Creeping across the pasture land. Got dirt on
the boots and a working hand. From the milk house
home to the auction call. These are the folks
standing strong and tall. Yeah, this is... Hello,
dairy fans. Welcome back to the Bullvine Podcast.
I am your host, and today I have an incredible
story to share with you. It is about Tirsvad
Genetics, a name that has been making waves in
Scandinavian dairy circles. This is a tale of
tradition, innovation, and an unwavering commitment
to animal welfare. Picture this, the harsh, unforgettable
sound of dehorning calves. No tranquilizers back
then. No anesthetics, just raw reality. This
childhood memory stayed with Surin Madsen his
entire life. It sparked a mission to breed differently,
smarter, kinder, more humane. Fast forward to
2025. We are now in the era of genomic selection.
Tursfad's dedication to polled genetics is no
longer just a nice idea. It has become competitive
with the best horn genetic lines available. Their
polled two -year -olds average over 30 kilograms
per day. That is about 66 pounds for our North
American listeners. Their component percentages
match the best horned rivals in the barn. You
might think polled genetics is an old story,
but for Tursfad, it was a patient investment
spanning over a decade. They balanced genetics
carefully to avoid inbreeding. They made calculated
moves while others remained skeptical. Today,
those efforts are paying off with calves delivering
top production and robust health. Central to
this story is a cow named Claire. Claire EX92.
Not just any ordinary cow. She was born from
a US embryo in 1995 and made a massive impact
far beyond Denmark. Here is the remarkable part.
Claire did not have an easy start. She faced
multiple twin pregnancies. Some were terminated
because they had mixed genders. But on the third
attempt, success. Two heifer calves were born
who would build a genetic dynasty. Claire produced
over 40 offspring. Her influence spans continents.
She contributed to bulls like Cogent Supershot,
names that resonate deeply in breeding circles
worldwide. Even today, 10 generations later,
you can still recognize Claire's characteristics
in her descendants. Surin is not alone in this
journey. His wife Elizabeth is an accomplished
veterinarian trained in Germany. She brings expertise
in embryo transfer and in vitro production. Together,
they run TransEmbryo, their biotech company.
They also work with Viking Genetics several days
each week. Their partnership is remarkable. Every
night ends the same way. A late walk through
the barn, hands -on hides, discussions about
potential matings, then morning coffee with more
breeding debates. What strikes me most about
their approach is the patience. While others
chase the shortest generation intervals possible,
TERSVAD values quantity and quality of embryos
per flush. Think about this. Eight embryos and
five calves on average per flush. This creates
options and reduces risks. It is the classic
case of slow and steady wins the race. Let me
give you an example. The Peak Mechanico flush
from a 12 -month -old heifer. Ten embryos were
produced. All were transferred. Eight calves
were born. Four heifers and four bulls. But only
one bull made the cut as a top sire. That bull
was Mad's P. It is about having choices and making
the right selection. Then there is Mojito P,
a true favorite with an exceptional pedigree.
Her genetics trace to American bloodlines that
resonate with breeders worldwide. Mojito's offspring
have found success in high -production herds
across different dairy systems. They are prized
for their functional moderate size, soundness,
and overall adaptability. These are traits essential
for evolving dairy operations. But the story
has challenges too. The specter of restrictive
AI contracts looms large. These agreements threaten
to lock breeders out of control over their own
genetics. Surin speaks openly about how breeders
risk losing rights to their female lines across
multiple generations. This kind of bottleneck
could threaten the diversity and independence
our dairy community needs to thrive. Despite
these challenges, victories keep coming. The
story of Neonish brings warmth to this narrative.
This powerful black cow was crowned Danish national
champion. Imagine being in that barn with muddy
boots, standing alongside breeding legends, watching
such a star rise, knowing that every challenging
day contributed to this moment. These are the
experiences that make all the hard work worthwhile.
There are also moments of pure joy, like when
Mad's pee hit the top of genetic evaluations
worldwide. he became the highest NTM -polled
Holstein bull globally with a score of plus 47.
The news came while Surin and Elisabeth were
conducting ovum pickups. They could not even
check their phones during the procedure. Only
afterward did they discover their bull had reached
the pinnacle of genetic achievement. Travel experiences
also enrich this story. Visits to American farms
highlight the value of global perspectives. These
exchanges marry local patients with international
boldness. Bringing back new bloodlines, including
genetics from golden and oaks, adds strength
to Tirsvad's traditional Scandinavian foundation.
These connections prove that the best breeding
programs embrace diversity from around the world.
The technical side is impressive too. Tirsvad
starts flushing heifers at 10 to 12 months of
age. This requires optimizing every step of raising
donors. They feed high milk and concentrate until
puberty. After that, It is premium hay and silage.
When multi -embryo production is insufficient,
they use ovum pickup technology. More siblings
mean more selection opportunities and fewer genetic
dead ends. For aspiring breeders listening today,
TERSVAD offers valuable advice. Seek allies and
build partnerships. Go together with two or three
young breeders and invest in proven cow families.
Take calculated risks, but do not be reckless.
Remember monogenic traits and consider what consumers
will want in 5 to 10 years. Do not be afraid
to sell your champions sometimes. Your competitors
sold their best to you when you bought your foundation
stock. Above all, be prepared. Luck never comes
to the unprepared. As of today, TERSVAD Genetics
stands as a testament to combining passion, thoughtful
science, and long -term vision. They prove that
patience and animal welfare can coexist with
genetic progress and economic success. Their
polled genetics now compete with the industry's
best. Their breeding philosophy of valuing quality
over speed continues to produce exceptional results.
Their commitment to maintaining breeder independence
serves as a model for our entire industry. So
next time you are working late in the barn or
planning matings over coffee, remember TERSVAD
genetics. They embody what happens when you combine
genuine passion with scientific rigor and strategic
patience. Their story shows us that the best
breeding programs are built on unwavering principles,
strong partnerships, and deep respect for the
animals that make our industry possible. This
has been another episode of the Bullvine Podcast.
Thank you for listening. Until next time, keep
your boots muddy and your minds sharp. This is
your host, signing off.