impacting
producers right now. It is. Both Canada's NFACC
Code of Practice, the 2023 update, and the U
.S. National Dairy Farm Program 5 .0. They've
introduced significant changes. Tell us about
the Canadian Code first. The Canadian Code, NFACC.
It unequivocally requires both local anesthesia
and a systemic NSAID for any horn removal. No
ambiguity. Both. Local and systemic. Both. It's
not a recommendation. It's a clear, auditable
standard. And critically, the NFACC code also
strongly encourages using pole genetics as the
preferred method. Preferred method, okay. That's
a clear regulatory endorsement for a genetic
solution over just a management practice. And
that's strong encouragement. It becomes more
forceful when you think about audits, right?
It quickly becomes a de facto mandate when you
consider the audit trail. And in the U .S., the
Farm Program 5 .0 also now mandates documented
pain management for disbudding. So same pressure
in the U .S.? Same pressure. It universalizes
the increased cost and, crucially, the increased
administrative complexity for American producers.
So Canada or the U .S., these rules mean more
than just changing practice. They require an
extensive, meticulous audit trail. The paperwork.
The paperwork. Compliance is not optional. Programs
like Canada's ProAction, for example, require
rigorous audits. Records, protocols, maybe even
video evidence, detailed vet logs. Right. Proof.
Proof. Failure to provide documented proof of
pain control. It can lead to corrective action
plans, maybe financial penalties, and most critically,
it can jeopardize your access to processors and
co -ops that require that certification. Losing
your market. Exactly. The beauty of polled genetics
here, it eliminates this paperwork headache entirely.
One genomic test gives you permanent, irrefutable
verification of hornless status at birth. Done.
Beats years of logging pain meds. Beats years
of ongoing documentation and audits. It's a permanent
solution to a recurring compliance headache.
Huge operational advantage. Okay, huge advantage
for compliance, peace of mind. But it's not just
regulators setting these standards. The market
is speaking too, right? The supply chain. Absolutely.
The voice of the market, particularly the powerful
supply chain, is another major driver. Major
food companies, big retailers, they are actively
translating evolving consumer sentiment into
formal sourcing policies. Policies that explicitly
favor polled genetics. Favoring polled. Why?
They're positioning it as a key animal welfare
credential. This is where it gets really interesting
for your long -term market security. Okay. These
are global brands, and they are listening very
carefully to their consumers. Let's look at some
of these corporate policies. Like who? Nestle,
for example. Yeah. Global food giant. They identify
dehorning as a key focus in their global commitment
to animal welfare. They target phasing out dehorning
without anesthesia and analgesia from their entire
supply chain. Okay. That's a clear signal. Huge
signal. General Mills, another household name.
They directly support responsible polled breeding
practices as a primary means to eliminate dehorning.
They even cite the success this approach has
already had in the beef industry. So they see
it works elsewhere. They see it works. And Dunkin'
brands, even more explicit in their public statements,
they say they support the use of polled genetics
to promote polled or naturally hornless cattle
to eliminate the need for dehorning. And they
directly call on all their suppliers to embrace
this effort. Calling on suppliers. That's direct
pressure. It is. These aren't just suggestions.
These are clear public directives. And they will
increasingly impact where and how these companies
source their dairy products. It affects your
contracts. And it makes sense why polled is so
strongly preferred by these big brands, doesn't
it? Perfect sense. For them, polled genetics
offer a superior, permanent, and fundamentally
audit -proof animal welfare credential. Audit
-proof. That's the... key. That's the key. It's
a biological fact. You verify it once with a
simple genomic test at birth. Done. No ongoing
auditing, no complex management protocols to
prove compliance for the lifetime of that animal.
Right. Unlike pain management protocols. Exactly.
Pain management protocols, they're subject to
human error. Difficult to verify consistently
across thousands of different farms. They require
continuous, meticulous documentation. A lot more
variables. A lot more variables. Polled status
provides a level of market security, brand protection,
and simplified compliance that even the best
management protocols just can't match. It's a
verifiable, permanent solution. It removes future
questions, future risks for them. Okay. And this
global momentum. It's not just North America,
you mentioned. Not at all. We can look internationally,
especially Germany, for a really predictive model
of how quickly things can change once these drivers
align. Germany. What happened there? Germany
provides a compelling case study in exponential
adoption. They implemented a stricter Animal
Welfare Act in 2019, similar impact to NFACC,
raised the bar, raised the cost for dehorning
practices. And the use of polled genetics just
exploded. In 2023, 21 % of all genomically tested
Holstein females in Germany were polled. 21 %
up from what? Up from very low single digits
just a few years prior. And the projections for
2025. They indicate a staggering 72 % of all
Holstein matings in Germany will be to polled
sires. 72%. Wow. That's 40 % of PP, 32 % of PP.
It demonstrates an incredibly rapid industry
-wide pivot once you have genetic parity and
that regulatory and market pressure aligns. Things
move fast. Very fast. Any other examples? Australia
is another country showing strong and growing
interest as well. So the implication for North
America? It's clear. The transition here will
very likely follow a similar exponential curve,
not linear, exponential. Okay. Early adopters.
They'll capture significant advantages, not just
cost savings, but market positioning, reputation,
those who delay adoption. They'll eventually
be forced to adapt under increasing pressure.
And they might find themselves significantly
behind the industry standard very quickly, struggling
to meet market demands, facing higher compliance
costs. Playing catch -up is expensive. It's not
a gradual shift, then. It's a rapid acceleration,
potentially. Rapid acceleration is the key takeaway
there. So what does this all mean for you, the
dairy producer listening? It means this is more
than just compliance. It's insurance for your
business. Insurance. How so? Leading companies
prefer biological proof -pulled status over management
protocols because it's audit -proof, verifiable,
permanent. This means market access, securing
those contracts with major processors and retailers,
avoiding potential penalties. It's increasingly
tied to polled status. It's not just about being
compliant anymore. It's about being preferred,
securing your long -term viability in a changing
marketplace. OK, so we've firmly established
it. The genetics are here, elite performance.
The economics demand it, looking at the full
picture. And these external pressures are rapidly
accelerating the whole transition. Now, the million
-dollar question for our listeners, how do you
actually make this transition on your farm? What
does a realistic, boots -on -the -ground roadmap
look like? Right. This is where the rubber meets
the road. And it raises an important question.
For producers today, the risk isn't really genetic
lag anymore. That barrier's fallen. We covered
that. Genetics are good. Genetics are good. The
biggest risk now, it's operational failure, like
accidentally dehorning a genetically pulled calf.
Oh, right. You mentioned that. A successful transition
is a highly strategic process. It's not just
about buying different semen. It absolutely requires
careful planning. tailored to your specific operation.
And the biggest threat to your investment in
poll genetics is, surprisingly, human error undermining
those genetic games. Okay. Critical point for
risk mitigation. So let's start with phase one,
establishing a genetic baseline. What does that
involve? Why is it the essential first step?
Central first step. Typically over the first,
say, one to two months or maybe throughout your
first year, comprehensive genomic testing on
all your replacement heifers. All of them. Non
-negotiable. Non -negotiable. The great news
is standard genomic testing packages now include
polled status. It's simple, highly cost effective,
often around 50, 60 healers per animal. Okay.
Reasonable cost. Benefits. Benefits are immense.
immediate. It gives you an invaluable, precise
inventory of your existing genetic resources.
Right away, you identify any current heterozygous
pee -pee -pulled carriers in your herd. Find
those hidden teepees. Find the hidden peepees.
Animals that look pulled but could still pass
on the horned gene. This baseline data is crucial
because it enables incredibly precise sire selection.
Optimize your matings. It accelerates overall
genetic progress by helping you find your most
valuable polled genetics. And critically, it
prevents inefficient and costly matings. Like
breeding two peepees together. Exactly. By knowing
who is peep, you avoid breeding two peepee carriers
together. Which... on average, gives you that
costly 25 % chance of producing horned calves
you still have to dehorn. Waste of money and
effort. Makes sense. So initial steps in phase
one. Initial steps. Immediately begin using those
homozygous polled PP sires on your top genetic
females to maximize polled offspring right away.
And concurrently, start training your staff.
Accurate polled calf identification. That training
needs to start day one. Okay. What about the
financial expectations for that first year? Is
it immediate savings? No. Absolutely not. And
this is a crucial reality check our sources really
emphasize. Producers should fully expect cash
flow to be negative in year one. Okay. And potentially
into year two. Why? You're paying premiums for
that polled semen 15, 25 % more expensive, remember?
Right. While you're still dehorning calves born
from previous breeding cycles before you shifted
to polled, you're effectively managing two different
systems for a period. incurring costs on both
ends. Okay, so plan for that initial investment
period. Plan for it. It's important to plan for
maybe 18, 24 months before you start seeing real,
tangible operational savings kick in. A dairy
financial consultant quoted in our sources, they
advise planning for a five -year payback on the
total investment. Five years, not 15 or 20. Not
the longer projections. Why? The dairy business
changes too fast. You need to see that return
within a manageable period to justify the investment
in such a dynamic industry. Five years is a more
realistic business planning horizon. Okay, good
practical advice. So it sounds like the specific
transition strategy really needs tailoring to
the operation size goals. What do the sources
recommend there? That's right. No one -size -fits
-all approach. For small operations, typically
100, 300 cows, a more gradual approach is usually
recommended. Gradual, meaning? Primarily using
heterozygous PP sires over a longer period, maybe
six, eight years. The focus here is careful cash
flow management. Absorb those initial semen premiums
without too much financial strain. Slowly build
up the pulled gene frequency. Okay. Makes sense
for smaller herds. What about medium size? For
medium operations, say 300, 800 cows, the suggestion
is a balanced mix. both heterozygous PP and homozygous
PP sires. Mix and match. Mix and match. This
strategy targets achieving about 90 % pulled
calves in a more accelerated 5 -6 years. It allows
a good pace of transition without totally overburdening
the finances. Strikes a balance between speed
and cost. Okay. And the big herds, 800 plus cows.
For large operations, 800 plus cows, an accelerated
program is strongly advised, emphasizing the
predominant use of homozygous PP sires. Go hard
with PP. Go hard with PP. This approach aims
to achieve 90 % polled status in a faster timeframe,
maybe four to five years. Through aggressive
strategic genetic management, they can capitalize
on economies of scale, larger genetic base, faster
turnover. Can you elaborate a bit more on that
strategic genetic management, especially with
P .P. sires? You mentioned it's more than just
one generation. The sources talked about genetic
multipliers. Absolutely. That's a brilliant distinction.
Sophisticated use of P .P. sires is more than
just making one generation of pulled cows. It's
an investment in creating what our sources call
genetic multipliers. Really accelerate your herd's
pulled status. How does that work, practically?
Visualize this. Your initial breeding plan, you
breed an elite PP bull, guarantees 100 % pulled
offspring, right, to your best horned cows. Okay.
PP bull and PP cows. All the resulting heifer
calves from that mating. They will be heterozygous
pulled, females. They'll be pulled themselves.
But now, critically, they carry that valuable
pull gene from the elite sire. Right. They're
all P now. Now, here's the leverage. The next
step. You breed these PP females. Back to another
elite pee -pee bowl. Pee -pee females, back to
a pee -pee bowl. Now, 50 % of their offspring
will be homozygous -pulled pee -pee, and the
other 50 % will be heterozygous -pulled. Ah,
so you're creating PP females now. Exactly. This
isn't just linear progress one pole generation
after another. It's an exponential acceleration.
You're effectively multiplying the pole gene
throughout your herd much faster than just breeding
PP to horned cows generation after generation.
Multiplies the gene frequency. It creates a rapid
buildup of PP animals in your herd. Gets you
to a fully hornless herd much, much faster. That's
the strategic play with PP. That's a really powerful
way to think about herd improvement. So how does
this all unfold over a practical timeline? That
consultant's view you mentioned. Yeah, that three
-year timeline is a solid practical framework
to keep in mind. Year one, assessment and setup.
This means completing that comprehensive genomic
testing on your replacement heifers, starting
to use those PP sires on your top genetic females,
and, crucially, initiating thorough staff training
on identifying pole calves at birth. And expect
negative cash flow. Expect negative cash flow
due to semen premiums and still dehorning existing
horned calves. That's year one. Year two. Transition
phase. You'll start seeing the first significant
wave of polled calves hit the ground. Your reduced
dehorning costs will begin to materialize. You'll
continue with your genetic transition plan. Cash
flows should start moving towards break -even,
maybe slight positive. Starting to see the benefits.
Starting to see it. Finally, year three. payoff
territory. You'll have a significant percentage,
maybe 50 % or more, of polled calves in your
crop. Major cost savings from reduced dehorning
will be firmly established. You'll likely start
to see those market premiums for your polled
breeding stock become available. This is where
you demonstrate a clear positive return on your
investment. Year three is the payoff. Yeah. And
as you mentioned earlier, the biggest risk isn't
genetic lag, it's operational. So operational
integration, staff training, how do producers
protect that investment on the ground? This is
absolutely critical. Represents the single largest
risk mitigation factor. The biggest operational
blunder a dairy can make during this transition.
Accidentally dehorning a calf that is, in fact,
genetically pulled. That mistake wipes out the
investment. Completely wipes out your entire
genetic and financial investment in one swing.
You paid the premium for the pulled semen, and
then you incurred the dehorning costs unnecessarily,
and you lost the welfare advantage. Just a total
loss. So training is paramount. Rigorous, consistent
training protocols are essential. Your maternity
staff, your calf care staff. They must be meticulously
trained to accurately identify and record polled
calves at birth. Not just a quick glance. Not
just a glance. Understanding the subtle differences,
knowing what scurs look like versus horn buds,
having a clear procedure. You need clear, unambiguous
protocols to prevent any accidental dehorning.
Like what kind of protocols? Could be distinct
tagging systems, maybe specific colored ear tags
for polled, maybe a dedicated, clearly marked
horn -free pen for all polled calves until they're
past dehorning age. Whatever works reliably on
your farm. Okay. And finally, integrate polled
status PP, PP, or PP into all your breeding and
herd management software. Make sure it's tracked
consistently, visible to everyone making breeding
and calf care decisions. Data management is key.
Okay. Beyond just avoiding costs and risks, what
about some of the other on -farm benefits, the
ancillary stuff from having a polled herd? Oh,
there are many. And they contribute significantly
to the overall farm environment and ultimately
profitability. First and foremost, enhanced safety.
Obvious one, but huge. For workers. For workers.
A hornless herd dramatically reduces the risk
of injury to employees during handling, treatment,
daily chores. No horns mean fewer accidental
jabs, less frantic movements from animals trying
to use horns, generally safer interactions. Can
reduce workers' comp claims, improve staff morale.
Thank you. Definitely. What else? Second. Improved
animal welfare and behavior across the board.
Pulled cattle are consistently documented to
be less aggressive. Less fighting. Less fighting,
especially in competitive situations like at
the feed bunk or jostling in free stalls. This
leads to significantly fewer injuries among herd
mates. Reduction in stress hormones generally
creates a calmer, lower stress environment for
the entire herd. And lower stress usually means
better health, better production. Exactly. It
can translate to better health outcomes and productivity.
And finally, there are significant labor and
handling efficiencies. How so? Pornless animals
simply move more easily and safely through all
your facilities, handling chutes, parlors, headlocks.
They don't get caught, cause damage, or create
bottlenecks nearly as often. Smoother flow. Smoother
flow saves valuable time, reduces stress for
both the animals and your staff, lowers overall
labor requirements throughout the operation.
It's a cascading benefit. Touches almost every
aspect of daily farm life. So, to reiterate for
our listeners, this isn't just theory. It's a
practical, phased approach with clear steps.
But success hinges not just on picking the right
bulls. Not just genetics. It hinges equally on
meticulous operational management, robust protocols,
and most importantly, thorough staff training
to prevent those costly errors and fully capitalize
on the transition. Operation is key. Okay, so
after all that discussion, what's the key takeaway
for a farmer listening today? What are the absolute...
top actions they should be considering starting
like right now. Right. Let's boil it down. From
everything we've discussed, here are the crucial
immediate steps producers really need to take
to embrace this pulled revolution and secure
their future. First, stop hemorrhaging money
unnecessarily. That $22 to $35 per calf you're
spending on dehorning. It adds up. Potentially
over $116 ,000 for a 500 -cow dairy over two
decades. It's a significant avoidable financial
drain. That's the action. Start genomic testing
your replacement heifers today. Map your unique
herd's genetic landscape. Immediately identify
current polled carriers. It's a low -cost, high
-return first step to launch your transition
strategy. Know what you have. Okay. Number one.
Test your heifers. What second? Second, embrace
regulatory compliance made easy. New NFACC farm
program mandates. They require documented pain
control for dehorning. That means more paperwork,
more auditing, more operational cost and hassle.
Pold fixes that. Pold genetics eliminates this
headache entirely. One simple genomic test provides
permanent, irrefutable, audit -proof verification
of hornless status. Beads years of ongoing documentation
and compliance audits. Simplify your life. Got
it. Third point. Third, cash in on market premiums
and secure your future. Major food companies,
Nestle, General Mills, Dunkin' and Blexel, they
are actively seeking suppliers who prioritize
animal welfare. Verifiable polled status is quickly
becoming a key credential. So position yourself
now. Position yourself now before this becomes
just table stakes, a basic requirement for market
access. Secure your supply chain, enhance your
reputation, maybe even earn a premium for your
pulled breeding stock. Get ahead of the demand
curve. Okay, fourth action item. Fourth, plan
your breeding smartly and strategically. Use
those homozygous PP sires on your elite females
for 100 % pulled calves. If you want to aggressively
accelerate your transition, create those genetic
multipliers. Or mix with heterozygous PP sires
to manage cash flow while still making steady
progress. But critically, never breed two PP
carriers together. Avoid that 25 % chance of
horned calves that still need dehorning. Use
your genomic testing data to guide every mating.
Smart breeding. Okay, and the last one. And finally,
number five. Train your team or pay the price.
The single biggest risk in a modern pulled transition
isn't genetic lag. It's accidentally dehorning
a genetically pulled calf. That mistake wipes
out your entire genetic and financial investment
in one costly swing. So invest in training. Invest
in clear staff training, robust, unambiguous
protocols. Ensure pulled calves are correctly
identified and managed. Every single time. Protect
your long -term vision. Protect your investment.
It's absolutely essential. Those are truly great
and actionable points. Really practical stuff.
Yeah. Hopefully helpful. And that's about all
the time we have for today's deep dive into the
polled revolution. For more articles and insights
like this, be sure to visit our home at www .thebullvine
.com. And don't forget to subscribe wherever
you get your shows so you don't miss our next
deep dive. Thanks for listening. Thanks for hanging
out with us on The Bullvine Podcast. If you learned
something today, hit subscribe and share this
episode with your farm buddies. The dairy world
is changing fast. From genetics to animal care
to profitability, staying ahead means staying
informed. This is the Bullvine, wishing you smooth
milking and fat checks. Catch you next time.