WEBVTT 00:00:10.220 --> 00:00:14.039 Creeping across the pasture land. Got dirt on 00:00:14.039 --> 00:00:18.719 the boots and a working hand. From the milk house 00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:24.000 home to the auction call. These are the folks 00:00:24.000 --> 00:01:01.740 standing strong and tall. Yeah, this is... Hello, 00:01:01.759 --> 00:01:04.019 dairy fans. Welcome back to the Bullvine Podcast. 00:01:04.400 --> 00:01:06.480 I am your host, and today I have an incredible 00:01:06.480 --> 00:01:09.500 story to share with you. It is about Tirsvad 00:01:09.500 --> 00:01:12.299 Genetics, a name that has been making waves in 00:01:12.299 --> 00:01:15.280 Scandinavian dairy circles. This is a tale of 00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:18.000 tradition, innovation, and an unwavering commitment 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:22.019 to animal welfare. Picture this, the harsh, unforgettable 00:01:22.019 --> 00:01:25.540 sound of dehorning calves. No tranquilizers back 00:01:25.540 --> 00:01:29.040 then. No anesthetics, just raw reality. This 00:01:29.040 --> 00:01:31.340 childhood memory stayed with Surin Madsen his 00:01:31.340 --> 00:01:34.540 entire life. It sparked a mission to breed differently, 00:01:34.739 --> 00:01:39.299 smarter, kinder, more humane. Fast forward to 00:01:39.299 --> 00:01:42.500 2025. We are now in the era of genomic selection. 00:01:43.500 --> 00:01:45.780 Tursfad's dedication to polled genetics is no 00:01:45.780 --> 00:01:48.780 longer just a nice idea. It has become competitive 00:01:48.780 --> 00:01:51.560 with the best horn genetic lines available. Their 00:01:51.560 --> 00:01:53.980 polled two -year -olds average over 30 kilograms 00:01:53.980 --> 00:01:57.739 per day. That is about 66 pounds for our North 00:01:57.739 --> 00:02:00.200 American listeners. Their component percentages 00:02:00.200 --> 00:02:04.159 match the best horned rivals in the barn. You 00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:06.099 might think polled genetics is an old story, 00:02:06.340 --> 00:02:08.740 but for Tursfad, it was a patient investment 00:02:08.740 --> 00:02:11.719 spanning over a decade. They balanced genetics 00:02:11.719 --> 00:02:14.960 carefully to avoid inbreeding. They made calculated 00:02:14.960 --> 00:02:18.280 moves while others remained skeptical. Today, 00:02:18.479 --> 00:02:20.939 those efforts are paying off with calves delivering 00:02:20.939 --> 00:02:24.599 top production and robust health. Central to 00:02:24.599 --> 00:02:28.020 this story is a cow named Claire. Claire EX92. 00:02:28.419 --> 00:02:31.360 Not just any ordinary cow. She was born from 00:02:31.360 --> 00:02:34.379 a US embryo in 1995 and made a massive impact 00:02:34.379 --> 00:02:37.500 far beyond Denmark. Here is the remarkable part. 00:02:37.780 --> 00:02:40.659 Claire did not have an easy start. She faced 00:02:40.659 --> 00:02:43.319 multiple twin pregnancies. Some were terminated 00:02:43.319 --> 00:02:45.860 because they had mixed genders. But on the third 00:02:45.860 --> 00:02:49.080 attempt, success. Two heifer calves were born 00:02:49.080 --> 00:02:51.830 who would build a genetic dynasty. Claire produced 00:02:51.830 --> 00:02:54.949 over 40 offspring. Her influence spans continents. 00:02:55.330 --> 00:02:58.030 She contributed to bulls like Cogent Supershot, 00:02:58.150 --> 00:03:00.909 names that resonate deeply in breeding circles 00:03:00.909 --> 00:03:04.469 worldwide. Even today, 10 generations later, 00:03:04.689 --> 00:03:06.969 you can still recognize Claire's characteristics 00:03:06.969 --> 00:03:10.129 in her descendants. Surin is not alone in this 00:03:10.129 --> 00:03:12.710 journey. His wife Elizabeth is an accomplished 00:03:12.710 --> 00:03:15.789 veterinarian trained in Germany. She brings expertise 00:03:15.789 --> 00:03:19.280 in embryo transfer and in vitro production. Together, 00:03:19.419 --> 00:03:22.460 they run TransEmbryo, their biotech company. 00:03:22.680 --> 00:03:25.319 They also work with Viking Genetics several days 00:03:25.319 --> 00:03:29.000 each week. Their partnership is remarkable. Every 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:31.759 night ends the same way. A late walk through 00:03:31.759 --> 00:03:34.639 the barn, hands -on hides, discussions about 00:03:34.639 --> 00:03:37.080 potential matings, then morning coffee with more 00:03:37.080 --> 00:03:39.520 breeding debates. What strikes me most about 00:03:39.520 --> 00:03:42.039 their approach is the patience. While others 00:03:42.039 --> 00:03:44.460 chase the shortest generation intervals possible, 00:03:44.909 --> 00:03:48.069 TERSVAD values quantity and quality of embryos 00:03:48.069 --> 00:03:51.490 per flush. Think about this. Eight embryos and 00:03:51.490 --> 00:03:54.270 five calves on average per flush. This creates 00:03:54.270 --> 00:03:57.469 options and reduces risks. It is the classic 00:03:57.469 --> 00:04:01.110 case of slow and steady wins the race. Let me 00:04:01.110 --> 00:04:03.330 give you an example. The Peak Mechanico flush 00:04:03.330 --> 00:04:06.189 from a 12 -month -old heifer. Ten embryos were 00:04:06.189 --> 00:04:08.569 produced. All were transferred. Eight calves 00:04:08.569 --> 00:04:11.610 were born. Four heifers and four bulls. But only 00:04:11.610 --> 00:04:14.699 one bull made the cut as a top sire. That bull 00:04:14.699 --> 00:04:17.920 was Mad's P. It is about having choices and making 00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:20.600 the right selection. Then there is Mojito P, 00:04:20.879 --> 00:04:23.720 a true favorite with an exceptional pedigree. 00:04:23.920 --> 00:04:26.699 Her genetics trace to American bloodlines that 00:04:26.699 --> 00:04:29.959 resonate with breeders worldwide. Mojito's offspring 00:04:29.959 --> 00:04:32.240 have found success in high -production herds 00:04:32.240 --> 00:04:35.079 across different dairy systems. They are prized 00:04:35.079 --> 00:04:37.660 for their functional moderate size, soundness, 00:04:37.759 --> 00:04:41.100 and overall adaptability. These are traits essential 00:04:41.100 --> 00:04:44.360 for evolving dairy operations. But the story 00:04:44.360 --> 00:04:47.060 has challenges too. The specter of restrictive 00:04:47.060 --> 00:04:50.860 AI contracts looms large. These agreements threaten 00:04:50.860 --> 00:04:53.500 to lock breeders out of control over their own 00:04:53.500 --> 00:04:57.000 genetics. Surin speaks openly about how breeders 00:04:57.000 --> 00:04:59.600 risk losing rights to their female lines across 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:03.040 multiple generations. This kind of bottleneck 00:05:03.040 --> 00:05:04.980 could threaten the diversity and independence 00:05:04.980 --> 00:05:08.699 our dairy community needs to thrive. Despite 00:05:08.699 --> 00:05:12.720 these challenges, victories keep coming. The 00:05:12.720 --> 00:05:15.079 story of Neonish brings warmth to this narrative. 00:05:15.319 --> 00:05:18.060 This powerful black cow was crowned Danish national 00:05:18.060 --> 00:05:21.279 champion. Imagine being in that barn with muddy 00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:25.160 boots, standing alongside breeding legends, watching 00:05:25.160 --> 00:05:28.319 such a star rise, knowing that every challenging 00:05:28.319 --> 00:05:31.120 day contributed to this moment. These are the 00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:33.600 experiences that make all the hard work worthwhile. 00:05:34.139 --> 00:05:37.500 There are also moments of pure joy, like when 00:05:37.500 --> 00:05:39.819 Mad's pee hit the top of genetic evaluations 00:05:39.819 --> 00:05:43.500 worldwide. he became the highest NTM -polled 00:05:43.500 --> 00:05:46.839 Holstein bull globally with a score of plus 47. 00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:50.120 The news came while Surin and Elisabeth were 00:05:50.120 --> 00:05:52.519 conducting ovum pickups. They could not even 00:05:52.519 --> 00:05:55.180 check their phones during the procedure. Only 00:05:55.180 --> 00:05:57.579 afterward did they discover their bull had reached 00:05:57.579 --> 00:06:01.500 the pinnacle of genetic achievement. Travel experiences 00:06:01.500 --> 00:06:04.980 also enrich this story. Visits to American farms 00:06:04.980 --> 00:06:07.759 highlight the value of global perspectives. These 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:10.660 exchanges marry local patients with international 00:06:10.660 --> 00:06:14.199 boldness. Bringing back new bloodlines, including 00:06:14.199 --> 00:06:16.720 genetics from golden and oaks, adds strength 00:06:16.720 --> 00:06:19.100 to Tirsvad's traditional Scandinavian foundation. 00:06:19.819 --> 00:06:22.100 These connections prove that the best breeding 00:06:22.100 --> 00:06:24.759 programs embrace diversity from around the world. 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:27.939 The technical side is impressive too. Tirsvad 00:06:27.939 --> 00:06:30.500 starts flushing heifers at 10 to 12 months of 00:06:30.500 --> 00:06:33.600 age. This requires optimizing every step of raising 00:06:33.600 --> 00:06:36.720 donors. They feed high milk and concentrate until 00:06:36.720 --> 00:06:40.459 puberty. After that, It is premium hay and silage. 00:06:40.699 --> 00:06:43.360 When multi -embryo production is insufficient, 00:06:43.699 --> 00:06:47.100 they use ovum pickup technology. More siblings 00:06:47.100 --> 00:06:50.220 mean more selection opportunities and fewer genetic 00:06:50.220 --> 00:06:53.459 dead ends. For aspiring breeders listening today, 00:06:53.720 --> 00:06:56.899 TERSVAD offers valuable advice. Seek allies and 00:06:56.899 --> 00:06:59.459 build partnerships. Go together with two or three 00:06:59.459 --> 00:07:02.079 young breeders and invest in proven cow families. 00:07:02.399 --> 00:07:05.439 Take calculated risks, but do not be reckless. 00:07:06.089 --> 00:07:08.810 Remember monogenic traits and consider what consumers 00:07:08.810 --> 00:07:12.250 will want in 5 to 10 years. Do not be afraid 00:07:12.250 --> 00:07:15.110 to sell your champions sometimes. Your competitors 00:07:15.110 --> 00:07:17.569 sold their best to you when you bought your foundation 00:07:17.569 --> 00:07:21.750 stock. Above all, be prepared. Luck never comes 00:07:21.750 --> 00:07:25.529 to the unprepared. As of today, TERSVAD Genetics 00:07:25.529 --> 00:07:28.410 stands as a testament to combining passion, thoughtful 00:07:28.410 --> 00:07:31.360 science, and long -term vision. They prove that 00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:33.959 patience and animal welfare can coexist with 00:07:33.959 --> 00:07:37.040 genetic progress and economic success. Their 00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:39.740 polled genetics now compete with the industry's 00:07:39.740 --> 00:07:42.259 best. Their breeding philosophy of valuing quality 00:07:42.259 --> 00:07:45.160 over speed continues to produce exceptional results. 00:07:45.680 --> 00:07:48.220 Their commitment to maintaining breeder independence 00:07:48.220 --> 00:07:51.899 serves as a model for our entire industry. So 00:07:51.899 --> 00:07:53.860 next time you are working late in the barn or 00:07:53.860 --> 00:07:56.980 planning matings over coffee, remember TERSVAD 00:07:56.980 --> 00:07:59.920 genetics. They embody what happens when you combine 00:07:59.920 --> 00:08:03.480 genuine passion with scientific rigor and strategic 00:08:03.480 --> 00:08:07.199 patience. Their story shows us that the best 00:08:07.199 --> 00:08:10.019 breeding programs are built on unwavering principles, 00:08:10.279 --> 00:08:13.139 strong partnerships, and deep respect for the 00:08:13.139 --> 00:08:16.819 animals that make our industry possible. This 00:08:16.819 --> 00:08:18.899 has been another episode of the Bullvine Podcast. 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:22.420 Thank you for listening. Until next time, keep 00:08:22.420 --> 00:08:25.160 your boots muddy and your minds sharp. This is 00:08:25.160 --> 00:08:26.319 your host, signing off.