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 --> 00:01:03.250 we're sparking Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast, 00:01:03.729 --> 00:01:06.629 your source for unfiltered insight, real -world 00:01:06.629 --> 00:01:09.170 data, and practical strategies from the front 00:01:09.170 --> 00:01:12.349 lines of the dairy industry. I'm your host, and 00:01:12.349 --> 00:01:14.709 today we dive into one of the most important 00:01:14.709 --> 00:01:17.370 and contentious battles shaping the future of 00:01:17.370 --> 00:01:20.790 Holstein genetics. Are we unlocking new heights 00:01:20.790 --> 00:01:23.670 through genomics or risking our herd's long -term 00:01:23.670 --> 00:01:26.510 health with rising inbreeding and short -term 00:01:26.510 --> 00:01:29.780 decisions? We'll break down the science, the 00:01:29.780 --> 00:01:32.260 economics, and the real action plans that can 00:01:32.260 --> 00:01:34.819 put your dairy at the front of this genetic war. 00:01:35.680 --> 00:01:37.900 Whether you're a progressive producer looking 00:01:37.900 --> 00:01:41.060 to protect your long -term ROI or a breeding 00:01:41.060 --> 00:01:43.879 buff chasing the next big thing, this episode 00:01:43.879 --> 00:01:46.219 will give you the clarity and confidence you 00:01:46.219 --> 00:01:49.859 need to lead your herd into the future. Let's 00:01:49.859 --> 00:01:52.319 dive in. Welcome back to the Bullvine podcast, 00:01:52.620 --> 00:01:54.799 the show that digs deep into the topics that 00:01:54.799 --> 00:01:56.879 matter to dairy producers. That's right. Today, 00:01:57.019 --> 00:02:00.299 we're tackling a really interesting feature article 00:02:00.299 --> 00:02:02.859 from the Bullvine that's got everyone talking. 00:02:03.620 --> 00:02:05.439 It's a pretty crucial piece, actually. Yeah, 00:02:05.500 --> 00:02:07.180 it really is. And we're going to break it all 00:02:07.180 --> 00:02:09.979 down. Exactly. Our mission for this deep dive 00:02:09.979 --> 00:02:13.560 is to truly unpack the current state of Holstein 00:02:13.560 --> 00:02:16.360 genetics. We're going to zero in on, well, the 00:02:16.360 --> 00:02:18.699 inbreeding crisis that's become such a pressing 00:02:18.699 --> 00:02:21.939 concern, you know, across the industry. And explore 00:02:21.939 --> 00:02:24.860 its far -reaching economic impact, right, on 00:02:24.860 --> 00:02:27.800 individual farms. And most importantly, provide 00:02:27.800 --> 00:02:30.620 you with practical, actionable strategies for 00:02:30.620 --> 00:02:33.080 navigating these challenges in your own operation. 00:02:33.500 --> 00:02:35.479 Yeah, definitely. We'll be pulling insights directly 00:02:35.479 --> 00:02:38.060 from comprehensive research and analysis featured 00:02:38.060 --> 00:02:40.319 right here on The Bullvine. It's a topic that 00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:43.120 honestly demands our attention. Because while 00:02:43.120 --> 00:02:45.400 genomic selection has, I mean, without a doubt, 00:02:45.419 --> 00:02:47.639 brought incredible progress. Almost revolutionary 00:02:47.639 --> 00:02:50.500 progress, yeah. It really has. But it has also 00:02:50.500 --> 00:02:53.599 kind of inadvertently created this significant 00:02:53.599 --> 00:02:55.979 growing challenge that we just can't ignore. 00:02:56.219 --> 00:02:58.800 Right. It's the other side of the coin. So we're 00:02:58.800 --> 00:03:00.580 going to unpack both sides of that for you today. 00:03:00.659 --> 00:03:03.659 Give you a complete nuanced picture of what's 00:03:03.659 --> 00:03:06.560 happening and, you know, critically, what tangible 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:09.599 steps you can take about it. Okay, so let's start 00:03:09.599 --> 00:03:12.280 with the part of the story everyone loves to 00:03:12.280 --> 00:03:15.340 celebrate, the incredible, almost dizzying pace 00:03:15.340 --> 00:03:18.099 of genetic progress we've witnessed over the 00:03:18.099 --> 00:03:19.960 last, what, couple of decades? Yeah, exactly. 00:03:20.139 --> 00:03:22.159 The article points out that genomics has truly 00:03:22.159 --> 00:03:24.460 revolutionized dairy farming. Oh, absolutely. 00:03:25.020 --> 00:03:27.060 Transformative for productivity. You're absolutely 00:03:27.060 --> 00:03:29.020 right. And the numbers here aren't just impressive. 00:03:29.710 --> 00:03:33.150 they really tell a story of a fundamental shift 00:03:33.150 --> 00:03:35.669 in how we advance our herds. Before the widespread 00:03:35.669 --> 00:03:38.569 adoption of genomics, say, around 2005 -2010, 00:03:38.750 --> 00:03:41.409 we were seeing annual genetic progress in net 00:03:41.409 --> 00:03:45.310 merit hovering, approximately $40 per year, specifically 00:03:45.310 --> 00:03:49.330 of $40 .33. Post -genomics, that figure has pretty 00:03:49.330 --> 00:03:52.870 much doubled. It reached around $79 .20 per year 00:03:52.870 --> 00:03:56.270 in the 2016 -2020 period. Doubled, wow. Yeah. 00:03:57.229 --> 00:04:00.590 And some research even pegs it as high as $83 00:04:00.590 --> 00:04:04.740 .33 per year, up from that earlier, like... $36 00:04:04.740 --> 00:04:07.159 .90 figure. I mean, that's not just incremental 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:09.860 gain. It's a dramatic acceleration of genetic 00:04:09.860 --> 00:04:12.719 improvement. It really is. A staggering leap 00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:15.360 in efficiency and potential profitability. And 00:04:15.360 --> 00:04:17.620 it's not just about the dollar values. The article 00:04:17.620 --> 00:04:20.220 also talks about the generation interval. Precisely. 00:04:20.220 --> 00:04:22.860 The generation interval, that's the time it takes 00:04:22.860 --> 00:04:25.379 for one generation to replace the next in the 00:04:25.379 --> 00:04:27.439 breeding cycle that's seen an equally dramatic 00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:30.339 shift. Okay, how dramatic. Well, historically, 00:04:30.560 --> 00:04:32.920 before genomics, we were looking at over 10 years 00:04:32.920 --> 00:04:34.959 to bring new generations into the breeding pool. 00:04:35.860 --> 00:04:37.759 Especially for those sire -to -bull pathways. 00:04:38.199 --> 00:04:40.600 Right. That takes time. It did. Today, that's 00:04:40.600 --> 00:04:42.800 dropped to a mere 2 .5 years. Two and a half 00:04:42.800 --> 00:04:45.860 years. Down from 10. Yeah. Think about that for 00:04:45.860 --> 00:04:48.639 a moment. We've compressed a decade -long cycle 00:04:48.639 --> 00:04:51.459 into a quarter of the time. That's lightning 00:04:51.459 --> 00:04:54.519 -fast improvement. It lets us stack genetic games. 00:04:55.100 --> 00:04:57.420 Build on improvements at an unprecedented rate, 00:04:57.600 --> 00:05:00.019 giving us more productive, more efficient animals 00:05:00.019 --> 00:05:03.500 much, much faster. It truly highlights the power 00:05:03.500 --> 00:05:06.100 of the tools we now have. Wow, it's genuinely 00:05:06.100 --> 00:05:08.339 astonishing how fast those genetic gains are 00:05:08.339 --> 00:05:12.620 happening. But as we often see, such rapid progress 00:05:12.620 --> 00:05:15.639 usually comes with unforeseen consequences, doesn't 00:05:15.639 --> 00:05:17.519 it? Yeah, it often does. It seems like moving 00:05:17.519 --> 00:05:20.439 this fast might be creating other... maybe hidden 00:05:20.439 --> 00:05:22.500 issues beneath the surface. That's an excellent 00:05:22.500 --> 00:05:24.600 point. You hit on something critical there. The 00:05:24.600 --> 00:05:27.399 sheer speed is what differentiates this from 00:05:27.399 --> 00:05:29.800 past challenges. Right. While we celebrate the 00:05:29.800 --> 00:05:32.680 doubling of annual net merit gain and the drastic 00:05:32.680 --> 00:05:35.040 reduction in generation intervals, what's happening 00:05:35.040 --> 00:05:37.300 in parallel is an acceleration of the inbreeding 00:05:37.300 --> 00:05:40.100 crisis. Ah, okay. So the efficiency cuts both 00:05:40.100 --> 00:05:42.860 ways. Exactly. The same genomic efficiency that 00:05:42.860 --> 00:05:45.560 allows for rapid genetic improvement also allows 00:05:45.560 --> 00:05:48.240 for the incredibly rapid concentration of genetics 00:05:48.240 --> 00:05:51.920 from Well, just a few elite animals throughout 00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:54.160 the entire population. It's a classic double 00:05:54.160 --> 00:05:57.319 -edged sword. It is. And the speed of progress, 00:05:57.579 --> 00:06:00.839 paradoxically, can make the problem of inbreeding 00:06:00.839 --> 00:06:03.220 harder to spot initially because everyone is, 00:06:03.319 --> 00:06:05.800 you know, rightly focused on those rising production 00:06:05.800 --> 00:06:08.100 numbers. You see the milk, you don't necessarily 00:06:08.100 --> 00:06:10.920 see the underlying issue immediately. Precisely. 00:06:10.980 --> 00:06:13.379 You might be seeing more milk in the tank, which 00:06:13.379 --> 00:06:15.920 is fantastic, obviously. Yeah. But underneath, 00:06:16.259 --> 00:06:18.740 other crucial traits like fertility, health, 00:06:18.920 --> 00:06:22.120 longevity, they could be suddenly eroding without 00:06:22.120 --> 00:06:24.800 immediate obvious signs. It's like a silent squeeze 00:06:24.800 --> 00:06:27.600 on the herd's long -term resilience. That's a 00:06:27.600 --> 00:06:29.680 good way to put it. So with those staggering 00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:32.860 figures on genetic progress, it's tempting to 00:06:32.860 --> 00:06:34.600 just, you know, pat ourselves on the back. Right. 00:06:34.699 --> 00:06:36.579 But as you mentioned, there's a darker side to 00:06:36.579 --> 00:06:38.759 that coin. So let's peel back another layer. 00:06:39.779 --> 00:06:42.579 What exactly is this inbreeding crisis? And when 00:06:42.579 --> 00:06:45.560 we look at the cold, hard numbers, how truly 00:06:45.560 --> 00:06:48.500 alarming is it for dairy producers? The numbers 00:06:48.500 --> 00:06:50.779 are, frankly, alarming. They really should serve 00:06:50.779 --> 00:06:52.860 as a wake -up call. When you dig into the data, 00:06:52.899 --> 00:06:55.339 you find that genomic inbreeding in elite Holstein 00:06:55.339 --> 00:06:59.800 bulls surged. Look at this. A staggering 168%. 00:06:59.800 --> 00:07:05.319 168%. Yeah. From approximately 5 .7 % in 2010 00:07:05.319 --> 00:07:10.060 to a concerning 15 .2 % by 2020. In just 10 years. 00:07:10.279 --> 00:07:12.970 In just a decade. It's a massive rapid jump, 00:07:13.089 --> 00:07:15.470 and it reflects a deeply concerning trend in 00:07:15.470 --> 00:07:17.550 the breeding population that needs urgent attention. 00:07:18.009 --> 00:07:20.490 It's not just a slow creep. It's like a runaway 00:07:20.490 --> 00:07:22.629 train. And it's not just a theoretical concern 00:07:22.629 --> 00:07:25.649 for geneticists, is it? The article emphasizes 00:07:25.649 --> 00:07:29.889 that the 6 .25 % danger zone is a recognized 00:07:29.889 --> 00:07:32.509 industry benchmark. Right. That's a critical 00:07:32.509 --> 00:07:34.870 threshold where inbreeding depression starts 00:07:34.870 --> 00:07:37.569 to show up as a real economic issue for producers. 00:07:38.009 --> 00:07:40.170 That's absolutely critical to understand. When 00:07:40.170 --> 00:07:43.129 we talk about 6 .25%, we're talking about the 00:07:43.129 --> 00:07:45.069 point where the negative effects of inbreeding 00:07:45.069 --> 00:07:47.829 start to noticeably impact performance and profitability 00:07:47.829 --> 00:07:51.069 across a herd. And the reality is... Well, we're 00:07:51.069 --> 00:07:53.810 far beyond that threshold already. Young Holstein 00:07:53.810 --> 00:07:56.410 bulls born just in 2019. They already showed 00:07:56.410 --> 00:08:00.110 an average genomic inbreeding of 13 .7%. 13 .7? 00:08:00.290 --> 00:08:02.370 That's more than double the danger zone. Exactly. 00:08:02.370 --> 00:08:04.629 It's a stark indicator of how deeply entrenched 00:08:04.629 --> 00:08:06.470 this problem has become in just a few years. 00:08:06.550 --> 00:08:08.329 And the projection. If these trends continue 00:08:08.329 --> 00:08:10.949 unchecked, industry projections suggest that 00:08:10.949 --> 00:08:13.509 average inbreeding levels could hit between 18 00:08:13.509 --> 00:08:18.209 % and 22 % by 2030. 18 to 22 percent? That's 00:08:18.209 --> 00:08:21.230 nearly triple that recognized threshold. Imagine 00:08:21.230 --> 00:08:23.970 the costs, then. And this concentration isn't 00:08:23.970 --> 00:08:26.149 just about rising percentages. It's also reflected 00:08:26.149 --> 00:08:29.370 in a fundamental measure of genetic health, the 00:08:29.370 --> 00:08:32.230 effective population size, or NAC, for Holsteins. 00:08:32.409 --> 00:08:35.169 What does that tell us? It's currently at a historic 00:08:35.169 --> 00:08:39.830 low, ranging from a mere 43 to 66 animals. 43? 00:08:40.549 --> 00:08:43.990 That sounds small. It is. For proper context, 00:08:44.169 --> 00:08:46.450 the minimum threshold for long -term genetic 00:08:46.450 --> 00:08:49.269 adaptability in a population, allowing it to 00:08:49.269 --> 00:08:51.950 respond to environmental changes, disease pressures, 00:08:52.129 --> 00:08:54.470 is generally considered to be 50 animals. So 00:08:54.470 --> 00:08:56.269 we're below that or right on the edge. We're 00:08:56.269 --> 00:08:58.389 hovering right on or even below that critical 00:08:58.389 --> 00:09:00.590 line, putting the entire breed at risk. This 00:09:00.590 --> 00:09:03.110 creates what we call a dangerous genetic bottleneck. 00:09:03.149 --> 00:09:06.080 Like a traffic gem for genes. Kind of. Picture 00:09:06.080 --> 00:09:09.120 a vast genetic landscape suddenly funneling all 00:09:09.120 --> 00:09:11.860 its traffic down a single, narrow lane with no 00:09:11.860 --> 00:09:14.519 exit ramps. If there's a problem in that lane, 00:09:14.620 --> 00:09:17.120 or if the genetic vehicle isn't suited for a 00:09:17.120 --> 00:09:19.759 sudden turn, the entire population is at risk 00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:22.259 because diversity, its natural shock absorber, 00:09:22.299 --> 00:09:24.620 has been severely constrained. That makes sense. 00:09:24.759 --> 00:09:27.460 No room to maneuver. Exactly. And what's more, 00:09:27.620 --> 00:09:30.159 common metrics used to assess inbreeding, like 00:09:30.159 --> 00:09:33.230 expected future inbreeding or EFI. Yeah. They 00:09:33.230 --> 00:09:36.250 can be really misleading. How so? Well, EFI is 00:09:36.250 --> 00:09:38.450 based on a reference population that is also 00:09:38.450 --> 00:09:41.289 becoming more inbred. Oh, right. So the baseline 00:09:41.289 --> 00:09:43.250 is moving. Precisely. It creates what we call 00:09:43.250 --> 00:09:46.269 a shifting baseline for EFI, which is particularly 00:09:46.269 --> 00:09:49.149 insidious. Imagine trying to measure a mountain's 00:09:49.149 --> 00:09:51.110 height, but the ground you're standing on is 00:09:51.110 --> 00:09:54.009 slowly sinking. Your measurement might look stable, 00:09:54.129 --> 00:09:56.370 but the mountain itself is still getting shorter 00:09:56.370 --> 00:09:59.379 relative to its original height. Gotcha. Similarly, 00:09:59.500 --> 00:10:01.460 if the genetic average is already getting more 00:10:01.460 --> 00:10:04.899 inbred, then a small increase in EFI can mask 00:10:04.899 --> 00:10:07.200 a far more alarming acceleration of inbreeding 00:10:07.200 --> 00:10:09.720 in the elite lines you're actually using and 00:10:09.720 --> 00:10:12.679 relying on. Okay, give me an example. Sure. The 00:10:12.679 --> 00:10:15.519 EFI for the Holstein -based population rose from 00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:20.379 7 .5 % in 2015 to 9 .4 % in 2020. Okay, seems 00:10:20.379 --> 00:10:22.299 like a small jump. It looks like a small increase, 00:10:22.519 --> 00:10:26.370 right. But it's masking the accelerating problem 00:10:26.370 --> 00:10:29.529 within the elite lines the very animals most 00:10:29.529 --> 00:10:31.889 producers are drawing from. So that explains 00:10:31.889 --> 00:10:34.470 why some producers might have a gut feeling that 00:10:34.470 --> 00:10:37.090 something is off with their herd. Exactly. Even 00:10:37.090 --> 00:10:39.730 when reported numbers seem acceptable or only 00:10:39.730 --> 00:10:42.389 slightly increased. Your instincts might be picking 00:10:42.389 --> 00:10:44.769 up on the true acceleration of inbreeding in 00:10:44.769 --> 00:10:46.950 those elite genetics you're using. And these 00:10:46.950 --> 00:10:49.190 aren't just abstract genetic percentages that 00:10:49.190 --> 00:10:50.990 we're talking about, are they? This has a real 00:10:50.990 --> 00:10:54.820 tangible and... frankly devastating cost. Oh, 00:10:54.840 --> 00:10:57.100 absolutely. To the industry as a whole and perhaps 00:10:57.100 --> 00:10:59.220 more importantly to individual farms struggling 00:10:59.220 --> 00:11:01.659 to maintain profitability. Absolutely. This isn't 00:11:01.659 --> 00:11:03.679 just about academic discussions of genetic health. 00:11:03.740 --> 00:11:06.620 It's about billions of dollars being lost. Academic 00:11:06.620 --> 00:11:08.960 research estimates total industry losses due 00:11:08.960 --> 00:11:11.799 to increased inbreeding at a staggering 3 .6 00:11:11.799 --> 00:11:15.139 to 6 .7 billion dollars. 3 .6 to 6 .7 billion. 00:11:15.279 --> 00:11:19.019 Yes. Just from 2011 to 2019 alone. That's a massive 00:11:19.019 --> 00:11:21.539 economic hit. And while it's an aggregate industry 00:11:21.539 --> 00:11:24.080 impact, it filters down directly to the farm 00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:26.279 level, affecting every producer's bottom line, 00:11:26.419 --> 00:11:29.080 whether they realize it or not. So let's break 00:11:29.080 --> 00:11:31.120 that down. What does it mean for someone listening 00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:33.840 right now on their farm trying to run a profitable 00:11:33.840 --> 00:11:36.440 operation? What does this financial hit look 00:11:36.440 --> 00:11:38.620 like for an individual cow? Right. So for every 00:11:38.620 --> 00:11:41.399 1 % increase in inbreeding, a cow's lifetime 00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:45.059 net merit value declines by an estimated $23 00:11:45.059 --> 00:11:49.399 to $25. 23 to 25 bucks per percentage point. 00:11:49.580 --> 00:11:51.940 Yep. Think about that across a herd of, say, 00:11:52.019 --> 00:11:54.779 100 cows, and those small percentages add up 00:11:54.779 --> 00:11:57.639 fast. But it's not just an abstract net merit 00:11:57.639 --> 00:12:00.820 figure. It impacts specific economically crucial 00:12:00.820 --> 00:12:03.360 traits. Like what? Well, things that directly 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:05.799 affect your daily operations and long -term profitability. 00:12:06.340 --> 00:12:09.080 For example, a 1 % increase in inbreeding can 00:12:09.080 --> 00:12:11.000 lead to a reduction in lifetime milk production 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:15.360 of 177 to 400 pounds. Less milk. Less milk. Yeah. 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:17.720 Or if you look at it daily, that's two to nine 00:12:17.720 --> 00:12:21.100 kilograms less milk in the tank. Fertility, a 00:12:21.100 --> 00:12:23.000 cornerstone of any successful dairy operation, 00:12:23.200 --> 00:12:26.149 is also hit hard. Right. That's huge. Calving 00:12:26.149 --> 00:12:29.789 intervals extending by 0 .19 to 0 .34 days per 00:12:29.789 --> 00:12:33.730 1 % inbreeding. A cow's productive life, which 00:12:33.730 --> 00:12:36.549 directly correlates to her overall value, can 00:12:36.549 --> 00:12:38.529 be shortened by approximately six days per 1 00:12:38.529 --> 00:12:41.509 % inbreeding. Six days less productive life for 00:12:41.509 --> 00:12:43.850 every percent. And when you consider a more significantly 00:12:43.850 --> 00:12:47.129 inbred animal, say one at 12 .5 % inbreeding, 00:12:47.250 --> 00:12:50.350 which remember is now below the average for young 00:12:50.350 --> 00:12:53.169 bulls, the impacts are even starker. A four percentage 00:12:53.169 --> 00:12:55.500 point reduction in survival to second. lactation, 00:12:55.559 --> 00:12:58.559 a 1 % increase in the incidence of stillbirth. 00:12:58.940 --> 00:13:01.519 and a 2 % increase in the incidence of dystocia, 00:13:01.639 --> 00:13:04.360 meaning more difficult calvings. So more vet 00:13:04.360 --> 00:13:07.320 bills, lost calves, cows leaving the herd sooner. 00:13:07.620 --> 00:13:10.240 Exactly. These are direct, measurable reductions 00:13:10.240 --> 00:13:12.860 in your herd's performance and consequently your 00:13:12.860 --> 00:13:14.820 profitability. The bottom line here for you, 00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:17.679 the producer, is that every 1 % increase in inbreeding 00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:20.320 acts like a silent tax on your herd. Slowly but 00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:23.039 surely eroding profitability. Yeah, across milk 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:25.480 checks, replacement costs, overall herd health. 00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:27.779 It's death by a thousand cuts, but the data clearly 00:13:27.779 --> 00:13:30.000 shows where those cuts are bleeding. And we've 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:31.899 even seen historical examples of the immense 00:13:31.899 --> 00:13:34.440 risk when genetics become too concentrated, right? 00:13:34.580 --> 00:13:37.179 Like that Arlinda Chief bull. Oh yeah, Pawnee 00:13:37.179 --> 00:13:40.440 Farm Arlinda Chief from the 1970s. A perfect, 00:13:40.500 --> 00:13:43.259 though tragic, example. He was one of the most 00:13:43.259 --> 00:13:46.580 widely used Holstein bulls of his time, renowned 00:13:46.580 --> 00:13:49.960 for production. But his genetics carried a single 00:13:49.960 --> 00:13:54.299 deleterious mutation, BLAD bovine leukocyte adhesion 00:13:54.299 --> 00:13:57.789 deficiency. Is it? genetic time bomb what did 00:13:57.789 --> 00:14:00.230 it do daughters and sons inheriting this recessive 00:14:00.230 --> 00:14:03.389 gene had severe immune deficiencies chronic infections 00:14:03.389 --> 00:14:07.590 early death the industry unknowingly propagated 00:14:07.590 --> 00:14:09.909 this mutation widely due to chief's popularity 00:14:09.909 --> 00:14:12.909 so everyone was using him exactly it wasn't until 00:14:12.909 --> 00:14:14.629 researchers connected the dots that the true 00:14:14.629 --> 00:14:17.129 scale emerged this single mutation ultimately 00:14:17.129 --> 00:14:20.190 caused an estimated 500 000 spontaneous abortions 00:14:20.190 --> 00:14:23.090 and nearly 420 million dollars in losses half 00:14:23.090 --> 00:14:25.370 a million abortions just from one bull's mutation 00:14:25.370 --> 00:14:28.139 yeah It highlights the catastrophic risk of relying 00:14:28.139 --> 00:14:30.620 on a narrow genetic base and the potential for 00:14:30.620 --> 00:14:32.679 one widely used bull to cause immense damage. 00:14:33.340 --> 00:14:36.580 Underscores the need for vigilance. Wow. And 00:14:36.580 --> 00:14:39.279 what's fascinating and, frankly, quite problematic 00:14:39.279 --> 00:14:42.700 here is this concept of a negative externality. 00:14:42.960 --> 00:14:45.120 Right. That's a key point the article makes. 00:14:45.259 --> 00:14:48.100 It creates what we call a negative externality, 00:14:48.259 --> 00:14:51.720 a fancy term for a simple truth. AI companies 00:14:51.720 --> 00:14:54.879 profit from selling top -ranking bulls. Market 00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:57.299 demand pushes them to produce the highest ranking 00:14:57.299 --> 00:14:59.860 sires. And they often use line breeding related 00:14:59.860 --> 00:15:02.600 animals to get there reliably. Correct. They 00:15:02.600 --> 00:15:05.299 often engage in line breeding using elite related 00:15:05.299 --> 00:15:07.860 animals to reliably create those top performers. 00:15:08.220 --> 00:15:12.070 But the hidden costs. reduced health, lower productivity 00:15:12.070 --> 00:15:14.769 in those inbred progeny. Those costs get pushed 00:15:14.769 --> 00:15:16.970 onto the farmer. Exactly. Those costs are effectively 00:15:16.970 --> 00:15:19.370 externalized. They're pushed directly onto your 00:15:19.370 --> 00:15:22.070 farm, quietly eating into your bottom line through 00:15:22.070 --> 00:15:24.570 reduced milk yield, poor fertility, increased 00:15:24.570 --> 00:15:26.690 vet bills. It's a multi -billion dollar problem 00:15:26.690 --> 00:15:28.889 for the industry, but it lands squarely on the 00:15:28.889 --> 00:15:31.309 producer buying the semen. And the speed of modern 00:15:31.309 --> 00:15:33.409 inbreeding, you mentioned tripling in a decade. 00:15:34.029 --> 00:15:36.389 That makes it worse. It makes it uniquely dangerous, 00:15:36.549 --> 00:15:39.429 yes. In natural populations, harmful genes might 00:15:39.429 --> 00:15:41.429 eventually be purged through natural selection 00:15:41.429 --> 00:15:44.610 over many generations. But we're moving too fast 00:15:44.610 --> 00:15:47.590 for that. We're concentrating genetics so rapidly 00:15:47.590 --> 00:15:51.669 that this speed simply outpaces any natural purging 00:15:51.669 --> 00:15:54.490 mechanism. We're creating widespread inbreeding 00:15:54.490 --> 00:15:57.110 depression and potentially new genetic defects 00:15:57.110 --> 00:16:00.009 much faster than the breed can adapt or correct 00:16:00.009 --> 00:16:02.590 itself. The genetic yardstick is shrinking faster 00:16:02.590 --> 00:16:05.090 than the population can evolve. That's a great 00:16:05.090 --> 00:16:08.210 way to put it. It intensifies these risks. rather 00:16:08.210 --> 00:16:11.289 than mitigating them. So for you, the listener, 00:16:11.429 --> 00:16:13.690 these aren't just statistics. These are direct 00:16:13.690 --> 00:16:16.450 reductions in profitability for your operation, 00:16:16.730 --> 00:16:19.450 affecting everything from milk checks to replacement 00:16:19.450 --> 00:16:22.330 costs and herd health. It's a tough pill to swallow, 00:16:22.490 --> 00:16:24.789 hearing about those billions in losses and the 00:16:24.789 --> 00:16:27.590 erosion of genetic health. But it begs the question. 00:16:28.519 --> 00:16:31.419 How did our industry, which prides itself on 00:16:31.419 --> 00:16:33.700 scientific advancement, end up in this genetic 00:16:33.700 --> 00:16:35.899 bind? Right. It seems like there's more at play 00:16:35.899 --> 00:16:38.679 here than just random selection or simple breeding 00:16:38.679 --> 00:16:40.860 decisions, doesn't it? The article talks about 00:16:40.860 --> 00:16:43.279 sophisticated market dynamics and corporate strategies 00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:45.840 influencing the direction of genetics. You're 00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:47.759 absolutely right. There's a powerful centralized 00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:51.120 force at work that underpins much of this, and 00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:52.659 that's the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding, 00:16:52.679 --> 00:16:56.100 or CDCB. CDCB. They play a massive role. They 00:16:56.100 --> 00:16:58.379 manage what is essentially the world's largest 00:16:58.379 --> 00:17:00.759 dairy cattle database. How big are we talking? 00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:04.230 We're talking an astonishing 100 million... animal 00:17:04.230 --> 00:17:07.690 records, with 10 million genotyped, collected 00:17:07.690 --> 00:17:11.210 from 72 different countries. 100 million records. 00:17:11.430 --> 00:17:14.069 Wow. Yeah. This massive amount of data not only 00:17:14.069 --> 00:17:16.369 sets global benchmarks for genetic evaluation, 00:17:16.710 --> 00:17:20.019 but inevitably. concentrates information, and 00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:22.640 by extension, breeding power in fewer hands. 00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:24.740 Which has broad implications for the industry 00:17:24.740 --> 00:17:27.279 structure and genetic diversity. Exactly. It's 00:17:27.279 --> 00:17:29.339 truly a marvel of data collection, no doubt. 00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:32.440 A testament to scientific advancement in aggregating 00:17:32.440 --> 00:17:34.759 genetic information globally. But as you say, 00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:37.220 this centralized database also means that information 00:17:37.220 --> 00:17:39.839 and breeding power are concentrated, which can 00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:42.019 lead to specific market behaviors and influence 00:17:42.019 --> 00:17:45.529 who has the advantage. Precisely. While U .S. 00:17:45.549 --> 00:17:47.309 breeders might be in the driver's seat globally 00:17:47.309 --> 00:17:49.930 due to the sheer volume and depth of this data, 00:17:50.269 --> 00:17:53.230 this concentration also creates an environment 00:17:53.230 --> 00:17:56.089 where control over elite genetic lines can become 00:17:56.089 --> 00:17:59.569 highly centralized. This structure allows for 00:17:59.569 --> 00:18:02.009 certain strategic maneuvers by companies that 00:18:02.009 --> 00:18:04.470 can significantly influence the genetic direction 00:18:04.470 --> 00:18:07.710 of the entire Holstein breed. It's not just about 00:18:07.710 --> 00:18:10.470 what individual farmers choose. It's about the 00:18:10.470 --> 00:18:12.650 bigger players shaping the available options. 00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:15.980 And within that structure, companies like ST 00:18:15.980 --> 00:18:19.380 Genetics are actively building bulls, as the 00:18:19.380 --> 00:18:21.599 article puts it, not just breeding them in the 00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:23.500 traditional sense. Yeah, that's a key phrase, 00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:26.019 building. This isn't just about pairing a cow 00:18:26.019 --> 00:18:27.759 and a bull and hoping for the best. It's a much 00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:31.039 more engineered, almost industrial process. Tell 00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:32.500 us about the captain example, because that's 00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:34.940 a fascinating and telling case study. Captain 00:18:34.940 --> 00:18:37.359 is indeed the poster child for this new paradigm, 00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:40.039 and it's a perfect illustration of how modern 00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:42.319 breeding has become an aggressive, engineered 00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:46.819 approach. The CEO of ST Genetics himself publicly 00:18:46.819 --> 00:18:49.480 stated that Captain was not merely bred, but 00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:52.539 rather built to a decade of careful genetic strategy. 00:18:52.819 --> 00:18:55.740 A decade. Yeah. This wasn't a lucky mating. It 00:18:55.740 --> 00:18:58.460 involved meticulously planned proprietary matings, 00:18:58.480 --> 00:19:00.839 leveraging specific genetic combinations. And 00:19:00.839 --> 00:19:03.799 advanced tech. And the cutting -edge use of advanced... 00:19:03.950 --> 00:19:06.269 productive technologies like in vitro fertilization 00:19:06.269 --> 00:19:09.690 or IVF. IVF, wow. These techniques allow them 00:19:09.690 --> 00:19:12.269 to bypass traditional breeding timelines, navigate 00:19:12.269 --> 00:19:14.809 potential genetic pitfalls, and simultaneously 00:19:14.809 --> 00:19:17.109 amplify the desirable traits they're targeting 00:19:17.109 --> 00:19:20.029 with incredible precision and speed. It's a very 00:19:20.029 --> 00:19:22.910 hands -on, almost laboratory -like approach to 00:19:22.910 --> 00:19:25.670 genetic design, an deliberate, almost architectural 00:19:25.670 --> 00:19:28.049 approach aiming for specific outcomes with a 00:19:28.049 --> 00:19:30.430 high degree of control. Exactly. And the article 00:19:30.430 --> 00:19:33.170 also highlights a specific, very strategic tactic 00:19:33.170 --> 00:19:35.849 they used with Captain Sire, Tango Sabre. Ah, 00:19:35.849 --> 00:19:38.390 yes, Tango Sabre. That really underscores this 00:19:38.390 --> 00:19:41.210 proprietary approach to securing genetic advantage. 00:19:41.710 --> 00:19:44.190 What did they do? It's a prime example of strategic 00:19:44.190 --> 00:19:46.789 market dominance and demonstrates the depth of 00:19:46.789 --> 00:19:49.680 planning involved. Rather than widely marketing 00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:52.420 Tango Sabre, Captain Sire, to the broader industry, 00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:55.880 ST Genetics reportedly held him back from most 00:19:55.880 --> 00:19:58.500 public catalogs. Held him back, so kept him private. 00:19:58.740 --> 00:20:02.019 Essentially, yes. This wasn't an oversight. It 00:20:02.019 --> 00:20:04.539 was a calculative move, a strategic decision 00:20:04.539 --> 00:20:07.579 to gain exclusive use of his unique genetic potential. 00:20:08.099 --> 00:20:10.880 By controlling access to such a promising sire, 00:20:11.059 --> 00:20:13.619 they essentially secured a significant competitive 00:20:13.619 --> 00:20:16.420 advantage. So they could make bowls like Captain 00:20:16.420 --> 00:20:19.019 without others using the same ingredients. Pretty 00:20:19.019 --> 00:20:21.380 much. It allowed them to produce elite progeny 00:20:21.380 --> 00:20:23.680 like Captain without immediate competition from 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:25.880 other AI companies vying for those same genetics. 00:20:26.140 --> 00:20:29.019 This focused, proprietary strategy ultimately 00:20:29.019 --> 00:20:31.700 allowed FT Genetics to achieve a historic dominance 00:20:31.700 --> 00:20:34.180 of the U .S. net merit list, cementing their 00:20:34.180 --> 00:20:36.380 position at the top. And Captain was successful. 00:20:36.700 --> 00:20:38.680 Immensely. Captain himself went on to achieve 00:20:38.680 --> 00:20:41.140 an incredible seven consecutive hashtag 1 TPI 00:20:41.140 --> 00:20:44.630 rankings and has over 39 ,000 genotype daughters 00:20:44.630 --> 00:20:47.710 globally. It demonstrates the huge success of 00:20:47.710 --> 00:20:50.420 such a concentrated engineered approach. So for 00:20:50.420 --> 00:20:52.700 you, the listener, this is about understanding 00:20:52.700 --> 00:20:55.420 the aggressive, engineered approach behind some 00:20:55.420 --> 00:20:57.839 of the top -ranking sires you see today. Exactly. 00:20:58.099 --> 00:21:00.500 It's a very different game than traditional breeding 00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:02.920 that relied more on widespread progeny testing 00:21:02.920 --> 00:21:07.140 and open access. But this idea of hidden or selectively 00:21:07.140 --> 00:21:10.140 distributed sires, where access is controlled, 00:21:10.420 --> 00:21:13.220 maybe even restricted, it's not entirely new 00:21:13.220 --> 00:21:15.059 in dairy breeding, is it? No, you're absolutely 00:21:15.059 --> 00:21:17.000 right. The article points to some fascinating 00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:20.160 historical precedents. This is an amplification 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:22.660 of past strategies. It's a classic playbook, 00:21:22.779 --> 00:21:25.480 but now it's on hyperdrive thanks to modern technology. 00:21:25.740 --> 00:21:28.200 This strategy of restricting access to promising 00:21:28.200 --> 00:21:30.539 sires has long been used for various reasons. 00:21:30.700 --> 00:21:33.019 Like what? To sharpen specific genetic lines, 00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:36.000 maybe conserve rare or unique genetics within 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:39.099 a herd, or to commercialize elite genetic lines 00:21:39.099 --> 00:21:41.980 strategically for maximum return. Okay. Think 00:21:41.980 --> 00:21:46.049 of Round Oak Rag Apple. Elevation. Roar RE. a 00:21:46.049 --> 00:21:48.710 true legend in the Holstein breed from the 1970s. 00:21:48.710 --> 00:21:52.589 Right, Elevation. Huge name. Huge. His genetics 00:21:52.589 --> 00:21:55.150 were incredibly sought after, and his semen was 00:21:55.150 --> 00:21:57.869 tightly managed by his owner and by Select Sires, 00:21:58.069 --> 00:22:00.049 the cooperative that owned him. So they controlled 00:22:00.049 --> 00:22:02.710 who got it. They did. This controlled distribution 00:22:02.710 --> 00:22:05.390 allowed Select Sires and its members to gain 00:22:05.390 --> 00:22:08.289 a significant competitive advantage with early, 00:22:08.490 --> 00:22:11.529 sometimes exclusive, access to a bull who would 00:22:11.529 --> 00:22:13.390 become one of the most popular and respected 00:22:13.390 --> 00:22:16.480 sires in the breed's history. It amplified his 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:18.519 influence and value for those who got in early. 00:22:19.019 --> 00:22:21.960 Created a tiered access system, really. So it's 00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:24.480 always been about strategic advantage, controlling 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:27.380 the flow of those elite genetics to benefit a 00:22:27.380 --> 00:22:29.940 select group or an individual operation initially. 00:22:30.359 --> 00:22:33.140 Like building a genetic dynasty or securing a 00:22:33.140 --> 00:22:35.440 proprietary trade secret for a period. That's 00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:37.950 a perfect way to put it. And we see similar patterns 00:22:37.950 --> 00:22:40.250 with other historically significant sires across 00:22:40.250 --> 00:22:42.809 different breeds. Take Roybrook Starlight from 00:22:42.809 --> 00:22:45.109 Canada, for instance. Okay. Highly influential 00:22:45.109 --> 00:22:47.750 Holstein bull, but he was used almost exclusively 00:22:47.750 --> 00:22:51.130 in -house by Roybrook Farm. Their goal was very 00:22:51.130 --> 00:22:54.609 specific. Intensify key genetic traits within 00:22:54.609 --> 00:22:57.089 their own herd. Ah, build their own distinct 00:22:57.089 --> 00:23:00.279 line first. Exactly. create a powerful, distinct 00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:03.000 genetic foundation for their own program before 00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:05.259 his genetics were released more broadly, allow 00:23:05.259 --> 00:23:07.339 them to achieve significant genetic consolidation 00:23:07.339 --> 00:23:10.039 internally, and shape their herd's identity. 00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:12.240 And Sonny Boy in the Netherlands. Sonny Boy, 00:23:12.380 --> 00:23:14.920 yeah, the Dutch Friesian Holstein. Even though 00:23:14.920 --> 00:23:17.460 he eventually produced a world record 2 million 00:23:17.460 --> 00:23:20.599 doses of semen over his lifetime, his early distribution 00:23:20.599 --> 00:23:23.400 was highly rationed. Rationed, why? And strategically 00:23:23.400 --> 00:23:26.769 targeted by his owner, CR Delta. Initially due 00:23:26.769 --> 00:23:29.410 to supply constraints and his burgeoning reputation. 00:23:29.990 --> 00:23:33.109 This careful, controlled release optimized both 00:23:33.109 --> 00:23:35.369 the commercial returns and his overall influence 00:23:35.369 --> 00:23:38.589 on the breed, maximizing the value of those genetics. 00:23:38.930 --> 00:23:42.650 So these historical cases clearly show that restricting 00:23:42.650 --> 00:23:45.190 access to promising sires has always been part 00:23:45.190 --> 00:23:46.970 of the playbook for competitive positioning. 00:23:47.369 --> 00:23:50.309 Undeniably. It's a time -tested method for sharpening 00:23:50.309 --> 00:23:52.390 genetic lines and securing market advantage. 00:23:52.809 --> 00:23:55.960 So... If it's an old strategy with these historical 00:23:55.960 --> 00:23:58.200 precedents, what's really different now? Why 00:23:58.200 --> 00:24:00.160 is it reaching a crisis point today when these 00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:03.359 tactics have existed for decades in various forms? 00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:05.960 What's the fundamental shift? The fundamental 00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:08.460 difference in what makes this a crisis is the 00:24:08.460 --> 00:24:11.539 scale and critically, the speed. Speed again. 00:24:11.700 --> 00:24:14.420 Always comes back to speed. In the past, this 00:24:14.420 --> 00:24:18.059 was a slow, deliberate process. Limited by the 00:24:18.059 --> 00:24:20.180 time required for traditional progeny testing 00:24:20.180 --> 00:24:22.400 and natural reproduction cycles. Right, you'd 00:24:22.400 --> 00:24:24.359 have to wait for daughters to milk. You'd have 00:24:24.359 --> 00:24:27.000 to wait for daughters to be born, mature, and 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:30.099 or lactation to truly assess a sire's genetic 00:24:30.099 --> 00:24:33.380 merit. That could take years, sometimes five, 00:24:33.619 --> 00:24:36.220 seven, even ten years before a bull's true value 00:24:36.220 --> 00:24:39.059 was known and his genetics could be widely disseminated. 00:24:39.099 --> 00:24:42.680 But now. Today, with genomic selection, IVF, 00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:45.799 sex semen. That timeline has been compressed 00:24:45.799 --> 00:24:48.400 from years to mere months. That's a monumental 00:24:48.400 --> 00:24:51.279 game changer. It means a company can act on genetic 00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:54.000 potential almost immediately. Identify a valuable 00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:56.220 animal at birth rather than waiting years for 00:24:56.220 --> 00:24:59.160 phenotypic expression. The lag time is virtually 00:24:59.160 --> 00:25:02.099 eliminated. Precisely. The technology is so efficient 00:25:02.099 --> 00:25:04.359 that it fundamentally alters the entire breeding 00:25:04.359 --> 00:25:06.359 landscape. So a company can spot a winner at 00:25:06.359 --> 00:25:09.359 birth. Identify a promising sire as soon as he's 00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:12.299 born. engineer a proprietary mating with other 00:25:12.299 --> 00:25:15.079 elite animals, and then, using these advanced 00:25:15.079 --> 00:25:17.799 reproductive technologies, flood the market with 00:25:17.799 --> 00:25:21.480 his genetics almost instantaneously. Which accelerates 00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:23.579 that historical strategy to an unprecedented 00:25:23.579 --> 00:25:26.339 level. Right, to a degree that simply wasn't 00:25:26.339 --> 00:25:28.680 possible before. Instead of gradually building 00:25:28.680 --> 00:25:31.710 influence over decades, We're seeing the rapid, 00:25:31.750 --> 00:25:34.230 almost instantaneous and dangerous concentration 00:25:34.230 --> 00:25:37.170 of a few select bloodlines throughout the entire 00:25:37.170 --> 00:25:40.880 Holstein population in a very short period. And 00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:43.380 that's the crisis. This rapid genetic concentration, 00:25:43.799 --> 00:25:46.400 driven by the hyper -efficiency of modern technology, 00:25:46.579 --> 00:25:49.299 is what has created the current inbreeding crisis. 00:25:49.720 --> 00:25:52.380 The technology is so incredibly efficient that 00:25:52.380 --> 00:25:55.019 it's actually outpacing the breed's natural ability 00:25:55.019 --> 00:25:57.880 to maintain sufficient genetic diversity. Creating 00:25:57.880 --> 00:26:00.440 this genetic bottleneck and its associated problems 00:26:00.440 --> 00:26:02.519 at a pace we've never witnessed before. Okay, 00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:04.769 this all sounds pretty bleak. Outlining such 00:26:04.769 --> 00:26:07.549 a rapid and concentrated genetic landscape with 00:26:07.549 --> 00:26:10.609 significant economic costs, it's easy to feel 00:26:10.609 --> 00:26:12.390 a bit overwhelmed, honestly. It can be, yeah. 00:26:12.569 --> 00:26:15.750 But the article also offers solutions. It emphasizes 00:26:15.750 --> 00:26:18.210 what it calls the diversity dividend and how 00:26:18.210 --> 00:26:21.250 we can actively rediversify our herds. And a 00:26:21.250 --> 00:26:23.970 really fascinating discovery comes from the USDA 00:26:23.970 --> 00:26:27.769 Gene Bank that fundamentally challenges a lot 00:26:27.769 --> 00:26:30.150 of our current assumptions about what makes genetics 00:26:30.150 --> 00:26:33.660 elite. This is truly the silver lining. And it's 00:26:33.660 --> 00:26:35.700 a powerful discovery that fundamentally shifts 00:26:35.700 --> 00:26:39.059 our perspective on genetic value. USDA researchers 00:26:39.059 --> 00:26:41.599 actually used frozen semen from Holstein bowls 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:44.859 dating all the way back to the 1940s and 1950s. 00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:47.299 Semen from the 40s? Wow. Yeah, semen that had 00:26:47.299 --> 00:26:49.759 been stored in their gene bank for decades, largely 00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:52.039 forgotten, and the daughters they produced from 00:26:52.039 --> 00:26:54.619 these heritage genetics. What happened? They 00:26:54.619 --> 00:26:57.440 remarkably match today's leading sires for production 00:26:57.440 --> 00:26:59.859 traits, and crucially for vital traits like fertility 00:26:59.859 --> 00:27:01.980 and health. Match them on production, fertility, 00:27:02.059 --> 00:27:04.880 and health. From 70 -year -old genetics. Exactly. 00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:08.140 This groundbreaking research really demonstrates 00:27:08.140 --> 00:27:11.559 that valuable traits, which we might have unknowingly 00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:14.140 lost or diminished in our relentless modern selection 00:27:14.140 --> 00:27:17.299 programs focused on pure production, are indeed 00:27:17.299 --> 00:27:19.619 preserved and fully functional in these older 00:27:19.619 --> 00:27:22.299 genetic lines. It's like finding genetic treasure 00:27:22.299 --> 00:27:25.710 hidden in plain sight. So this isn't just about 00:27:25.710 --> 00:27:28.930 nostalgia or a historical curiosity for geneticists. 00:27:28.970 --> 00:27:31.829 Not at all. It's a direct scientific demonstration 00:27:31.829 --> 00:27:34.630 that there is tangible, valuable genetic material 00:27:34.630 --> 00:27:37.390 available that can actually compete with or even 00:27:37.390 --> 00:27:40.369 improve upon modern genetics, particularly in 00:27:40.369 --> 00:27:42.309 those fitness traits like fertility and longevity 00:27:42.309 --> 00:27:45.190 that are suffering so much from inbreeding depression. 00:27:45.569 --> 00:27:48.250 It's a powerful argument for looking beyond the 00:27:48.250 --> 00:27:51.089 newest catalog rankings. Absolutely. The research 00:27:51.089 --> 00:27:53.650 didn't just confirm production parity. It specifically 00:27:53.650 --> 00:27:56.430 highlighted that these older genetic lines matched 00:27:56.430 --> 00:27:58.930 modern genetics for production traits, and even 00:27:58.930 --> 00:28:01.589 more importantly, matched or even exceeded today's 00:28:01.589 --> 00:28:04.329 leading sires for fertility and health. That's 00:28:04.329 --> 00:28:06.890 monumental. It challenges the prevailing mindset 00:28:06.890 --> 00:28:09.049 that newer is always better. It really does. 00:28:09.269 --> 00:28:12.470 It also revealed a startling fact about how narrow 00:28:12.470 --> 00:28:15.460 our current genetic base truly is. Get this. 00:28:15.819 --> 00:28:20.640 More than 99 % of all known Holstein AI bulls 00:28:20.640 --> 00:28:23.660 trace their male lineage back to just two bulls 00:28:23.660 --> 00:28:26.740 born in the 1950s. 99 % from two bulls. Yeah. 00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:29.119 And if you go back further, all Holstein bulls 00:28:29.119 --> 00:28:30.980 are traceable to only two bulls from the late 00:28:30.980 --> 00:28:33.940 1800s. That's... That's an incredibly narrow 00:28:33.940 --> 00:28:36.200 genetic base for such a dominant breed. Makes 00:28:36.200 --> 00:28:39.000 it highly vulnerable. Extremely vulnerable. The 00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:42.180 USDA gene bank, therefore, stores these rare, 00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:45.119 lost Y -chronosome families that are now completely 00:28:45.119 --> 00:28:47.900 absent from modern hole stains. It serves as 00:28:47.900 --> 00:28:50.220 a critical insurance plan for the breed, holding 00:28:50.220 --> 00:28:52.599 the keys to genetic resilience. So it fundamentally 00:28:52.599 --> 00:28:54.559 challenges the market -driven assumption that 00:28:54.559 --> 00:28:56.700 only the newest, highest -ranking genetics are 00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:59.720 valuable. Right. Diversity isn't just an abstract 00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:02.880 concept for conservation. It's a tangible, profit 00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:05.319 -driving asset that can bring back lost traits 00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:07.720 and dramatically improve herd resilience and 00:29:07.720 --> 00:29:10.539 long -term profitability. So beyond looking to 00:29:10.539 --> 00:29:14.019 the past, how can producers actively bring new 00:29:14.019 --> 00:29:16.400 genetics and more diversity into their herds 00:29:16.400 --> 00:29:19.440 now using current, readily available options? 00:29:19.940 --> 00:29:22.809 What are some practical strategies? One of the 00:29:22.809 --> 00:29:25.609 most effective and immediate strategies, and 00:29:25.609 --> 00:29:27.950 one that has been proven globally, is through 00:29:27.950 --> 00:29:30.309 strategic crossbreeding. Crossbreeding, okay. 00:29:30.450 --> 00:29:32.690 This isn't just about introducing a new breed 00:29:32.690 --> 00:29:35.150 for the sake of it. It's about leveraging what 00:29:35.150 --> 00:29:38.609 we call hybrid vigor or heterosis. Hybrid vigor, 00:29:38.750 --> 00:29:41.250 that gives a boost, right? It provides an immediate 00:29:41.250 --> 00:29:43.869 boost in performance that often exceeds the average 00:29:43.869 --> 00:29:46.470 of the two parent breeds. particularly when those 00:29:46.470 --> 00:29:48.990 breeds are genetically distinct. It's like getting 00:29:48.990 --> 00:29:51.630 a free genetic boost. And it's particularly impactful 00:29:51.630 --> 00:29:54.049 for the traits that inbreeding tends to depress, 00:29:54.269 --> 00:29:56.509 isn't it? Things like fertility, disease resistance, 00:29:57.009 --> 00:29:59.990 overall health. Exactly. Those complex traits 00:29:59.990 --> 00:30:02.210 that are hard to select for directly and suffer 00:30:02.210 --> 00:30:04.869 most from a constricted gene pool. Hybrid vigor 00:30:04.869 --> 00:30:06.890 is most pronounced in fitness traits, things 00:30:06.890 --> 00:30:09.650 like fertility, disease resistance, general health, 00:30:09.769 --> 00:30:12.869 and longevity. The exact things hit hardest by 00:30:12.869 --> 00:30:15.680 inbreeding. Precisely. These are exactly the 00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:18.500 traits that are most negatively impacted by inbreeding 00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:22.599 depression in purebred Holsteins. So, by strategically 00:30:22.599 --> 00:30:24.819 crossbreeding with a complementary dairy breed, 00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:28.259 you can get an immediate, often dramatic, improvement 00:30:28.259 --> 00:30:31.480 where your herd needs it most. Effectively counteracting 00:30:31.480 --> 00:30:34.180 the negative effects of inbreeding. Right. We 00:30:34.180 --> 00:30:36.519 see excellent real -world examples in European 00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:39.339 programs. For instance, programs that have incorporated 00:30:39.339 --> 00:30:42.200 breeds like the Norwegian Red have shown significant 00:30:42.200 --> 00:30:45.059 success in improving fertility, boosting disease 00:30:45.059 --> 00:30:48.099 resistance, especially mastitis resistance, and 00:30:48.099 --> 00:30:50.960 enhancing udder health while maintaining strong 00:30:50.960 --> 00:30:53.660 production. Norwegian Red, okay. Those cows are 00:30:53.660 --> 00:30:56.859 simply more robust. Similarly, the New Zealand 00:30:56.859 --> 00:30:59.650 Holstein Friesian a distinct genetic line selected 00:30:59.650 --> 00:31:02.369 over 100 years specifically for pasture -based 00:31:02.369 --> 00:31:05.329 systems, delivers high milk solids and exceptional 00:31:05.329 --> 00:31:08.069 longevity, thriving in environments where other 00:31:08.069 --> 00:31:10.089 breeds might struggle. So these aren't just theoretical 00:31:10.089 --> 00:31:12.109 options, they are well -documented pathways. 00:31:12.549 --> 00:31:15.029 They provide a viable route for you, the listener, 00:31:15.210 --> 00:31:17.450 to immediately improve your herd's resilience 00:31:17.450 --> 00:31:20.289 and profitability without necessarily sacrificing 00:31:20.289 --> 00:31:23.109 overall genetic merit. It's a way to introduce 00:31:23.109 --> 00:31:26.369 a controlled beneficial outcross and inject that 00:31:26.369 --> 00:31:28.829 much needed genetic diversity. OK, let's talk 00:31:28.829 --> 00:31:30.529 about something many producers are already doing, 00:31:30.589 --> 00:31:32.470 and that's beef on dairy. The numbers are huge, 00:31:32.690 --> 00:31:35.089 huge, exploding, really. And it seems like a 00:31:35.089 --> 00:31:37.569 smart short term move for many farms struggling 00:31:37.569 --> 00:31:39.950 with profitability. But the article cautions 00:31:39.950 --> 00:31:42.750 that it can also be a trap if not managed correctly. 00:31:42.970 --> 00:31:44.869 It's definitely an economic no brainer in the 00:31:44.869 --> 00:31:47.250 short term, which is why we've seen such explosive 00:31:47.250 --> 00:31:50.069 growth and widespread adoption. The numbers are 00:31:50.069 --> 00:31:53.029 undeniable. Beaks even sales to dairies shot 00:31:53.029 --> 00:31:56.789 up from, what, 2 .54 million units in 2017 to 00:31:56.789 --> 00:32:00.589 a staggering 7 .9 million in 2023. Wow. Tripled. 00:32:00.769 --> 00:32:04.009 Yeah. Other NAAB data shows an even wider increase, 00:32:04.210 --> 00:32:07.490 from a mere 1 .2 million units in 2010 to 9 .4 00:32:07.490 --> 00:32:10.730 million in 2023. 9 .4 million units. This isn't 00:32:10.730 --> 00:32:13.329 a niche trend. Approximately 72 % of U .S. dairy 00:32:13.329 --> 00:32:15.529 farms now incorporate beef genetics into their 00:32:15.529 --> 00:32:18.660 breeding program. 72%. That's most farms. It 00:32:18.660 --> 00:32:21.660 is. And the economic logic is clear and compelling. 00:32:22.099 --> 00:32:25.000 Beef crop calves can command a premium of $350 00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:28.660 to $700, sometimes even over $1 ,000. Compared 00:32:28.660 --> 00:32:31.819 to maybe $150, $500 for a Holstein bull calf? 00:32:31.980 --> 00:32:34.880 Exactly. That's a significant immediate cash 00:32:34.880 --> 00:32:37.359 infusion for a dairy, making it an attractive 00:32:37.359 --> 00:32:40.079 short -term solution for managing unwanted bull 00:32:40.079 --> 00:32:42.220 calves. Those numbers are undeniably compelling 00:32:42.220 --> 00:32:44.500 for a producer looking at their immediate bottom 00:32:44.500 --> 00:32:47.400 line. But you mentioned the trap. What exactly 00:32:47.400 --> 00:32:50.599 makes this widespread practice a risk long term? 00:32:50.779 --> 00:32:53.079 The trap is that while it provides an immediate 00:32:53.079 --> 00:32:56.039 financial gain, it has significant long -term 00:32:56.039 --> 00:32:58.099 detrimental risks for the Holstein breed as a 00:32:58.099 --> 00:33:00.559 whole, and ultimately for your own herd's future 00:33:00.559 --> 00:33:02.759 viability. How so? By breeding a substantial 00:33:02.759 --> 00:33:05.160 and increasing portion of the herd to beef sires, 00:33:05.339 --> 00:33:07.200 producers are effectively reducing the number 00:33:07.200 --> 00:33:09.539 of purebred dairy females available to contribute 00:33:09.539 --> 00:33:12.059 to the next generation of Holsteins. Fewer replacements 00:33:12.059 --> 00:33:14.799 being born. Exactly. This further shrinks the 00:33:14.799 --> 00:33:17.319 purebred genetic pool. intensifying that genetic 00:33:17.319 --> 00:33:19.759 bottleneck we discussed earlier, and accelerating 00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:22.019 the very inbreeding crisis that can make dairy 00:33:22.019 --> 00:33:24.579 animals less profitable in the first place. It 00:33:24.579 --> 00:33:27.099 creates a self -perpetuating, vicious cycle. 00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:29.279 It really does. Inbreeding makes more cows less 00:33:29.279 --> 00:33:31.579 profitable as dairy producers, which in turn 00:33:31.579 --> 00:33:34.220 pushes more producers towards beef on dairy as 00:33:34.220 --> 00:33:36.680 a fallback, further shrinking the available dairy 00:33:36.680 --> 00:33:39.200 gene pool. We're essentially accelerating the 00:33:39.200 --> 00:33:41.759 decline of the purebred dairy population without 00:33:41.759 --> 00:33:44.099 realizing the full long -term cost. And this 00:33:44.099 --> 00:33:46.519 impacts replacement heifer economics directly. 00:33:46.839 --> 00:33:49.039 Dramatically. The supply of dairy heifers weighing 00:33:49.039 --> 00:33:52.579 500 plus pounds reached a 47 -year low. projected 00:33:52.579 --> 00:33:56.680 3 .914 million head for 2025. 47 -year low. Yeah. 00:33:56.759 --> 00:33:59.380 This scarcity is driving prices through the roof. 00:33:59.880 --> 00:34:02.380 National average dairy replacement values hit 00:34:02.380 --> 00:34:07.220 $2 ,660 per head by early 2025. $2 ,660. And 00:34:07.220 --> 00:34:08.940 some markets are seeing Springer's approach an 00:34:08.940 --> 00:34:12.039 astonishing $4 ,000 per animal. $4 ,000 for a 00:34:12.039 --> 00:34:13.840 Springer? We even saw Wisconsin replacement prices 00:34:13.840 --> 00:34:19.320 jump a shocking 69 % from $1 ,999 to $2 ,850 00:34:19.320 --> 00:34:23.179 between October 2023 and October 2024. Record 00:34:23.179 --> 00:34:25.980 highs. We're creating a shortage. We're inadvertently 00:34:25.980 --> 00:34:28.920 creating a severe shortage of quality dairy replacements, 00:34:29.039 --> 00:34:32.079 while simultaneously eroding the genetic base 00:34:32.079 --> 00:34:35.320 for our future dairy herds. It's a short -term 00:34:35.320 --> 00:34:38.639 gain for a long -term, costly problem. So what's 00:34:38.639 --> 00:34:41.730 the smarter way? The smarter beef on dairy approach, 00:34:41.989 --> 00:34:44.369 as highlighted in the article, is to be highly 00:34:44.369 --> 00:34:47.269 strategic and data -driven, instead of breeding 00:34:47.269 --> 00:34:50.369 just any low -end dairy female to beef. Use genomics. 00:34:50.610 --> 00:34:52.869 Use genomics to identify females with genuinely 00:34:52.869 --> 00:34:56.090 poor dairy genetics, those that have very little 00:34:56.090 --> 00:34:58.429 genetic potential to be profitable dairy cows 00:34:58.429 --> 00:35:01.650 for beef on dairy breeding. Michigan State research 00:35:01.650 --> 00:35:05.369 shows an additional $250 plus per crossbred calf 00:35:05.369 --> 00:35:07.909 with this targeted method. Okay, target the worst 00:35:07.909 --> 00:35:10.619 for beef. And reserve your precious sex dairy 00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:12.920 semen for your most elite females, those with 00:35:12.920 --> 00:35:14.980 the highest genetic potential to become the future 00:35:14.980 --> 00:35:17.760 of your herd. So it turns a potentially self 00:35:17.760 --> 00:35:20.719 -destructive trend into a disciplined, data -informed 00:35:20.719 --> 00:35:24.659 strategy. Exactly. Maximize profitability without 00:35:24.659 --> 00:35:26.920 eroding the future genetic potential of your 00:35:26.920 --> 00:35:29.420 dairy herd. It's about precision over broad stroke 00:35:29.420 --> 00:35:32.019 application, ensuring every breeding decision 00:35:32.019 --> 00:35:34.820 is intentional and optimizes your herd's future. 00:35:35.039 --> 00:35:38.429 Hashtag actionable insights. Okay, so after all 00:35:38.429 --> 00:35:40.929 that incredibly detailed and frankly somewhat 00:35:40.929 --> 00:35:43.210 sobering information about the inbreeding crisis, 00:35:43.530 --> 00:35:45.889 the economic costs, the corporate strategies, 00:35:46.190 --> 00:35:48.969 what's the key takeaway for a farmer listening 00:35:48.969 --> 00:35:52.369 today? What can they do right now on their farm 00:35:52.369 --> 00:35:55.429 to navigate this complex genetic landscape and 00:35:55.429 --> 00:35:57.789 ensure the longevity and profitability of their 00:35:57.789 --> 00:36:00.389 operation? Where do they begin? The core message 00:36:00.389 --> 00:36:03.150 is absolutely clear. Genetic management needs 00:36:03.150 --> 00:36:06.139 to be proactive. strategic, and most importantly, 00:36:06.280 --> 00:36:08.940 data -informed. Starts with a crucial mindset 00:36:08.940 --> 00:36:12.219 shift. Seeing genomic testing, not as an expense, 00:36:12.539 --> 00:36:15.199 a line item to cut, but as a critical, profitable 00:36:15.199 --> 00:36:17.219 investment in the future health and productivity 00:36:17.219 --> 00:36:19.659 of your herd. Treat it like an investment. It's 00:36:19.659 --> 00:36:21.380 about leveraging information to make smarter 00:36:21.380 --> 00:36:24.019 decisions. That's a significant shift in mindset 00:36:24.019 --> 00:36:26.940 for many producers, viewing a test as an investment 00:36:26.940 --> 00:36:29.980 rather than a cost center. So for a producer 00:36:29.980 --> 00:36:32.699 considering this, what's the actual quantifiable 00:36:32.699 --> 00:36:35.920 return on that investment? Can they truly expect 00:36:35.920 --> 00:36:38.480 to see those dollars come back? The cost -benefit 00:36:38.480 --> 00:36:41.059 analysis for genomic testing is incredibly compelling, 00:36:41.260 --> 00:36:44.570 and the dollars absolutely come back. A heifer 00:36:44.570 --> 00:36:47.429 test typically costs anywhere from, say, $33 00:36:47.429 --> 00:36:51.150 to $50 per animal. $33 to $50. Yeah, which for 00:36:51.150 --> 00:36:53.769 a calf might seem like a lot. But that initial 00:36:53.769 --> 00:36:56.409 investment yields a significant positive return, 00:36:56.670 --> 00:36:59.429 often within just two breeding cycles. Two cycles, 00:36:59.590 --> 00:37:02.090 how much return? Research indicates that genomic 00:37:02.090 --> 00:37:04.429 testing can boost a herd's overall genetic merit 00:37:04.429 --> 00:37:07.929 by as much as $400 over those two cycles. $400. 00:37:07.989 --> 00:37:10.769 And can cut your replacement cost by a significant 00:37:10.769 --> 00:37:14.780 35%. This is a direct, measurable financial return 00:37:14.780 --> 00:37:16.780 that goes straight to your bottom line. Why is 00:37:16.780 --> 00:37:19.099 it so effective? The reason for this boosted 00:37:19.099 --> 00:37:22.500 ROI is the dramatic increase in selection accuracy 00:37:22.500 --> 00:37:25.400 that genomics provides. You're looking at 55 00:37:25.400 --> 00:37:29.019 % to 70 % accuracy for genomic predictions. Versus 00:37:29.019 --> 00:37:31.500 what for traditional pedigrees? Versus only about 00:37:31.500 --> 00:37:34.820 35 % for traditional pedigree -based methods. 00:37:35.099 --> 00:37:38.179 Big difference. Huge. This dramatically improved 00:37:38.179 --> 00:37:41.579 accuracy empowers you to make far more confident 00:37:41.579 --> 00:37:44.699 culling and breeding decisions. You can confidently 00:37:44.699 --> 00:37:47.280 identify your lowest -ranking animals with poor 00:37:47.280 --> 00:37:49.739 genetic potential for dairy and channel them 00:37:49.739 --> 00:37:52.940 into that smarter Beef on Dairy program, maximizing 00:37:52.940 --> 00:37:55.960 their value. And breed from the best. Conversely, 00:37:55.980 --> 00:37:58.139 you identify your highest -potential animals 00:37:58.139 --> 00:38:00.300 for breeding the next generation of replacements, 00:38:00.480 --> 00:38:02.559 ensuring you're building a truly elite herd. 00:38:02.920 --> 00:38:05.579 It also allows for the early detection of recessive 00:38:05.579 --> 00:38:08.090 disorders and harmful haplotypes. Things like 00:38:08.090 --> 00:38:12.190 HH1 to HH6, HMW. Exactly. Catching these early 00:38:12.190 --> 00:38:14.929 prevents costly reproductive failures, stillbirths, 00:38:14.929 --> 00:38:17.610 and calf losses down the line, saving you thousands. 00:38:17.909 --> 00:38:20.690 So for you, the listener, this is a clear, proven 00:38:20.690 --> 00:38:23.269 path to turning raw genetic data into actual 00:38:23.269 --> 00:38:25.710 dollars and cents on your farm year after year. 00:38:25.949 --> 00:38:27.909 Okay, so that's the big picture of why genetic 00:38:27.909 --> 00:38:30.489 testing is so important long -term. But what 00:38:30.489 --> 00:38:33.030 are some short -term, concrete tactics a producer 00:38:33.030 --> 00:38:35.050 can implement, say, in the next month or quarter? 00:38:35.170 --> 00:38:37.840 What are those first practical steps? Immediately, 00:38:38.039 --> 00:38:40.619 you need to demand transparency from your suppliers. 00:38:41.099 --> 00:38:43.199 Transparency? How? Insist that your AI companies 00:38:43.199 --> 00:38:45.280 provide you with up -to -date inbreeding reports 00:38:45.280 --> 00:38:48.440 on the progeny of the sires being sold. Not just 00:38:48.440 --> 00:38:51.579 a single, potentially misleading index number 00:38:51.579 --> 00:38:53.539 for the bull himself. You need the inbreeding 00:38:53.539 --> 00:38:56.340 of the calf from that mating. Exactly. You need 00:38:56.340 --> 00:38:59.159 to know what the offspring of a specific mating 00:38:59.159 --> 00:39:01.199 will actually look like in terms of inbreeding, 00:39:01.260 --> 00:39:04.239 not just general averages. This precise data 00:39:04.590 --> 00:39:06.750 is crucial what else you should also calculate 00:39:06.750 --> 00:39:09.929 your current herd average inbreeding you can 00:39:09.929 --> 00:39:13.750 do this using your existing dhia records or ideally 00:39:13.750 --> 00:39:17.170 your cdcb genomic parentage records to get the 00:39:17.170 --> 00:39:19.650 most accurate picture Know your starting point. 00:39:19.769 --> 00:39:21.730 Right. Once you have that baseline, when you're 00:39:21.730 --> 00:39:24.170 making breeding decisions, be strategic and disciplined. 00:39:24.789 --> 00:39:26.929 Refuse any matings that would push the progeny's 00:39:26.929 --> 00:39:30.369 inbreeding coefficient above that 6 .25 % danger 00:39:30.369 --> 00:39:33.110 zone. Stick to that 6 .25 % limit for the calf. 00:39:33.389 --> 00:39:35.690 Remember, it's the specific matings inbreeding 00:39:35.690 --> 00:39:37.690 you're focused on, not just the parent averages, 00:39:37.789 --> 00:39:39.469 which can sometimes lull you into a false sense 00:39:39.469 --> 00:39:42.110 of security. Okay. Anything else short term? 00:39:42.489 --> 00:39:45.090 To diversify risk and avoid putting all your 00:39:45.090 --> 00:39:47.969 eggs in one genetic basket, try to buy semen 00:39:47.969 --> 00:39:50.269 from at least three different AI companies. Don't 00:39:50.269 --> 00:39:53.170 rely on just one supplier. Right. This avoids 00:39:53.170 --> 00:39:56.130 dependence on a single genetic pipeline and exposes 00:39:56.130 --> 00:39:59.159 you to broader genetic diversity. And definitely 00:39:59.159 --> 00:40:02.019 start exploring European outcross options. Like 00:40:02.019 --> 00:40:04.260 the Norwegian red you mentioned. Yeah, as they 00:40:04.260 --> 00:40:06.260 can introduce new bloodlines with documented 00:40:06.260 --> 00:40:08.599 value for health and longevity traits that might 00:40:08.599 --> 00:40:11.139 be lacking in the highly inbred North American 00:40:11.139 --> 00:40:14.800 Holstein population. Finally, make it a non -negotiable 00:40:14.800 --> 00:40:16.840 part of your budget to plan for genomic testing 00:40:16.840 --> 00:40:19.420 of every replacement heifer you plan to keep. 00:40:19.739 --> 00:40:22.800 Budget for testing every heifer. At $35 to $50 00:40:22.800 --> 00:40:25.519 per sample, it's an investment that pays for 00:40:25.519 --> 00:40:28.059 itself quickly, allowing you to cull effectively 00:40:28.059 --> 00:40:31.099 and breed strategically from day one. These are 00:40:31.099 --> 00:40:33.860 immediate practical steps you can take. And looking 00:40:33.860 --> 00:40:36.059 beyond those immediate actions for the long game, 00:40:36.219 --> 00:40:38.420 what should producers be focusing on to build 00:40:38.420 --> 00:40:41.619 a truly resilient, profitable operation? What's 00:40:41.619 --> 00:40:44.039 the strategic long -term play? For long -term 00:40:44.039 --> 00:40:47.000 resilience and sustained profitability, a disciplined, 00:40:47.610 --> 00:40:50.070 targeted beef on dairy strategy is absolutely 00:40:50.070 --> 00:40:54.230 key targeted using genomics precisely using beef 00:40:54.230 --> 00:40:57.090 semen only on genomically verified poor dairy 00:40:57.090 --> 00:41:00.090 genetics those animals you're testing has identified 00:41:00.090 --> 00:41:03.090 as having very low genetic potential for profitable 00:41:03.090 --> 00:41:06.269 milk production this strategic approach supported 00:41:06.269 --> 00:41:09.269 by university research lets you maximize profitability 00:41:09.269 --> 00:41:12.250 by turning low potential dairy animals into high 00:41:12.250 --> 00:41:14.409 value beef on dairy calves instead of losing 00:41:14.409 --> 00:41:16.650 money on them or flooding the replacement market 00:41:16.989 --> 00:41:19.809 Exactly. Rather than contributing to the oversupply 00:41:19.809 --> 00:41:22.530 of low -quality dairy replacements or continuing 00:41:22.530 --> 00:41:24.730 to lose money on unproductive dairy animals. 00:41:24.909 --> 00:41:26.949 What about crossbreeding long -term? You should 00:41:26.949 --> 00:41:29.269 also seriously consider piloting crossbreeding 00:41:29.269 --> 00:41:32.969 for, say, 20 % to 30 % of your herd. A pilot 00:41:32.969 --> 00:41:35.170 program. Yeah. This allows you to test the benefits 00:41:35.170 --> 00:41:37.309 of hybrid vigor with other complementary dairy 00:41:37.309 --> 00:41:40.289 breeds like Norwegian Red or Jersey. Evaluate 00:41:40.289 --> 00:41:42.170 their performance in your specific environment 00:41:42.170 --> 00:41:45.070 and management system. See firsthand how they 00:41:45.070 --> 00:41:47.789 impact fertility, health and profitability before 00:41:47.789 --> 00:41:50.610 expanding. Test it on your own farm first. It's 00:41:50.610 --> 00:41:52.650 a controlled way to introduce that much needed 00:41:52.650 --> 00:41:55.190 diversity and build a more robust, profitable 00:41:55.190 --> 00:41:58.440 herd. Beyond your farm, actively engage with 00:41:58.440 --> 00:42:01.440 university extension programs and CDCB information 00:42:01.440 --> 00:42:04.539 sessions. Get unbiased information. These are 00:42:04.539 --> 00:42:06.920 independent, unbiased sources of research and 00:42:06.920 --> 00:42:09.260 guidance on managing inbreeding and exploring 00:42:09.260 --> 00:42:12.079 alternative strategies. They provide a vital 00:42:12.079 --> 00:42:13.860 counterpoint to commercial marketing claims, 00:42:14.000 --> 00:42:16.460 invaluable resources for long -term strategic 00:42:16.460 --> 00:42:19.519 planning. And the financial impact of doing this, 00:42:19.639 --> 00:42:22.719 managing inbreeding down. It can be truly substantial. 00:42:23.280 --> 00:42:25.900 transformative for your farm. For example, by 00:42:25.900 --> 00:42:28.340 diligently dropping your herd's average inbreeding 00:42:28.340 --> 00:42:31.460 from, say, a concerning 13 % down to a healthier 00:42:31.460 --> 00:42:35.340 8%. That can mean an additional $75 ,000 to $94 00:42:35.340 --> 00:42:38.139 ,000 in better cow value across your entire herd. 00:42:38.260 --> 00:42:41.099 $75 ,000 to $94 ,000. Yeah, and that's after 00:42:41.099 --> 00:42:43.199 adjusting for the initial semen and testing costs. 00:42:43.579 --> 00:42:46.199 That's not just a marginal gain. That's a powerful 00:42:46.199 --> 00:42:48.320 incentive for managing your genetics like a long 00:42:48.320 --> 00:42:50.820 game business. OK, so here's a thought to chew 00:42:50.820 --> 00:42:53.320 on as you go about your day. The choice you make 00:42:53.320 --> 00:42:55.719 today for your herd's genetics is a direct vote 00:42:55.719 --> 00:42:58.340 for the kind of dairy animal and indeed the kind 00:42:58.340 --> 00:43:01.440 of dairy industry we'll have in 2035. That's 00:43:01.440 --> 00:43:03.380 a powerful way to put it. Are you simply chasing 00:43:03.380 --> 00:43:05.920 the highest catalog rankings from a handful of 00:43:05.920 --> 00:43:09.260 elite? potentially over -related sires, accepting 00:43:09.260 --> 00:43:13.119 the hidden costs of inbreeding, or are you managing 00:43:13.119 --> 00:43:15.500 your genetics like a savvy, long -game business 00:43:15.500 --> 00:43:18.380 owner, diversifying risk, investing in data, 00:43:18.519 --> 00:43:21.039 and optimizing for the long -term health, resilience, 00:43:21.179 --> 00:43:24.900 and lifetime value of every single cow in your 00:43:24.900 --> 00:43:27.079 herd? Yeah, the future of your farm and perhaps 00:43:27.079 --> 00:43:29.650 the breed itself. depends on those decisions. 00:43:29.869 --> 00:43:31.869 Great points and a powerful thought to leave 00:43:31.869 --> 00:43:33.829 our listeners with. And that's all the time we 00:43:33.829 --> 00:43:35.989 have for today's deep dive. For more articles, 00:43:36.150 --> 00:43:38.269 in -depth research, and insights like these, 00:43:38.409 --> 00:43:42.050 be sure to visit us at www .thebullvine .com. 00:43:42.210 --> 00:43:44.010 Don't forget to subscribe wherever you get your 00:43:44.010 --> 00:43:46.050 podcasts so you never miss another deep dive 00:43:46.050 --> 00:43:48.250 into the topics that matter most to dairy producers. 00:43:48.530 --> 00:43:50.750 Thanks for listening. That wraps up this episode 00:43:50.750 --> 00:43:53.280 of The Bullvine Podcast. If you found today's 00:43:53.280 --> 00:43:56.079 insights valuable, make sure you subscribe, share, 00:43:56.219 --> 00:43:58.179 and leave us a review on your favorite podcast 00:43:58.179 --> 00:44:01.340 platform. For data tables, referenced research, 00:44:01.599 --> 00:44:04.800 and more actionable strategies, visit us at www 00:44:04.800 --> 00:44:08.460 .thebullvine .com. Remember, your breeding choices 00:44:08.460 --> 00:44:11.500 today shape not only your profits, but the future 00:44:11.500 --> 00:44:14.480 of the Holstein breed for years to come. Make 00:44:14.480 --> 00:44:17.340 them count. Thanks for listening, and until next 00:44:17.340 --> 00:44:20.300 time, keep those cows and those numbers moving 00:44:20.300 --> 00:44:22.639 forward. Thanks for watching!