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 --> 00:01:03.130 we're sparking Welcome back to the Bullvine Podcast, 00:01:03.369 --> 00:01:06.129 where we cut through dairy industry noise to 00:01:06.129 --> 00:01:08.269 get you the insights that actually matter for 00:01:08.269 --> 00:01:10.790 your operation. And today, we're diving deep 00:01:10.790 --> 00:01:12.989 into a feature piece that's been generating some 00:01:12.989 --> 00:01:16.409 serious buzz. This one's got layers and some 00:01:16.409 --> 00:01:18.870 surprises that are going to make farmers rethink 00:01:18.870 --> 00:01:21.069 how they've been approaching dairy genetics and 00:01:21.069 --> 00:01:24.310 sire selection. Absolutely. You know, what truly 00:01:24.310 --> 00:01:26.530 strikes me lately, just from walking through 00:01:26.530 --> 00:01:29.549 barns, visiting operations, is how much the conversation 00:01:29.549 --> 00:01:32.700 has really shifted. Yeah. How so? Well, for years, 00:01:32.799 --> 00:01:35.739 the buzz was always about chasing the next sky 00:01:35.739 --> 00:01:38.439 -high TPI, you know, total performance index 00:01:38.439 --> 00:01:41.700 or the LPI, lifetime profit index, or maybe bragging 00:01:41.700 --> 00:01:45.400 rights for top NM1 net merit dollars or pro -o 00:01:45.400 --> 00:01:47.859 profit dollars. The big headline numbers. Exactly. 00:01:48.140 --> 00:01:50.859 But now it feels undeniably different. I'm hearing 00:01:50.859 --> 00:01:52.700 producers talk much more about balance. They're 00:01:52.700 --> 00:01:55.000 talking about building herds that actually work 00:01:55.000 --> 00:01:57.819 day to day. Herds that are resilient, productive, 00:01:58.239 --> 00:02:01.909 profitable. Not just looking good on paper based 00:02:01.909 --> 00:02:04.859 on one number. Precisely. Instead of just having 00:02:04.859 --> 00:02:07.900 one single trait that shines while, you know, 00:02:07.920 --> 00:02:10.199 others might be lagging behind quite a bit. And 00:02:10.199 --> 00:02:12.819 for good reason, too. What's absolutely crucial 00:02:12.819 --> 00:02:15.319 for our listeners, for your operation, is that 00:02:15.319 --> 00:02:17.560 we finally have the advanced tools to actually 00:02:17.560 --> 00:02:20.219 do this right. You mean like the updated LPI? 00:02:20.500 --> 00:02:24.139 Yeah. Lactonet's modernized LPI system, the one 00:02:24.139 --> 00:02:26.520 launched this past April. It's been an absolute 00:02:26.520 --> 00:02:29.280 game changer. It's not just a minor tweak. It's 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:32.280 a pretty complete overhaul with six incredibly 00:02:32.280 --> 00:02:35.229 detailed. sub -indexes. So this whole concept 00:02:35.229 --> 00:02:38.409 of selecting a no -hole sire, a bull, without 00:02:38.409 --> 00:02:41.250 major genetic weaknesses, it's not just like 00:02:41.250 --> 00:02:43.729 a wishlist item anymore. Not at all. It's rapidly 00:02:43.729 --> 00:02:46.150 becoming the new reality for competitive producers. 00:02:46.469 --> 00:02:48.370 You know, the ones who are serious about protecting 00:02:48.370 --> 00:02:50.469 and improving their bottom line. And let's be 00:02:50.469 --> 00:02:52.930 utterly blunt about why this shift is so critically 00:02:52.930 --> 00:02:55.949 urgent right now. Margins in dairy are, well, 00:02:55.990 --> 00:02:57.969 they're brutally tight. Tighter than many of 00:02:57.969 --> 00:02:59.770 us have ever seen, I'd say. For sure. We're seeing 00:02:59.770 --> 00:03:02.439 feed costs just soaring. ranging anywhere from 00:03:02.439 --> 00:03:06.340 $450 to $500 per ton for quality dairy rations 00:03:06.340 --> 00:03:09.099 across most of Ontario and Quebec. And similar 00:03:09.099 --> 00:03:11.280 costs popping up everywhere, really. It's not 00:03:11.280 --> 00:03:13.240 just a regional thing. Right. And then there's 00:03:13.240 --> 00:03:16.780 labor. Good, reliable labor is scarcer and more 00:03:16.780 --> 00:03:19.759 expensive than ever. Tell me about it. So farmers 00:03:19.759 --> 00:03:23.360 simply cannot afford genetic holes in their herd 00:03:23.360 --> 00:03:27.449 that turn routine management into... Like daily 00:03:27.449 --> 00:03:29.849 firefighting. Yeah, where simple tasks suddenly 00:03:29.849 --> 00:03:32.789 become these huge resource drains. Exactly. We're 00:03:32.789 --> 00:03:36.610 talking time, money, mental energy. The potential 00:03:36.610 --> 00:03:41.490 to save, say, $250 per cow annually just through 00:03:41.490 --> 00:03:44.090 feed efficiency alone. That's not just significant. 00:03:44.409 --> 00:03:46.729 For many operations, that's a genuine lifeline. 00:03:46.870 --> 00:03:48.909 It's breathing room when the pressure is immense. 00:03:49.229 --> 00:03:50.889 You hit the nail on the head. This isn't just 00:03:50.889 --> 00:03:53.180 about... nice to have improvements anymore. It's 00:03:53.180 --> 00:03:55.379 about survival. It's about resilience, securing 00:03:55.379 --> 00:03:58.199 that long -term profitability in what's, frankly, 00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:00.400 an increasingly tough economic climate. It's 00:04:00.400 --> 00:04:02.360 about building a herd that doesn't just produce 00:04:02.360 --> 00:04:04.800 milk, but actually thrives. But here's where 00:04:04.800 --> 00:04:06.419 it gets really interesting and maybe a little 00:04:06.419 --> 00:04:09.139 controversial for some. Oh, go on. The surprising, 00:04:09.240 --> 00:04:12.300 maybe unsettling truth is that your best bull, 00:04:12.460 --> 00:04:14.340 you know, the one with the highest single total 00:04:14.340 --> 00:04:17.279 merit index you've been chasing, he might actually 00:04:17.279 --> 00:04:20.259 be your herd's biggest hidden weakness. Whoa. 00:04:20.360 --> 00:04:22.579 Okay. That's a bold statement. Well, we'll unpack 00:04:22.579 --> 00:04:25.240 how the unintended consequences of selecting 00:04:25.240 --> 00:04:28.360 only on a single dominant trait or maybe an overly 00:04:28.360 --> 00:04:31.579 simplified total index has inadvertently concentrated 00:04:31.579 --> 00:04:35.540 harmful recessive genes, profit -limiting genes. 00:04:35.800 --> 00:04:37.879 Throughout our herds, without us really noticing. 00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:40.759 That's the risk. A single total merit number. 00:04:41.160 --> 00:04:43.939 like lpi it just doesn't tell the full story 00:04:43.939 --> 00:04:46.220 it doesn't show the complexities the true strengths 00:04:46.220 --> 00:04:48.839 and weaknesses across all the critical areas 00:04:48.839 --> 00:04:51.620 that impact how a cow actually performs in the 00:04:51.620 --> 00:04:54.300 real world and ultimately your farm's profitability 00:04:54.300 --> 00:04:56.819 it's a paradigm shift then and one that the dairy 00:04:56.819 --> 00:04:59.279 industry frankly has needed to embrace for a 00:04:59.279 --> 00:05:01.519 long long time we've been flying a bit blind 00:05:01.519 --> 00:05:03.620 haven't we or at least with a heavily tinted 00:05:03.620 --> 00:05:06.339 windshield So let's unpack this. For a while, 00:05:06.399 --> 00:05:10.680 chasing high TPI, LBI, NMDA, AL, ProDollar, it 00:05:10.680 --> 00:05:13.339 seemed like the surefire path to success. And 00:05:13.339 --> 00:05:16.579 look, to be fair, for a certain period, it did 00:05:16.579 --> 00:05:19.240 seem to deliver results, especially when maybe 00:05:19.240 --> 00:05:22.480 the overall genetic level wasn't as high. True. 00:05:22.540 --> 00:05:24.879 But the research has consistently shown that 00:05:24.879 --> 00:05:27.660 multi -trait selection indices, you know, generally 00:05:27.660 --> 00:05:30.220 outperform single -trait approaches for overall 00:05:30.220 --> 00:05:33.180 genetic progress. But old habits. They die hard. 00:05:33.639 --> 00:05:35.800 Especially when you've got a number one bull 00:05:35.800 --> 00:05:38.819 headline -grabbing LPI. Looks like he could rewrite 00:05:38.819 --> 00:05:41.319 the record books, right? It's tempting. Very 00:05:41.319 --> 00:05:43.639 tempting. But we've been missing the full picture, 00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:47.500 prioritizing that single shiny number over, well, 00:05:47.560 --> 00:05:50.120 the health, the fertility, the overall functionality 00:05:50.120 --> 00:05:52.519 of the actual cow. It's like buying a sports 00:05:52.519 --> 00:05:54.800 car just for its top speed, but ignoring the 00:05:54.800 --> 00:05:56.959 fact it guzzles gas, breaks down constantly, 00:05:57.060 --> 00:06:00.160 and costs a fortune to maintain. Not very practical. 00:06:00.379 --> 00:06:02.120 Hold on. That means we were essentially building 00:06:02.120 --> 00:06:05.199 herds with one hand tied behind our backs. Chasing 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:07.759 a shiny number, but inadvertently creating problems 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:10.480 elsewhere that would just quietly bleed our operations 00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:12.639 dry. From a farmer's perspective, yeah, this 00:06:12.639 --> 00:06:15.000 isn't just abstract genetic theory. This translates 00:06:15.000 --> 00:06:17.560 directly into daily headaches on the farm. Like 00:06:17.560 --> 00:06:19.569 what, specifically? Well, if you're constantly 00:06:19.569 --> 00:06:21.629 dealing with cows that won't breed back easily, 00:06:21.850 --> 00:06:23.790 or they're always in and out of the hospital 00:06:23.790 --> 00:06:26.790 pen with mastitis or lameness. Or just aren't 00:06:26.790 --> 00:06:29.209 thriving, needing extra attention day after day. 00:06:29.370 --> 00:06:32.290 Exactly. That's a direct, tangible result of 00:06:32.290 --> 00:06:35.129 those unseen genetic holes. It's the kind of 00:06:35.129 --> 00:06:37.290 problem that saps your time, your energy, your 00:06:37.290 --> 00:06:40.050 profitability, often without a clear, immediate 00:06:40.050 --> 00:06:42.670 cause you can easily point to. Precisely. And 00:06:42.670 --> 00:06:44.529 that's where the unintended consequences really 00:06:44.529 --> 00:06:47.310 bite. By focusing on that single dominant trait, 00:06:47.389 --> 00:06:50.540 or that overly simple index, we've inadvertently 00:06:50.540 --> 00:06:53.100 concentrated these harmful, recessive, and profit 00:06:53.100 --> 00:06:55.639 -limiting genes. It's insidious, right. It creaks 00:06:55.639 --> 00:06:57.779 up slowly. You might not realize the depth of 00:06:57.779 --> 00:06:59.680 the problem until it's basically system -wide 00:06:59.680 --> 00:07:02.240 affecting a big chunk of your animals and costing 00:07:02.240 --> 00:07:04.480 you real money. So let's talk specifics. How 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:07.500 do these genes negatively impact the herd? What 00:07:07.500 --> 00:07:09.240 are we truly talking about here on the farm? 00:07:09.399 --> 00:07:12.579 Okay, lay it out. First, fertility. Big one. 00:07:12.970 --> 00:07:15.430 We're seeing lower conception rates, more open 00:07:15.430 --> 00:07:17.910 days. Which means more services per conception, 00:07:18.089 --> 00:07:21.449 more straws, more time. Exactly. And that's not 00:07:21.449 --> 00:07:23.269 just an inconvenience. That's lost production 00:07:23.269 --> 00:07:25.529 because cows aren't getting pregnant when they 00:07:25.529 --> 00:07:28.170 should. It's more vet visits for preg checks 00:07:28.170 --> 00:07:31.310 or resolving reproductive issues. Plus all the 00:07:31.310 --> 00:07:33.269 extra labor spent on heat detection and multiple 00:07:33.269 --> 00:07:35.850 breedings. It's a direct hit to your bottom line 00:07:35.850 --> 00:07:38.269 when cows aren't settling efficiently. Which 00:07:38.269 --> 00:07:40.759 pushes out that average calving interval. Delays 00:07:40.759 --> 00:07:43.339 the next lactation. A cow that's open too long 00:07:43.339 --> 00:07:45.959 is basically an unproductive cow costing you 00:07:45.959 --> 00:07:48.740 money every single day. And then there's health. 00:07:49.149 --> 00:07:51.670 These genetic imbalances can lead to increased 00:07:51.670 --> 00:07:54.649 susceptibility to diseases. Right. More mastitis, 00:07:54.750 --> 00:07:57.610 more lameness, metabolic issues like ketosis 00:07:57.610 --> 00:08:00.110 or milk fever. Which means more vet calls, more 00:08:00.110 --> 00:08:02.410 expensive treatments, and often, unfortunately, 00:08:02.750 --> 00:08:05.449 higher calling rates specifically for health 00:08:05.449 --> 00:08:07.209 reasons. And when you're constantly reacting 00:08:07.209 --> 00:08:09.649 to this revolving door of health issues that, 00:08:09.689 --> 00:08:11.550 frankly, could have been selected against genetically, 00:08:11.870 --> 00:08:14.509 you're not just losing money on treatments and 00:08:14.509 --> 00:08:17.339 lost milk. You're losing valuable time, adding 00:08:17.339 --> 00:08:19.680 immense stress to your staff, who are probably 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:22.600 already stretched thin, and it impacts your overall 00:08:22.600 --> 00:08:25.040 herd welfare too. It's a constant battle that 00:08:25.040 --> 00:08:28.519 just drains resources. And it goes beyond just 00:08:28.519 --> 00:08:31.980 fertility and specific diseases to overall cow 00:08:31.980 --> 00:08:34.539 functionality. These are the issues that make 00:08:34.539 --> 00:08:37.200 cows less resilient, harder to manage day to 00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:39.980 day. Like what? Yeah, maybe they don't have the 00:08:39.980 --> 00:08:42.679 structural integrity like strong feet and legs 00:08:42.679 --> 00:08:46.139 to really last for multiple lactations, leading 00:08:46.139 --> 00:08:49.039 to premature culling. Or maybe poor udder attachment, 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:52.059 making them more prone to injury or issues in 00:08:52.059 --> 00:08:54.500 the parlor. Exactly. Increases milking time, 00:08:54.620 --> 00:08:56.919 potential for infection. Yeah. These are the 00:08:56.919 --> 00:08:58.500 cows that require that extra bit of attention, 00:08:58.679 --> 00:09:00.820 extra handling. They just don't fit smoothly 00:09:00.820 --> 00:09:03.320 into the rhythm of a well -run operation. They're 00:09:03.320 --> 00:09:05.919 the ones always seeming to cause little disruptions 00:09:05.919 --> 00:09:08.809 that... actually add up significantly over time. 00:09:09.029 --> 00:09:11.330 And the implications of this, they play out differently 00:09:11.330 --> 00:09:13.149 depending on the size of your operation, right? 00:09:13.230 --> 00:09:14.970 Which is a crucial point for everyone listening. 00:09:15.169 --> 00:09:17.889 Definitely. For smaller herds, let's say under 00:09:17.889 --> 00:09:21.230 200 head, the impact of even just a few individual 00:09:21.230 --> 00:09:24.169 problem cows can be felt much more acutely. Yeah. 00:09:24.210 --> 00:09:26.289 Each cow's performance is magnified when your 00:09:26.289 --> 00:09:28.730 numbers are smaller. A single cow with persistent 00:09:28.730 --> 00:09:31.330 fertility or health issues can represent a significant 00:09:31.330 --> 00:09:33.809 chunk of your daily workload and financial drain. 00:09:33.990 --> 00:09:36.049 It's not just a statistic on a page. It's that 00:09:36.049 --> 00:09:38.389 one cow you might spend an extra hour on every 00:09:38.389 --> 00:09:41.590 single day. Exactly. Every vet call, every misbreeding, 00:09:41.610 --> 00:09:43.970 every bit of extra labor for that problem cow. 00:09:44.210 --> 00:09:46.450 It hits harder when your margins are already 00:09:46.450 --> 00:09:48.889 razor thin and you don't have hundreds of other 00:09:48.889 --> 00:09:51.639 cows to absorb the slack. But for larger operations, 00:09:51.860 --> 00:09:55.580 say 300 to 500 head, the issues become more systemic. 00:09:55.620 --> 00:09:58.200 It's not just a few problem cows anymore. It's 00:09:58.200 --> 00:10:00.519 an underlying genetic predisposition that compounds 00:10:00.519 --> 00:10:03.000 across many animals. Which leads to widespread 00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:05.720 management challenges, a general drag on herd 00:10:05.720 --> 00:10:08.440 efficiency, and significant financial drains 00:10:08.440 --> 00:10:10.600 that can actually be harder to pinpoint until 00:10:10.600 --> 00:10:13.200 they've become really ingrained across generations. 00:10:13.700 --> 00:10:16.019 You're dealing with a pattern, not just an anomaly. 00:10:16.379 --> 00:10:18.610 In those larger herds, You're not just putting 00:10:18.610 --> 00:10:21.490 out individual fires. You're potentially battling 00:10:21.490 --> 00:10:24.970 a whole forest fire of genetic weaknesses. That 00:10:24.970 --> 00:10:27.409 can overwhelm your management systems, your labor 00:10:27.409 --> 00:10:29.750 force. Leads to staff burnout, that constant 00:10:29.750 --> 00:10:32.830 feeling of being behind. It's a production bottleneck 00:10:32.830 --> 00:10:35.789 you basically bred into your own herd without 00:10:35.789 --> 00:10:38.129 realizing it. Now let's challenge what everyone 00:10:38.129 --> 00:10:41.629 knows or what they thought they knew. For years, 00:10:41.789 --> 00:10:44.269 the conventional wisdom, almost the gospel truth 00:10:44.269 --> 00:10:47.389 in some circles, was that the Hashtag one LPI 00:10:47.389 --> 00:10:50.230 bull was always the best choice for genetic progress. 00:10:50.570 --> 00:10:52.909 Right. Get the highest number, job done. And 00:10:52.909 --> 00:10:55.250 sure, for a while, that strategy seemed to deliver 00:10:55.250 --> 00:10:57.230 some impressive numbers for milk production or 00:10:57.230 --> 00:11:01.470 maybe type confirmation. But the reality, especially 00:11:01.470 --> 00:11:04.750 with today's crushing economic pressures, it's 00:11:04.750 --> 00:11:07.090 dramatically different. We have to look beyond 00:11:07.090 --> 00:11:09.350 that single number now. That old wisdom is starting 00:11:09.350 --> 00:11:11.549 to crack under the weight of real world farm 00:11:11.549 --> 00:11:13.679 economics. I'm just not buying that anymore. 00:11:13.879 --> 00:11:16.039 You can't just chase one number and expect everything 00:11:16.039 --> 00:11:18.480 else to magically fall into place. That's where 00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:20.679 we get into trouble. And this is where the bull 00:11:20.679 --> 00:11:23.240 vines signature contrarian analysis comes in. 00:11:23.460 --> 00:11:26.019 We dug into the data, specifically table three 00:11:26.019 --> 00:11:28.460 from the source material. It reports the April 00:11:28.460 --> 00:11:32.240 2025 indexes for the 20 Holstein sires with the 00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:35.179 most Canadian registered daughters in 2024. So 00:11:35.179 --> 00:11:37.179 these aren't obscure bulls. These are the ones 00:11:37.179 --> 00:11:39.019 that have been heavily used right across the 00:11:39.019 --> 00:11:41.720 industry. Exactly. And what it shows is a really 00:11:41.720 --> 00:11:45.679 stark imbalance. While LPI, the production subindex. 00:11:46.120 --> 00:11:48.700 that measures yield traits and the longevity 00:11:48.700 --> 00:11:51.500 and type subindex, LTI, covering confirmation 00:11:51.500 --> 00:11:55.639 and herd life, they show 0 % of these sires ranking 00:11:55.639 --> 00:11:57.919 below the 50th percentile. Okay, wait, wait. 00:11:57.960 --> 00:12:01.559 0 % below the 50th percentile rank for LPI, production, 00:12:01.740 --> 00:12:04.159 and longevity and type. That means all of these 00:12:04.159 --> 00:12:06.879 heavily used bulls were average or better in 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:08.960 those specific areas. Right. They were consistently 00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:11.139 strong or at least average or better in those 00:12:11.139 --> 00:12:13.179 areas, which tells you something about what the 00:12:13.179 --> 00:12:16.100 LPI formula historically prioritized. Yeah, it 00:12:16.100 --> 00:12:18.379 suggests the formula was heavily weighted, almost 00:12:18.379 --> 00:12:21.220 designed to push those specific numbers up, engineered 00:12:21.220 --> 00:12:23.980 to create superstars in yield and type. Exactly. 00:12:24.100 --> 00:12:26.700 It was a formula that historically favored these 00:12:26.700 --> 00:12:29.659 particular traits to drive genetic progress there. 00:12:30.019 --> 00:12:33.039 But here's where it gets alarming. Here's where 00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:35.860 the real problem shows itself. Uh -oh. When you 00:12:35.860 --> 00:12:38.500 look at the other crucial areas, the picture 00:12:38.500 --> 00:12:43.330 changes dramatically. A staggering 75%, three 00:12:43.330 --> 00:12:46.990 quarters of these top 20 sires are below the 00:12:46.990 --> 00:12:50.070 50th percentile rank for the reproduction subindex. 00:12:50.250 --> 00:12:53.169 All right. 75 % below average for fertility. 00:12:53.389 --> 00:12:56.570 Wow. And also for the environmental impact subindex, 00:12:56.669 --> 00:12:59.149 EII, which looks at feed efficiency and greenhouse 00:12:59.149 --> 00:13:01.830 gas emissions. 75 % below average there too. 00:13:01.970 --> 00:13:04.649 That's huge. So high production maybe, but poor 00:13:04.649 --> 00:13:06.830 fertility and poor feed efficiency. And it doesn't 00:13:06.830 --> 00:13:08.889 stop there. The health and welfare subindex, 00:13:08.990 --> 00:13:11.539 HWI. covering disease resistance and overall 00:13:11.539 --> 00:13:14.500 well -being. 60 % of these widely used sires 00:13:14.500 --> 00:13:16.659 are below the 50th percentile, below average 00:13:16.659 --> 00:13:19.340 for health. 60%. And milkability. The milkability 00:13:19.340 --> 00:13:21.759 subindex on my assessing milking speed and temperament 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:24.299 has 45 percent below average, still nearly half. 00:13:24.419 --> 00:13:27.259 OK, so when we say below the 50th percentile 00:13:27.259 --> 00:13:28.960 rank, just to be clear for everyone listening, 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:33.200 we mean these sires are performing worse than 00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:36.279 half of all bulls evaluated in that specific 00:13:36.279 --> 00:13:38.679 trait. They're below average where it really 00:13:38.679 --> 00:13:41.340 counts for daily management. This clearly indicates 00:13:41.340 --> 00:13:45.120 that historically the LPI formula by heavily 00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:48.559 favoring production. type, and longevity often 00:13:48.559 --> 00:13:51.240 did so at the expense of other vital traits. 00:13:51.440 --> 00:13:54.419 Traits absolutely critical for a cow's real -world 00:13:54.419 --> 00:13:57.309 performance and your farm's profitability. You 00:13:57.309 --> 00:13:59.570 get a bull that's a superstar on paper for milk, 00:13:59.669 --> 00:14:01.870 but his daughters are constantly struggling with 00:14:01.870 --> 00:14:04.029 reproduction or health issues. That's not a net 00:14:04.029 --> 00:14:06.289 gain. That's a tradeoff. And it's a tradeoff 00:14:06.289 --> 00:14:08.269 we just can't afford anymore with today's tight 00:14:08.269 --> 00:14:10.629 margins. And this isn't just a slight dip we're 00:14:10.629 --> 00:14:12.789 talking about. It's like a fertility and health 00:14:12.789 --> 00:14:15.789 time bomb potentially lurking in your top genetics. 00:14:15.970 --> 00:14:17.649 That's the real danger here. But here's what 00:14:17.649 --> 00:14:19.690 they're not telling you explicitly with just 00:14:19.690 --> 00:14:22.029 that single high OPI number. That bull might 00:14:22.029 --> 00:14:24.070 be a disaster if his daughters struggle to breed 00:14:24.070 --> 00:14:26.679 back or are constantly sick. That's not a gain. 00:14:26.779 --> 00:14:29.700 That's a net loss for my operation. Explain that 00:14:29.700 --> 00:14:31.919 net loss. Well, you're bringing in a cow that 00:14:31.919 --> 00:14:34.919 ultimately needs more inputs, maybe more specialized 00:14:34.919 --> 00:14:37.879 feed, definitely more vet visits, more labor. 00:14:38.039 --> 00:14:40.980 And she still might not. performed to her genetic 00:14:40.980 --> 00:14:43.019 potential because she's always battling something. 00:14:43.240 --> 00:14:45.980 She might produce a lot of milk on her good days, 00:14:46.100 --> 00:14:48.759 but if she takes five services to get pregnant 00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:52.639 or constantly battles mastitis, that high production 00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:55.259 number becomes almost meaningless in the grand 00:14:55.259 --> 00:14:58.379 scheme. It just eats into every hundred weight 00:14:58.379 --> 00:15:01.019 produced, every bit of labor, every ounce of 00:15:01.019 --> 00:15:03.019 stress on the farm. Creates a never -ending cycle 00:15:03.019 --> 00:15:05.340 of problems instead of a smooth, efficient operation. 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:07.500 It's like buying a high -performance tractor 00:15:07.500 --> 00:15:09.799 that spends more time in the shop than actually 00:15:09.799 --> 00:15:12.100 working in the field. What good is that? It's 00:15:12.100 --> 00:15:14.419 like having that star athlete on your team who's 00:15:14.419 --> 00:15:17.080 constantly injured. The potential is there. The 00:15:17.080 --> 00:15:19.600 talent might be undeniable on paper, but the 00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:21.879 actual performance is consistently compromised 00:15:21.879 --> 00:15:24.159 by these underlying weaknesses. Yeah, exactly. 00:15:24.519 --> 00:15:26.879 And this is precisely why Dr. Christine Bays 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:29.360 from the University of Guelph, who leads the 00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:31.980 Resilient Dairy Genomics Project, has been such 00:15:31.980 --> 00:15:33.980 a strong advocate for this balanced approach 00:15:33.980 --> 00:15:37.259 for years now. Her work is really validating 00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:40.519 this shift. Absolutely Her work and the compelling 00:15:40.519 --> 00:15:43.159 genetic data emerging from her lab are really 00:15:43.159 --> 00:15:45.500 proving her right. She frames it beautifully, 00:15:45.659 --> 00:15:48.740 talks about hedging your genetic investment portfolio. 00:15:49.100 --> 00:15:52.240 Like diversifying your stocks. Exactly. Diversifying 00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:55.120 your genetic assets, much like a financial advisor 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:57.100 would tell you not to put all your eggs in one 00:15:57.100 --> 00:15:59.320 basket, rather than putting all your genetic 00:15:59.320 --> 00:16:02.399 future into one narrow set of production or type 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:04.919 traits and just hoping for the best. It's just 00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:06.919 common sense, really, when you think about it 00:16:06.919 --> 00:16:08.450 like that. You wouldn't put all your... retirement 00:16:08.450 --> 00:16:11.529 savings in one volatile stock, so I bet the entire 00:16:11.529 --> 00:16:14.850 future of your herd on one or two trades. That's 00:16:14.850 --> 00:16:17.169 just asking for trouble down the line. Now let's 00:16:17.169 --> 00:16:19.519 follow the money. Because ultimately, that's 00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:22.259 what makes or breaks a dairy operation. We've 00:16:22.259 --> 00:16:25.299 talked about the brutal feed costs $450, $500 00:16:25.299 --> 00:16:28.000 per ton. Yep. Impossible to ignore. When you 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:29.919 have those genetic holes in your herd, it just 00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:33.000 means more inputs, more vet calls, extra labor, 00:16:33.120 --> 00:16:35.659 maybe specialized feeds, often for the same or 00:16:35.659 --> 00:16:38.200 even less output. It's a losing game. A slow 00:16:38.200 --> 00:16:40.759 drain on your resources. And this is exactly 00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:43.399 where feed efficiency becomes a major, major 00:16:43.399 --> 00:16:46.720 win. Dr. Base's work and other industry analyses 00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:50.019 too, they suggest that cattle from these more 00:16:50.019 --> 00:16:53.100 balanced genetic programs are about 8 to 12 percent 00:16:53.100 --> 00:16:55.759 more efficient in feed conversion. Okay, let's 00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:58.120 break down that number, 8 to 12%, because that 00:16:58.120 --> 00:17:00.399 translates directly into real dollars for you, 00:17:00.500 --> 00:17:02.220 the farmer listening. To do the math for us. 00:17:02.340 --> 00:17:05.359 At current feed costs, that 8 to 12 % efficiency 00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:08.380 gain could mean potential savings of $200 to 00:17:08.380 --> 00:17:12.460 $250 per cow annually. Per cow, per year. Let 00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:15.339 that sink in. If you're running, say, a 300 head 00:17:15.339 --> 00:17:19.119 herd, that's a staggering $60 ,000 to $75 ,000 00:17:19.119 --> 00:17:21.619 extra in your pocket every single year. Wow. 00:17:22.059 --> 00:17:23.819 That's not a small adjustment. That's a significant 00:17:23.819 --> 00:17:26.299 improvement to your profitability. That can be 00:17:26.299 --> 00:17:27.980 the difference between just breaking even and 00:17:27.980 --> 00:17:29.680 actually building equity, growing the business. 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:31.859 Absolutely. And let's break down what this actually 00:17:31.859 --> 00:17:34.339 costs you per cow or even per hundred way when 00:17:34.339 --> 00:17:36.740 you are dealing with poor fertility or constant 00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:39.500 health issues, because it's often hidden. It's 00:17:39.500 --> 00:17:41.650 not just the immediate vet bill, right? For a 00:17:41.650 --> 00:17:44.490 difficult calving, a retained placenta, a recurring 00:17:44.490 --> 00:17:47.690 case of mastitis. Exactly. It's the lost production 00:17:47.690 --> 00:17:50.549 from that cow being open too long, delaying her 00:17:50.549 --> 00:17:53.170 next lactation, extending her unproductive days 00:17:53.170 --> 00:17:55.849 on feed. It's the extra labor spent trying to 00:17:55.849 --> 00:17:58.470 get her bread back or nursing her through yet 00:17:58.470 --> 00:18:01.369 another illness, taking valuable time away from 00:18:01.369 --> 00:18:04.269 other... critical farm tasks. It's the cost of 00:18:04.269 --> 00:18:06.349 early culling. Culling a cow that should have 00:18:06.349 --> 00:18:08.490 had another two or three productive lactations 00:18:08.490 --> 00:18:10.930 in her only to be replaced by a heifer that also 00:18:10.930 --> 00:18:13.750 costs money and time to raise. Those hidden costs 00:18:13.750 --> 00:18:17.369 add up incredibly fast, eating into every hundredweight 00:18:17.369 --> 00:18:20.670 produced. Your efficient cows end up subsidizing 00:18:20.670 --> 00:18:23.200 the inefficient ones. It's death by a thousand 00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:26.220 cuts for your margin, slowly but surely eroding 00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:28.880 your financial stability. That's the insidious 00:18:28.880 --> 00:18:30.779 part. These aren't always obvious line items 00:18:30.779 --> 00:18:32.420 that jump out at you on a spreadsheet, but they 00:18:32.420 --> 00:18:35.359 are absolutely crushing your profitability, silently 00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:37.980 taking a bite out of every dollar you earn. It's 00:18:37.980 --> 00:18:40.000 the quiet thief in the night. Now, we have to 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:42.119 be realistic. Transitioning to balanced selection 00:18:42.119 --> 00:18:45.119 isn't free. There's an upfront investment. Right. 00:18:45.539 --> 00:18:47.799 Agricultural economist Dr. Alphonse Wiersink 00:18:47.799 --> 00:18:50.079 from Gulf points this out. there are significant 00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:52.700 implementation costs. What kind of costs are 00:18:52.700 --> 00:18:54.579 we talking? We're talking about genetic testing 00:18:54.579 --> 00:18:57.000 requirements for your entire herd, potentially, 00:18:57.119 --> 00:18:59.660 not just the elite animals, restructuring your 00:18:59.660 --> 00:19:01.900 breeding programs to actually use this new data 00:19:01.900 --> 00:19:05.039 effectively, and, very likely, upgrading your 00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:07.059 data management systems to handle all this new 00:19:07.059 --> 00:19:09.359 information efficiently. So what are the ballpark 00:19:09.359 --> 00:19:13.690 figures? For, say, 100, 200 cow operations, you're 00:19:13.690 --> 00:19:15.809 probably looking at an investment in the range 00:19:15.809 --> 00:19:20.089 of $8 ,000 to $15 ,000 to get this rolling properly. 00:19:20.430 --> 00:19:23.730 Okay. And for larger herds? For 300, 500 cow 00:19:23.730 --> 00:19:27.289 herds, those costs can climb to maybe $15 ,000 00:19:27.289 --> 00:19:30.970 to $25 ,000. It's a real upfront investment that 00:19:30.970 --> 00:19:33.049 definitely requires commitment. But here's where 00:19:33.049 --> 00:19:35.779 it gets interesting, the payback timeline. It 00:19:35.779 --> 00:19:38.140 varies, but it's generally positive, right? Yeah. 00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:40.740 The good news is the payback seems real. Operations 00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:43.180 that already have a fairly solid genetic base, 00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:45.299 maybe they haven't been too extreme in single 00:19:45.299 --> 00:19:47.980 trait selection in the past, they might see positive 00:19:47.980 --> 00:19:51.400 returns within, say, 18 to 24 months. And for 00:19:51.400 --> 00:19:54.299 herds with more historical imbalances. For herds 00:19:54.299 --> 00:19:56.599 with more significant genetic imbalances, the 00:19:56.599 --> 00:19:58.680 ones that have been heavily chasing single traits 00:19:58.680 --> 00:20:01.039 for a long time, it might take a bit longer, 00:20:01.140 --> 00:20:03.519 perhaps three to four years to fully realize 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:06.880 the benefits as you breed out those entrenched 00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:09.720 weaknesses generation by generation. So the core 00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:12.819 trade off here is accepting potentially slower, 00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:15.559 maybe incremental progress in any single trait 00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:19.059 like raw milk yield. For a more balanced, holistic 00:20:19.059 --> 00:20:21.910 improvement across all the economically important 00:20:21.910 --> 00:20:25.150 areas. But based on industry observations and 00:20:25.150 --> 00:20:28.109 the expert data coming out, this strategy, while 00:20:28.109 --> 00:20:30.890 it requires patience and discipline, it is proving 00:20:30.890 --> 00:20:33.549 to be far more profitable and sustainable in 00:20:33.549 --> 00:20:35.549 the long term. It's about playing the long game, 00:20:35.589 --> 00:20:38.109 not just chasing a sprint. And we're seeing this 00:20:38.109 --> 00:20:40.750 play out on the barn floor in real time. You've 00:20:40.750 --> 00:20:42.450 been hearing stories. Yeah, I've been speaking 00:20:42.450 --> 00:20:44.490 with producers across Ontario and Quebec from 00:20:44.490 --> 00:20:46.849 the Ottawa Valley to the eastern townships. And 00:20:46.849 --> 00:20:49.819 the stories are... Remarkably consistent. The 00:20:49.819 --> 00:20:51.819 commie thread is that producers who have shifted 00:20:51.819 --> 00:20:54.240 to these more balanced approaches are reporting 00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:56.779 tangible improvements. Heard health metrics, 00:20:56.940 --> 00:20:58.980 reproductive performance over two to three year 00:20:58.980 --> 00:21:01.319 periods. It's not an overnight miracle then. 00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:05.400 Definitely not. But it's a steady, positive, 00:21:05.539 --> 00:21:08.940 compounding change that built momentum over time. 00:21:09.140 --> 00:21:11.319 That reminds me, I had one producer I know from 00:21:11.319 --> 00:21:13.319 the Kempville area tell me straight up, he said, 00:21:13.930 --> 00:21:16.630 my conception rates were garbage for three years 00:21:16.630 --> 00:21:19.950 running oh wow kept chasing high milk bowls thinking 00:21:19.950 --> 00:21:22.990 more production would solve everything finally 00:21:22.990 --> 00:21:25.150 i threw my hands up said enough is enough started 00:21:25.150 --> 00:21:27.069 looking at the whole package the entire genetic 00:21:27.069 --> 00:21:30.390 profile and the result He said, three breeding 00:21:30.390 --> 00:21:33.190 seasons later, my fresh first lactation cows 00:21:33.190 --> 00:21:35.930 are settling like they should. And I'm not calling 00:21:35.930 --> 00:21:38.190 the vet every other day with some new problem. 00:21:38.450 --> 00:21:40.569 OK, when he said not calling the vet every other 00:21:40.569 --> 00:21:43.069 day, that's not just a cost saving. That's a 00:21:43.069 --> 00:21:45.650 massive stress reduction. Huge. Think about the 00:21:45.650 --> 00:21:47.849 mental load that lifts when you're not constantly 00:21:47.849 --> 00:21:50.950 dealing with emergencies or those problem cows 00:21:50.950 --> 00:21:53.440 that seem to always need something extra. It's 00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:56.099 like having that one relative you love, but who 00:21:56.099 --> 00:21:58.400 always needs something, right? Except these relatives 00:21:58.400 --> 00:22:02.579 cost you thousands of dollars. Good analogy. 00:22:02.859 --> 00:22:04.859 But yeah, this isn't some overnight fix, like 00:22:04.859 --> 00:22:07.420 we said. But the trend is clear. It's happening 00:22:07.420 --> 00:22:09.539 across different herd sizes, different management 00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:12.380 styles. It's a fundamental shift in how people 00:22:12.380 --> 00:22:14.900 are approaching herd management through genetics. 00:22:15.259 --> 00:22:16.779 And what's really interesting, too, is that it's 00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:19.529 not just about avoiding problems, is it? No, 00:22:19.549 --> 00:22:21.890 that's a great point. Producers embracing balanced 00:22:21.890 --> 00:22:24.450 selection seem to be actually positioning themselves 00:22:24.450 --> 00:22:27.549 better for whatever comes next. Meaning? Whether 00:22:27.549 --> 00:22:30.049 it's unforeseen climate challenges, persistent 00:22:30.049 --> 00:22:33.369 labor shortages, and finding good help is a constant 00:22:33.369 --> 00:22:36.369 battle, or volatile feed price fluctuations. 00:22:37.660 --> 00:22:39.579 These cattle just seem to handle it all with 00:22:39.579 --> 00:22:42.599 less drama. They're more robust. More resilient. 00:22:42.859 --> 00:22:45.799 Yeah, ultimately easier to manage in an increasingly 00:22:45.799 --> 00:22:48.799 unpredictable environment. They seem better able 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:51.079 to tolerate changes in feed quality or sudden 00:22:51.079 --> 00:22:53.700 temperature swings without immediately crashing 00:22:53.700 --> 00:22:56.740 or getting sick. Dr. Dan Weary from UBC's animal 00:22:56.740 --> 00:22:59.140 welfare program, he's identified some common 00:22:59.140 --> 00:23:01.519 patterns among producers who really succeed with 00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:03.539 this approach. What does he see? Well, typically 00:23:03.539 --> 00:23:05.759 they're maintaining incredibly detailed production 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:09.240 records. That's crucial for identifying areas 00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:11.720 for improvement and actually tracking progress. 00:23:12.059 --> 00:23:14.700 Data is king. They're investing in staff training 00:23:14.700 --> 00:23:18.200 because good genetics need good management to 00:23:18.200 --> 00:23:21.420 shine. It's not a magic bullet. You still need 00:23:21.420 --> 00:23:24.160 skilled people. Absolutely. Genetics are potential. 00:23:24.460 --> 00:23:26.940 Management unlocks it. And crucially, they're 00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:30.490 actively resisting the temptation to chase. those 00:23:30.490 --> 00:23:32.950 short -term genetic trends, the flavor of the 00:23:32.950 --> 00:23:34.789 month bowl that everyone's talking about. That 00:23:34.789 --> 00:23:37.589 discipline, that's key to long -term success. 00:23:37.730 --> 00:23:40.029 It's about building a solid, reliable foundation 00:23:40.029 --> 00:23:42.430 that can withstand the test of time and market 00:23:42.430 --> 00:23:45.369 volatility rather than chasing fleeting fads. 00:23:45.589 --> 00:23:48.349 It's just common sense, really, backed by good 00:23:48.349 --> 00:23:50.250 science now. Looking ahead, this accelerated 00:23:50.250 --> 00:23:52.799 shift towards balanced breeding. It seems like 00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:54.920 it's only going to intensify as industry consolidation 00:23:54.920 --> 00:23:57.000 continues. Yeah, this farm number is dropping. 00:23:57.279 --> 00:23:59.299 We've seen Canadian dairy farm numbers decline 00:23:59.299 --> 00:24:02.839 significantly from over 12 ,000 in 2014 down 00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:07.079 to around 9 ,256 in 2024. Operational efficiency 00:24:07.079 --> 00:24:09.400 is no longer just a nice -to -have goal. It's 00:24:09.400 --> 00:24:11.960 become an absolute survival requirement. The 00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:14.279 farms that are going to thrive... And frankly, 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:16.480 just survive are the ones that are most efficient, 00:24:16.640 --> 00:24:18.960 most resilient, most adaptable. And technology 00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:21.500 is a huge enabler here, isn't it? The genomic 00:24:21.500 --> 00:24:23.980 tools available today are just incredible. Oh, 00:24:24.019 --> 00:24:26.119 far beyond what we could have imagined even a 00:24:26.119 --> 00:24:29.430 decade ago. Take Cemex's genomic platform, for 00:24:29.430 --> 00:24:33.509 example. It processes over 50 ,000 genetic markers 00:24:33.509 --> 00:24:36.809 per animal. 50 ,000 markers. That gives you precision 00:24:36.809 --> 00:24:39.230 breeding decisions. With significantly higher 00:24:39.230 --> 00:24:41.789 accuracy for young genomic bulls compared to 00:24:41.789 --> 00:24:44.490 the old traditional pedigree methods. The reliability 00:24:44.490 --> 00:24:47.809 jump is impressive. We're talking 70 -75 % accuracy 00:24:47.809 --> 00:24:50.930 now versus maybe 30 -35 % with pedigree alone 00:24:50.930 --> 00:24:54.240 back in the day. That dramatically reduces the 00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:56.680 risk in sire selection. Allows you to select 00:24:56.680 --> 00:24:59.759 for traits like disease resistance or feed efficiency 00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:02.759 with far greater confidence. Huge leap in confidence. 00:25:02.859 --> 00:25:05.279 It means you're making decisions based on solid, 00:25:05.319 --> 00:25:07.839 detailed genetic data, not just educated guesses 00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:10.619 or a bull's famous relatives. And it goes beyond 00:25:10.619 --> 00:25:13.299 just selecting sires now, too. Real -time monitoring 00:25:13.299 --> 00:25:15.799 systems. Yeah. Those are becoming more common. 00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:18.640 Systems that can actually correlate genetic potential 00:25:18.640 --> 00:25:21.440 with actual real -time production metrics on 00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:24.299 the farm. So you can identify underperforming 00:25:24.299 --> 00:25:26.920 genetics or maybe emerging health issues before 00:25:26.920 --> 00:25:29.099 they really start hitting your bottom line. Exactly. 00:25:29.099 --> 00:25:32.180 Imagine getting an alert that a group of cows 00:25:32.180 --> 00:25:35.019 may be genetically predisposed to ketosis are 00:25:35.019 --> 00:25:38.240 showing early signs based on sensor data. You 00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:40.839 can intervene proactively instead of reacting 00:25:40.839 --> 00:25:43.599 to a full -blown crisis later. It's the kind 00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:45.980 of early warning system dairy farmers desperately 00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:48.180 need to make proactive management decisions. 00:25:49.130 --> 00:25:52.009 not reactive ones. And look, from a financial 00:25:52.009 --> 00:25:54.150 perspective, there is potentially good news on 00:25:54.150 --> 00:25:56.390 the horizon, too. Interest rates are generally 00:25:56.390 --> 00:25:58.650 expected to continue declining through 2025. 00:25:58.990 --> 00:26:01.690 Which creates a window of opportunity. A really 00:26:01.690 --> 00:26:03.859 important window, yeah. For financing investments 00:26:03.859 --> 00:26:06.319 in these advanced genetics and management systems, 00:26:06.579 --> 00:26:09.339 it makes it more feasible for operations to make 00:26:09.339 --> 00:26:11.400 this critical transition. It's an opportunity 00:26:11.400 --> 00:26:14.460 to maybe borrow wisely and invest in the future 00:26:14.460 --> 00:26:17.039 resilience and profitability of your herd. And 00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:19.940 when you analyze the lifetime value of an animal. 00:26:20.619 --> 00:26:22.740 The data really drives this home, doesn't it? 00:26:22.779 --> 00:26:25.880 For sure. Leading analytics firms like AgriProfit, 00:26:25.960 --> 00:26:28.259 their data suggests that balanced genetics can 00:26:28.259 --> 00:26:30.680 increase the average productive lifespan by nearly 00:26:30.680 --> 00:26:33.559 a full lactation in some herds. A whole extra 00:26:33.559 --> 00:26:36.259 lactation on average. That directly translates 00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:39.920 to lower replacement costs. massively lower replacement 00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:41.759 costs because you're not constantly churning 00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:44.259 through animals that burn out too quickly. It 00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:47.259 also means more total milk over the cow's lifetime 00:26:47.259 --> 00:26:51.039 and greater overall efficiency. It's a huge win 00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:54.079 for any dairy producer. A cow that lasts longer 00:26:54.079 --> 00:26:56.680 is simply a cow that pays you back more, reduces 00:26:56.680 --> 00:26:59.180 your replacement heifer costs, and adds consistency 00:26:59.180 --> 00:27:02.539 to your herd. It's that simple, but profoundly 00:27:02.539 --> 00:27:04.519 impactful. All right, let's get into some of 00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:06.359 the contrarian takes that are bubbling up around 00:27:06.359 --> 00:27:08.279 this, because not everyone is fully on board 00:27:08.279 --> 00:27:11.119 yet, right? No, definitely not. Change is hard. 00:27:11.319 --> 00:27:13.480 I hear farmers saying, look, everyone's saying 00:27:13.480 --> 00:27:15.480 if you back off chasing the highest LPI, you'll 00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:17.839 lose milk yield or type. And that's a valid concern. 00:27:17.940 --> 00:27:20.279 It's been ingrained in us for decades. It has. 00:27:20.539 --> 00:27:22.319 But what if you're actually gaining something 00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:25.000 far more valuable in the trade -off? Like a more 00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:28.680 robust, consistently profitable animal that can 00:27:28.680 --> 00:27:31.519 handle real -world challenges, not just excel 00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:34.160 on a spreadsheet. I'm not buying that we'll just... 00:27:34.400 --> 00:27:37.299 lose milk yield necessarily. Here's why. We're 00:27:37.299 --> 00:27:39.380 not talking about sacrificing genetic progress 00:27:39.380 --> 00:27:42.680 entirely in those high production or type areas. 00:27:42.819 --> 00:27:44.420 We're talking about optimizing it for the real 00:27:44.420 --> 00:27:46.980 world. Exactly. Instead of creating cattle with 00:27:46.980 --> 00:27:50.019 spectacular strengths in one area, say milk yield, 00:27:50.140 --> 00:27:53.700 but then having devastating weaknesses in fertility 00:27:53.700 --> 00:27:56.680 or health that negate those gains. You're building 00:27:56.680 --> 00:27:58.960 consistently profitable animals that actually 00:27:58.960 --> 00:28:01.880 work and last in today's and tomorrow's challenging 00:28:01.880 --> 00:28:04.119 environment. You're maybe trading a few percentage 00:28:04.119 --> 00:28:07.039 points on a single isolated trait for a whole 00:28:07.039 --> 00:28:10.099 lot more resilience, longevity, and overall profitability 00:28:10.099 --> 00:28:12.640 across the entire system. You're building a balanced 00:28:12.640 --> 00:28:14.900 athlete, like you said earlier, not a specialist 00:28:14.900 --> 00:28:17.039 who's always getting injured or can only perform 00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:19.559 under perfect conditions. That's a crucial distinction. 00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:22.940 It's not about giving up on It's about rebalancing 00:28:22.940 --> 00:28:25.539 priorities for a more sustainable, profitable 00:28:25.539 --> 00:28:28.460 future. And this is where that five of six rule 00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:30.940 is really gaining traction among progressive 00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:33.380 producers. Explain that rule again. It's a strategy 00:28:33.380 --> 00:28:35.940 that's quite simple, but seems incredibly effective. 00:28:36.519 --> 00:28:39.339 Selecting sires that have at least five of Lactonet's 00:28:39.339 --> 00:28:43.420 six LPI subindexes ranked above the 50th percentile. 00:28:43.640 --> 00:28:46.119 And just remind listeners that 50th percentile 00:28:46.119 --> 00:28:49.240 rank means that bull is performing better than 00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:52.559 half of all other evaluated bulls for that specific 00:28:52.559 --> 00:28:55.319 trait. Right. So the five to six rule ensures 00:28:55.319 --> 00:28:57.339 your bulls are performing above average across 00:28:57.339 --> 00:29:00.400 multiple categories. It actively prevents those 00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:02.400 hidden weaknesses from creeping into your herd 00:29:02.400 --> 00:29:04.519 and causing problems later. You might not get 00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:07.849 a bull that's, you know. 99th percentile in every 00:29:07.849 --> 00:29:10.630 single category. Those are rare anyway, but you're 00:29:10.630 --> 00:29:12.890 guaranteeing a bull that's solid across the board 00:29:12.890 --> 00:29:15.710 without significant deficiencies in crucial areas 00:29:15.710 --> 00:29:18.109 like health or reproduction. It's a pragmatic 00:29:18.109 --> 00:29:20.269 approach that acknowledges the complex reality 00:29:20.269 --> 00:29:22.690 of dairy farming today. And we're seeing some 00:29:22.690 --> 00:29:25.190 interesting regional patterns in the adoption 00:29:25.190 --> 00:29:27.009 of this approach, aren't we? Yeah, it varies. 00:29:27.690 --> 00:29:30.069 In progressive areas of Ontario and Quebec, you're 00:29:30.069 --> 00:29:33.470 seeing maybe 30 -35 % of forward -thinking operations 00:29:33.470 --> 00:29:36.589 already implementing some form of balanced selection 00:29:36.589 --> 00:29:39.930 protocol. They're often leading the charge, driven 00:29:39.930 --> 00:29:42.369 by intense competition and market pressures. 00:29:42.710 --> 00:29:45.369 And out west? Western Canada, particularly the 00:29:45.369 --> 00:29:47.630 larger operations, they seem to be transitioning 00:29:47.630 --> 00:29:49.809 quite quickly, often because they're dealing 00:29:49.809 --> 00:29:53.109 with more severe labor shortages. For them, they 00:29:53.109 --> 00:29:55.829 simply need cattle that basically manage themselves 00:29:55.829 --> 00:29:58.329 as much as possible. So those points Dr. Weary 00:29:58.329 --> 00:30:01.450 made about detailed records, staff training, 00:30:01.710 --> 00:30:04.509 resisting trends, that's really evident there. 00:30:04.630 --> 00:30:06.589 Very evident. They recognize that a balanced, 00:30:06.710 --> 00:30:09.609 resilient cow reduces their labor burden significantly. 00:30:10.109 --> 00:30:12.089 It's almost like having an extra pair of hands 00:30:12.089 --> 00:30:14.349 in the barn when cows just stay healthy and breed 00:30:14.349 --> 00:30:17.450 back easily. Meanwhile, maritime provinces seem 00:30:17.450 --> 00:30:19.819 to be a bit more cautious. Yeah, which makes 00:30:19.819 --> 00:30:22.119 sense given their different cost structures and 00:30:22.119 --> 00:30:24.920 maybe different market conditions. But even there, 00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:26.900 the conversations about balanced breeding approaches 00:30:26.900 --> 00:30:29.039 are definitely starting to pick up. The word 00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:30.900 is getting out. It feels like this isn't just 00:30:30.900 --> 00:30:34.380 a trend. It's a fundamental necessary shift in 00:30:34.380 --> 00:30:36.859 how we have to approach deer genetics for the 00:30:36.859 --> 00:30:39.000 future. The writing is definitely on the wall. 00:30:39.099 --> 00:30:41.819 Even if the pace of adoption varies across regions, 00:30:42.180 --> 00:30:44.839 the future of profitable dairy seems to be tied 00:30:44.839 --> 00:30:47.700 to these resilient, balanced genetics. All right, 00:30:47.720 --> 00:30:49.980 let's distill this down. Farmer just finished 00:30:49.980 --> 00:30:51.980 morning milking. They're driving to the feed 00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:54.299 store, maybe listening to this right now. What 00:30:54.299 --> 00:30:56.079 are the three things they absolutely need to 00:30:56.079 --> 00:30:58.279 know from this deep dive on balanced breeding 00:30:58.279 --> 00:31:00.960 that they can actually act on? Okay, great question. 00:31:01.099 --> 00:31:03.759 For you listening right now, here are three actionable 00:31:03.759 --> 00:31:06.000 insights you can take away, broken down by timeline. 00:31:06.580 --> 00:31:09.160 First, immediate action for this week. Start 00:31:09.160 --> 00:31:11.819 with your baseline. You absolutely, positively 00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:15.140 need to establish genomic profiles for your herd 00:31:15.140 --> 00:31:17.559 if you haven't already. Use Lactonet's evaluation 00:31:17.559 --> 00:31:21.680 services for this. That testing cost about $45, 00:31:21.700 --> 00:31:24.799 $55 per animal. Yeah, roughly in that range. 00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:27.700 But look, this is the foundational step for everything 00:31:27.700 --> 00:31:30.539 that follows in balanced breeding. There are 00:31:30.539 --> 00:31:32.940 simply no shortcuts here. You need to know exactly 00:31:32.940 --> 00:31:35.519 where your herd stands genetically, the good, 00:31:35.539 --> 00:31:37.160 the bad, the ugly, before you can even begin 00:31:37.160 --> 00:31:39.059 to think strategically about where you want to 00:31:39.059 --> 00:31:41.900 go. This data will illuminate the strengths and, 00:31:42.039 --> 00:31:44.519 maybe more importantly, the hidden weaknesses 00:31:44.519 --> 00:31:47.460 in your current genetics. It gives you a clear 00:31:47.460 --> 00:31:50.000 map. Okay, baseline established. What's next? 00:31:50.220 --> 00:31:52.759 Second, for your medium -term strategy over the 00:31:52.759 --> 00:31:55.660 next three, six months. Define your genetic criteria 00:31:55.660 --> 00:31:58.559 based on your specific situation. Don't just 00:31:58.559 --> 00:32:00.960 pick generic targets off a list. Every operation 00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:03.779 is unique with its own specific challenges and 00:32:03.779 --> 00:32:06.859 goals. So tailor it. Absolutely. For smaller 00:32:06.859 --> 00:32:09.440 herds, maybe under 200 head, you can probably 00:32:09.440 --> 00:32:11.880 focus intensely on the three, four key areas 00:32:11.880 --> 00:32:13.420 where you know you're struggling most. Maybe 00:32:13.420 --> 00:32:15.359 it's fertility, maybe it's udder health, maybe 00:32:15.359 --> 00:32:18.839 feet and legs. For midsize operations, say 200, 00:32:18.920 --> 00:32:21.380 500 head, you'll likely need a more comprehensive 00:32:21.380 --> 00:32:24.500 approach across more traits. Like if SEC is always 00:32:24.500 --> 00:32:27.319 high. Exactly. If you consistently have high 00:32:27.319 --> 00:32:29.859 somatic cell counts, you need to lean heavily 00:32:29.859 --> 00:32:32.599 into selecting for the health and welfare subindex, 00:32:32.640 --> 00:32:35.890 the HWI. If fertility is your biggest headache 00:32:35.890 --> 00:32:38.329 year after year, then weight the reproduction 00:32:38.329 --> 00:32:41.349 subindex RI more heavily in your selections. 00:32:41.710 --> 00:32:43.789 And this is the crucial part. Always maintain 00:32:43.789 --> 00:32:47.250 that 5 of 6 threshold for overall balanced improvement. 00:32:47.490 --> 00:32:49.690 Yes. You want to actively address your known 00:32:49.690 --> 00:32:52.549 weaknesses without inadvertently creating new 00:32:52.549 --> 00:32:55.230 ones somewhere else. Balance is key. Got it. 00:32:55.269 --> 00:32:57.980 And the long game. Third. For your long -term 00:32:57.980 --> 00:33:00.299 positioning over the next one, two years, you 00:33:00.299 --> 00:33:02.579 absolutely must stay disciplined. This is arguably 00:33:02.579 --> 00:33:04.160 the hardest part of the whole thing. Why is that? 00:33:04.359 --> 00:33:07.119 Because when that hot new LPI bull shows up, 00:33:07.180 --> 00:33:09.900 maybe he only has three or even just two sub 00:33:09.900 --> 00:33:12.740 -indexes over the 50th percentile rank, but everyone 00:33:12.740 --> 00:33:15.019 in the coffee shop is talking about his sky -high 00:33:15.019 --> 00:33:18.180 milk numbers or his incredible type. It's incredibly 00:33:18.180 --> 00:33:20.740 tempting to jump on that bandwagon. Fear of missing 00:33:20.740 --> 00:33:24.170 out? Yeah. FOMO. Totally, but don't do it. Stick 00:33:24.170 --> 00:33:26.829 to your balanced strategy that you defined. Trust 00:33:26.829 --> 00:33:29.890 the process. This disciplined approach positions 00:33:29.890 --> 00:33:32.930 your operation not just to survive, but to truly 00:33:32.930 --> 00:33:36.309 thrive as the industry continues to evolve. You'll 00:33:36.309 --> 00:33:38.250 be better equipped to handle labor shortages, 00:33:38.569 --> 00:33:41.690 volatile feed costs, climate stress, all of it, 00:33:41.710 --> 00:33:44.329 with far more resilience and significantly less 00:33:44.329 --> 00:33:47.170 daily drama. It's a genuine investment in your 00:33:47.170 --> 00:33:50.339 future stability and peace of mind. Great summary. 00:33:50.480 --> 00:33:52.759 Really practical steps there. This has been another 00:33:52.759 --> 00:33:55.140 deep dive from the Bullvine podcast. If this 00:33:55.140 --> 00:33:57.279 kind of analysis helps your operation, head to 00:33:57.279 --> 00:34:00.480 www .thebullvine .com for more articles that 00:34:00.480 --> 00:34:02.440 tell you what's really happening in dairy. And 00:34:02.440 --> 00:34:04.279 seriously, subscribe wherever you get your deep 00:34:04.279 --> 00:34:06.640 dives. We're releasing episodes twice weekly 00:34:06.640 --> 00:34:08.840 now. And trust me, you don't want to miss what 00:34:08.840 --> 00:34:11.099 we've got coming next week about the real impact 00:34:11.099 --> 00:34:13.440 of rising energy costs on barn infrastructure 00:34:13.440 --> 00:34:16.159 decisions. Ooh, that's a timely one, too. It 00:34:16.159 --> 00:34:19.119 is. So here's a final thought to chew on. The 00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:21.260 shift toward total balanced breeding isn't just 00:34:21.260 --> 00:34:23.639 another fad. It feels more like the dairy industry 00:34:23.639 --> 00:34:26.320 growing up, learning from its past mistakes perhaps, 00:34:26.500 --> 00:34:28.639 and adapting to a much more challenging future. 00:34:28.880 --> 00:34:30.860 The question isn't whether balanced breeding 00:34:30.860 --> 00:34:33.679 is the future. The data seems pretty clear on 00:34:33.679 --> 00:34:35.659 that. The real question is whether you're going 00:34:35.659 --> 00:34:37.659 to be part of that future, leading the way with 00:34:37.659 --> 00:34:40.599 a resilient, profitable herd, or risk getting 00:34:40.599 --> 00:34:50.599 left behind dealing with yesterday's... Thank 00:34:50.599 --> 00:34:50.599 you.