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 --> 00:01:02.950 we're sparking Welcome back to The Deep Dive, 00:01:02.950 --> 00:01:05.069 where we cut through dairy industry noise to 00:01:05.069 --> 00:01:07.109 get you the insights that actually matter for 00:01:07.109 --> 00:01:10.129 your operation. And today, we're diving deep 00:01:10.129 --> 00:01:12.950 into a feature piece that's been generating some 00:01:12.950 --> 00:01:17.109 serious buzz. Sarah, this one's got layers and 00:01:17.109 --> 00:01:18.930 some surprises that are going to make farmers 00:01:18.930 --> 00:01:21.430 rethink how they've been approaching calf housing. 00:01:21.609 --> 00:01:23.989 Especially in those colder regions. Right. Particularly 00:01:23.989 --> 00:01:26.290 in cold weather regions. That's right. We are 00:01:26.290 --> 00:01:28.810 absolutely targeting... Well, the fundamental 00:01:28.810 --> 00:01:32.109 decision facing every dairy producer. Yeah. How 00:01:32.109 --> 00:01:34.390 do you house your replacement stock? I mean, 00:01:34.409 --> 00:01:37.109 for decades, the default answer was the individual 00:01:37.109 --> 00:01:40.230 hutch. Simple. Simple, yeah. But the data we're 00:01:40.230 --> 00:01:42.609 looking at today suggests that maybe the smart 00:01:42.609 --> 00:01:45.730 money move might be a strategic pivot toward 00:01:45.730 --> 00:01:48.750 pair housing. This is no longer just a nuanced 00:01:48.750 --> 00:01:51.310 welfare debate, you know? It's way past that 00:01:51.310 --> 00:01:53.510 now. This is a conversation about maximizing 00:01:53.510 --> 00:01:56.469 the lifetime profitability of every single heifer 00:01:56.469 --> 00:01:59.489 born on your farm. And this article, it really 00:01:59.489 --> 00:02:01.230 hit us at the perfect time. If you're running 00:02:01.230 --> 00:02:03.569 an operation anywhere, but especially if you're 00:02:03.569 --> 00:02:06.750 contending with those challenging climates up 00:02:06.750 --> 00:02:09.509 north, I think Minnesota, Wisconsin, maybe upstate 00:02:09.509 --> 00:02:12.810 New York. This decision is hypercritical right 00:02:12.810 --> 00:02:15.189 now. Right now. The way you manage and house 00:02:15.189 --> 00:02:17.530 your calves for those first crucial weeks is, 00:02:17.569 --> 00:02:19.729 I mean, it's literally going to shape your milk 00:02:19.729 --> 00:02:22.110 checks for the next decade. It really is the 00:02:22.110 --> 00:02:24.750 foundational infrastructure choice. We are looking 00:02:24.750 --> 00:02:27.409 at the potential for healthier, better growing 00:02:27.409 --> 00:02:30.289 calves that convert into real measurable financial 00:02:30.289 --> 00:02:33.590 gains down the line. But yeah, to get there, 00:02:33.610 --> 00:02:35.750 we have to acknowledge and maybe overcome decades 00:02:35.750 --> 00:02:38.509 of traditional thinking. Exactly. For generations, 00:02:38.650 --> 00:02:41.710 I mean. The reliance on individual housing, it 00:02:41.710 --> 00:02:44.110 was seen as the gold standard for biosecurity. 00:02:44.250 --> 00:02:47.030 It felt like simple management, easy to spot 00:02:47.030 --> 00:02:49.430 the calf that wasn't drinking, and even easier 00:02:49.430 --> 00:02:51.710 to isolate a sick animal. Sure, visually easy. 00:02:51.949 --> 00:02:54.270 That belief system, that isolation is inherently 00:02:54.270 --> 00:02:57.110 healthier. It's become almost dogma in some parts 00:02:57.110 --> 00:02:59.629 of the industry. But that dogma, well, it seems 00:02:59.629 --> 00:03:01.490 to be collapsing under the weight of empirical 00:03:01.490 --> 00:03:03.789 evidence. We're seeing some pretty comprehensive 00:03:03.789 --> 00:03:06.629 research, and importantly, on -firm results that 00:03:06.629 --> 00:03:09.169 directly challenge the assumption that physical 00:03:09.169 --> 00:03:12.689 isolation minimizes health problems. This is 00:03:12.689 --> 00:03:14.990 the central controversy of this deep diet, isn't 00:03:14.990 --> 00:03:17.949 it? The long -standing belief that separation 00:03:17.949 --> 00:03:20.990 equals superior health might actually be costing 00:03:20.990 --> 00:03:23.689 you performance and profit. We need to dissect 00:03:23.689 --> 00:03:26.909 why isolation might actually be hindering, not 00:03:26.909 --> 00:03:29.849 helping, your future milking herd. Okay, let's 00:03:29.849 --> 00:03:32.199 dig into that. Okay, let's lay out the core issue 00:03:32.199 --> 00:03:35.020 directly for you listening. Many successful farms 00:03:35.020 --> 00:03:37.400 are holding on to solo housing despite mounting 00:03:37.400 --> 00:03:39.879 pretty compelling evidence that pairing calves 00:03:39.879 --> 00:03:43.039 delivers a superior outcome. We are actively 00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:46.219 debunking the idea that putting two calves together 00:03:46.219 --> 00:03:48.639 guarantees a disease outbreak. Okay, I understand 00:03:48.639 --> 00:03:50.860 the skepticism. I really do. If you spent your 00:03:50.860 --> 00:03:53.680 whole career trying to minimize pathogen exposure, 00:03:54.039 --> 00:03:56.840 the idea of intentionally letting calves interact 00:03:56.840 --> 00:04:00.509 feels, well, it feels reckless. Instinct. But 00:04:00.509 --> 00:04:03.689 if that fear of shared bugs is the only reason 00:04:03.689 --> 00:04:06.150 you're sticking to individual hutches, you're 00:04:06.150 --> 00:04:09.389 likely sacrificing long -term productivity and, 00:04:09.449 --> 00:04:12.469 maybe crucially, immune development. And look 00:04:12.469 --> 00:04:14.770 at the solid UK research cited in the sources. 00:04:15.009 --> 00:04:18.069 This wasn't some small, contained study. It followed 00:04:18.069 --> 00:04:20.709 over 400 heifers across multiple facilities. 00:04:21.089 --> 00:04:24.189 The findings were not ambiguous, were they? Not 00:04:24.189 --> 00:04:28.040 at all. Pear -housed calves consistently showed 00:04:28.040 --> 00:04:30.939 significantly better growth performance, particularly 00:04:30.939 --> 00:04:33.720 during that really important pre -weaning period. 00:04:34.019 --> 00:04:35.579 Better growth is one thing. We can measure that 00:04:35.579 --> 00:04:37.839 easily with a weight tape. Wait, wait, but here's 00:04:37.839 --> 00:04:39.879 the kicker for the long -term farm economics, 00:04:39.980 --> 00:04:42.139 and this is what really jumped out at me. The 00:04:42.139 --> 00:04:45.139 study found those same pear -housed heifers... 00:04:45.519 --> 00:04:48.339 were substantially less likely to be called early 00:04:48.339 --> 00:04:51.100 in their productive lives compared to the individually 00:04:51.100 --> 00:04:53.600 housed ones. That is the critical link we need 00:04:53.600 --> 00:04:56.240 to emphasize, right? It suggests that the benefits 00:04:56.240 --> 00:04:59.040 gained in the calf stage through social learning, 00:04:59.220 --> 00:05:01.620 maybe reduce stress and definitely improve starter 00:05:01.620 --> 00:05:04.360 intake, they aren't just temporary. They stick 00:05:04.360 --> 00:05:06.740 around. They create a more robust animal, apparently. 00:05:07.040 --> 00:05:10.259 So if we follow that logic, it means we might 00:05:10.259 --> 00:05:12.680 be sacrificing the longevity and lifetime productivity 00:05:12.680 --> 00:05:15.240 of our future herd, which, let's be honest, is 00:05:15.240 --> 00:05:18.180 the biggest long -term financial driver just 00:05:18.180 --> 00:05:20.879 for the perceived short -term management benefit 00:05:20.879 --> 00:05:24.319 of keeping them in solitude. So we have to ask. 00:05:24.889 --> 00:05:27.430 What's the physiological mechanism? What's driving 00:05:27.430 --> 00:05:29.949 that sustained superior performance in the pairs? 00:05:30.209 --> 00:05:33.009 Well, it seems multifactorial, but a key component 00:05:33.009 --> 00:05:36.209 is resilience. Socially housed calves, because 00:05:36.209 --> 00:05:38.370 they engage in interaction and maybe some mild 00:05:38.370 --> 00:05:41.189 competition, they experience less stress when 00:05:41.189 --> 00:05:43.269 they're moved into larger groups later on at 00:05:43.269 --> 00:05:45.449 weaning or post -weaning. Okay, they adapt better. 00:05:45.589 --> 00:05:47.829 They handle subsequent challenges better. They 00:05:47.829 --> 00:05:50.389 show superior feed intake, which structurally 00:05:50.389 --> 00:05:52.810 develops the rumen faster, and that makes the 00:05:52.810 --> 00:05:55.639 weaning transition less. a metabolic shock. So 00:05:55.639 --> 00:05:57.639 the implication here, and this is a big shift, 00:05:57.759 --> 00:06:00.259 is that the housing type itself is maybe not 00:06:00.259 --> 00:06:03.579 the primary driver of disease. The real villain 00:06:03.579 --> 00:06:06.639 is environmental management. You can put a calf 00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:08.660 in a hutch, give it all the space in the world, 00:06:08.759 --> 00:06:11.699 but if that hutch is perpetually dirty, or the 00:06:11.699 --> 00:06:15.699 microclimate inside is stagnant, humid, you've 00:06:15.699 --> 00:06:18.060 accomplished nothing except isolation. Precisely. 00:06:18.399 --> 00:06:20.699 That's why that anecdotal insight from the Wisconsin 00:06:20.699 --> 00:06:23.439 producer is so valuable. It just cuts through 00:06:23.439 --> 00:06:25.439 the theory. What was the quote? It was something 00:06:25.439 --> 00:06:28.600 like, poor ventilation and dirty equipment spread 00:06:28.600 --> 00:06:31.079 disease faster than gossip at the feed store. 00:06:31.500 --> 00:06:33.459 Doesn't matter if the calves have company or 00:06:33.459 --> 00:06:36.060 not. Huh. That's a perfect translation of the 00:06:36.060 --> 00:06:37.860 management challenge, isn't it? It really is. 00:06:37.920 --> 00:06:40.699 If you have clean air, rigorously clean feeding 00:06:40.699 --> 00:06:43.680 equipment, and you are nailing your colostrum 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:46.680 protocols and early nutrition, those foundational 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:49.019 management practices are what determine your 00:06:49.019 --> 00:06:51.019 health outcomes. So the focus shifts entirely 00:06:51.019 --> 00:06:53.939 from physical separation to management quality. 00:06:54.319 --> 00:06:56.379 Right. If you are struggling with calf health, 00:06:56.519 --> 00:06:58.839 the first place you should look is probably at 00:06:58.839 --> 00:07:01.319 your air quality and hygiene, not necessarily 00:07:01.319 --> 00:07:03.850 your grouping strategy. And for you listening, 00:07:04.050 --> 00:07:06.589 this means if you decide to transition to pairs, 00:07:06.769 --> 00:07:09.290 you aren't adopting a riskier system. You are 00:07:09.290 --> 00:07:11.750 adopting a system that simply demands superior 00:07:11.750 --> 00:07:14.810 management. You have to be on your game. That's 00:07:14.810 --> 00:07:17.910 the key. Higher standard required. Yeah. Okay, 00:07:17.990 --> 00:07:19.910 so a common question that comes up, you know, 00:07:19.930 --> 00:07:21.889 when farmers consider moving away from hutches 00:07:21.889 --> 00:07:24.689 is, if I'm going to commit to changing my system, 00:07:24.870 --> 00:07:27.370 why not just bypass pairs and go straight to 00:07:27.370 --> 00:07:29.740 large group systems? Right. Jump all the way. 00:07:29.819 --> 00:07:31.699 We need to challenge that idea, the notion that 00:07:31.699 --> 00:07:34.420 pair housing is just some temporary, awkward 00:07:34.420 --> 00:07:37.180 precursor. Because the data, again, it shows 00:07:37.180 --> 00:07:39.540 that pairs often deliver the necessary behavioral 00:07:39.540 --> 00:07:42.100 and developmental benefits without introducing 00:07:42.100 --> 00:07:45.379 the systemic headaches of large... maybe heterogeneous 00:07:45.379 --> 00:07:48.459 groups. We are talking about finding a true sweet 00:07:48.459 --> 00:07:50.839 spot for pre -weaning management. Let's look 00:07:50.839 --> 00:07:53.300 at the contrarian analysis here regarding feed 00:07:53.300 --> 00:07:56.300 intake. Pair house calves consistently consume 00:07:56.300 --> 00:07:58.680 more calf starter. We know this is essential 00:07:58.680 --> 00:08:00.839 for rumen development, right? Getting those papillae 00:08:00.839 --> 00:08:02.800 going, transitioning the calf from basically 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:05.779 a monogastric system to a functioning rumen. 00:08:05.819 --> 00:08:08.360 Crucial transition. The paired calves, driven 00:08:08.360 --> 00:08:11.540 by maybe mild competition, social facilitation, 00:08:11.779 --> 00:08:14.480 they just eat more readily. This means they delop 00:08:14.480 --> 00:08:16.939 faster, and they seem to breeze through weaning 00:08:16.939 --> 00:08:19.560 stress much smoother than their solo counterparts. 00:08:19.819 --> 00:08:22.240 And the physiological benefit there is huge. 00:08:22.500 --> 00:08:25.399 A smoother weaning means less metabolic lag, 00:08:25.660 --> 00:08:28.480 better daily gain maintenance, and crucially, 00:08:28.519 --> 00:08:31.860 less immune suppression caused by stress. That's 00:08:31.860 --> 00:08:34.100 often when respiratory disease flares up. Exactly, 00:08:34.460 --> 00:08:36.740 that stress window. So the socialization aspect 00:08:36.740 --> 00:08:39.720 prepares them behaviorally for competition, but 00:08:39.720 --> 00:08:42.580 the increased starter intake prepares them physiologically. 00:08:42.799 --> 00:08:45.620 It's a double win. But here is the critical nuance, 00:08:45.799 --> 00:08:47.659 and this is the kicker from the research we really 00:08:47.659 --> 00:08:50.080 need to highlight. Right. Bigger is absolutely 00:08:50.080 --> 00:08:52.580 not better in this context. Right. If you add 00:08:52.580 --> 00:08:55.220 just a third calf, so groups of three or more. 00:08:55.799 --> 00:08:57.600 That's when you start seeing diminishing returns 00:08:57.600 --> 00:09:01.039 and, frankly, management difficulties. The system 00:09:01.039 --> 00:09:04.779 begins generating genuine social drama, as they 00:09:04.779 --> 00:09:07.679 put it, and dominance battles that help nobody. 00:09:07.879 --> 00:09:09.679 That makes perfect sense, though. In a pair, 00:09:09.899 --> 00:09:12.740 it's mostly cooperative. may be competitive in 00:09:12.740 --> 00:09:14.799 a positive way. They learn how to share resources. 00:09:15.179 --> 00:09:17.899 Once you introduce a third animal, you create 00:09:17.899 --> 00:09:20.360 a hierarchy, increasing the risk of one animal 00:09:20.360 --> 00:09:23.059 being marginalized or stressed, especially around 00:09:23.059 --> 00:09:25.320 an automatic feeder. Yeah, you can see that happening. 00:09:25.460 --> 00:09:28.100 The benefits seem to maximize with the dyad, 00:09:28.100 --> 00:09:31.220 the pair, and the complexity just ramps up exponentially 00:09:31.220 --> 00:09:33.759 beyond that. Okay, I have to interject here as 00:09:33.759 --> 00:09:35.919 the skeptical farmer again. We are discussing 00:09:35.919 --> 00:09:38.639 northern regions. Respiratory disease is the 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:41.799 boogeyman in cold, damp winters. It just is. 00:09:41.860 --> 00:09:44.240 Always a concern. If we introduce social contact, 00:09:44.519 --> 00:09:47.080 what are the non -negotiable health protocols 00:09:47.080 --> 00:09:51.279 we absolutely must nail to prevent simply doubling 00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:53.679 our pneumonia cases? Because that's the fear. 00:09:53.840 --> 00:09:55.840 It's a practical and vital question. And again, 00:09:55.899 --> 00:09:57.779 the studies show management practices matter 00:09:57.779 --> 00:09:59.700 more than the housing type for health outcomes. 00:09:59.860 --> 00:10:02.500 The single most important factor, air quality. 00:10:02.919 --> 00:10:06.100 Ventilation. Ventilation. Veterinarians and engineers 00:10:06.100 --> 00:10:09.139 recommend maintaining a minimum of 20 cubic feet 00:10:09.139 --> 00:10:12.019 per minute CFM of fresh air per calf in cold 00:10:12.019 --> 00:10:14.840 weather. This standard is critical to dilute 00:10:14.840 --> 00:10:17.039 the pathogen load and minimize respiratory disease 00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:20.779 risk. 20 CFM per calf. That's a very specific 00:10:20.779 --> 00:10:23.840 measurable target. But let's get into the technical 00:10:23.840 --> 00:10:27.860 logistics for our audience. In deep winter, how 00:10:27.860 --> 00:10:31.960 do you actually move 20 CFM of air per calf without 00:10:31.960 --> 00:10:35.000 creating a lethal draft? We can't just, you know, 00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:37.120 crack open all the doors and windows. No, absolutely 00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:39.159 not. That's where the technical expertise comes 00:10:39.159 --> 00:10:42.799 in. This requires precision ventilation. We are 00:10:42.799 --> 00:10:45.240 talking about positive pressure to ventilation 00:10:45.240 --> 00:10:48.220 systems, usually designed to introduce fresh 00:10:48.220 --> 00:10:50.860 air slowly and distribute it evenly above the 00:10:50.860 --> 00:10:53.299 resting area. Above them. Right. Preventing air 00:10:53.299 --> 00:10:55.559 stagnation without generating those high velocity 00:10:55.559 --> 00:10:58.299 drafts right on the calf. Simply relying on passive 00:10:58.299 --> 00:11:00.500 ventilation in a paired hutch or a small group 00:11:00.500 --> 00:11:02.980 pen during winter, it's probably going to fail. 00:11:03.419 --> 00:11:05.840 That's the management excellence required. That's 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:08.440 the detail. And the studies reinforce this. When 00:11:08.440 --> 00:11:10.720 farms adhered to those strict ventilation and 00:11:10.720 --> 00:11:13.279 hygiene protocols consistently, whether the calves 00:11:13.279 --> 00:11:15.519 were paired or solar respiratory disease, incidents 00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:18.080 typically dropped by 30 to 40 percent. 30 to 00:11:18.080 --> 00:11:20.139 40 percent drop. The housing type is secondary 00:11:20.139 --> 00:11:22.120 to nailing the management. Management first. 00:11:23.139 --> 00:11:25.620 Okay, we've established the welfare and the performance 00:11:25.620 --> 00:11:28.100 case, but now we pivot to the balance sheet because 00:11:28.100 --> 00:11:30.559 that's crucial. For an operation considering 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:33.080 what could be a significant infrastructure investment, 00:11:33.460 --> 00:11:35.860 this has to make financial sense. We have to 00:11:35.860 --> 00:11:38.240 break down the specific dollars and cents for 00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:39.860 you listening. Yeah, give us the hard numbers. 00:11:39.980 --> 00:11:43.440 Let's assume a typical, maybe mid to large scale 00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:47.080 500 cow operation. They'll need to replace roughly 00:11:47.080 --> 00:11:50.779 150 heifers yearly, give or take. How does switching 00:11:50.779 --> 00:11:53.320 to pair housing actually move the financial needle 00:11:53.320 --> 00:11:56.039 for them? Okay, it's pretty profound, actually. 00:11:56.100 --> 00:11:59.039 And the impact is twofold. You've got... Revenue 00:11:59.039 --> 00:12:01.919 gain and cost savings. First, the milk production 00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:04.779 game. The research demonstrates that pear -housed 00:12:04.779 --> 00:12:07.100 calves, on average, produce nearly 1 ,000 kilograms. 00:12:07.240 --> 00:12:10.000 That's about 2 ,200 pounds more lifetime milk. 00:12:10.179 --> 00:12:13.419 1 ,000 kilograms more lifetime. Okay, now let's 00:12:13.419 --> 00:12:15.600 tie that to current market reality. If we take 00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:18.039 a conservative average milk value of, let's say, 00:12:18.059 --> 00:12:20.980 maybe six cents per kilogram, that 1 ,000 kilograms 00:12:20.980 --> 00:12:23.879 gain translates to what? $60 of additional revenue 00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:26.220 per individual heifer that calves in. Right. 00:12:26.320 --> 00:12:28.899 Now multiply that across your 150 replacements. 00:12:29.059 --> 00:12:32.480 So 150 times $60. That is approximately $60 ,000 00:12:32.480 --> 00:12:35.779 in additional annual revenue for that 500 cow 00:12:35.779 --> 00:12:39.659 operation year after year. And this game isn't 00:12:39.659 --> 00:12:42.159 just about a higher peak yield either. This superior 00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:44.620 performance is typically linked to earlier maturity 00:12:44.620 --> 00:12:46.840 and better milk persistence throughout the lactation 00:12:46.840 --> 00:12:48.820 cycle. Meaning they hold their production curve 00:12:48.820 --> 00:12:52.500 longer, less drop -off. Exactly. $60 ,000 annually 00:12:52.500 --> 00:12:55.210 just from better performing heifers. That's a 00:12:55.210 --> 00:12:57.009 huge margin improvement right there. But that's 00:12:57.009 --> 00:12:59.029 only half the equation you said. What about replacement 00:12:59.029 --> 00:13:01.389 costs? Right. The second major financial benefit 00:13:01.389 --> 00:13:04.330 comes from longevity. Pear -housed heifers experience 00:13:04.330 --> 00:13:07.190 about 30 % fewer calls over their productive 00:13:07.190 --> 00:13:09.549 lifetime compared to the individually housed 00:13:09.549 --> 00:13:12.409 calves. 30 % fewer calls. That's significant. 00:13:12.629 --> 00:13:14.909 It really is. When we factor in the estimated, 00:13:15.029 --> 00:13:17.889 let's say, $1 ,500 to $2 ,000 cost of raising 00:13:17.889 --> 00:13:20.769 a replacement heifer to calving, that 30 % reduction 00:13:20.769 --> 00:13:23.970 in culls, which equates to roughly 15 to 20 fewer 00:13:23.970 --> 00:13:26.750 culls annually for our 500 cow example, that 00:13:26.750 --> 00:13:30.529 equates to another $22 ,500 roughly in replacement 00:13:30.529 --> 00:13:34.110 savings. Wow. So if we add those up, The total 00:13:34.110 --> 00:13:36.669 combined annual benefit for that farm, we're 00:13:36.669 --> 00:13:40.789 talking about $60 ,000 plus $22 ,500. That's 00:13:40.789 --> 00:13:44.929 $82 ,500 combined. Annually. Annually. Through 00:13:44.929 --> 00:13:47.549 revenue gain and replacement savings. That is 00:13:47.549 --> 00:13:50.690 the quantifiable financial case for calf companionship. 00:13:50.730 --> 00:13:53.690 That number absolutely justifies looking hard 00:13:53.690 --> 00:13:55.649 at capital expenditure. No kidding. That's a 00:13:55.649 --> 00:13:59.210 serious return. And the ROI timeline? It's incredibly 00:13:59.210 --> 00:14:01.070 aggressive. This isn't some long -shot investment 00:14:01.070 --> 00:14:03.750 paying off way down the road. The data indicates 00:14:03.750 --> 00:14:05.429 that the full return on investment, accounting 00:14:05.429 --> 00:14:07.429 for necessary infrastructure and maybe technology, 00:14:07.769 --> 00:14:10.049 is typically achieved within about 18 months 00:14:10.049 --> 00:14:12.549 of implementation. 18 months. That's fast for 00:14:12.549 --> 00:14:14.269 a farm investment. And, you know, I think the 00:14:14.269 --> 00:14:16.370 current market context makes this even more compelling. 00:14:16.490 --> 00:14:18.110 We've seen milk prices bouncing around, like 00:14:18.110 --> 00:14:21.549 that volatility we saw around October 2025, hovering 00:14:21.549 --> 00:14:26.090 near $17 .60 per hundredweight. Yeah, unpredictable. 00:14:26.700 --> 00:14:29.059 When margins are fluctuating wildly like that, 00:14:29.159 --> 00:14:32.720 relying on market upticks is a gamble. Investing 00:14:32.720 --> 00:14:35.360 in internal guaranteed efficiency like a system 00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:38.960 that potentially gives you $82 ,500 annually 00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:42.000 regardless of the milk price, that's essentially 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:44.740 a hedge against future market instability. You're 00:14:44.740 --> 00:14:46.940 building resilience into your operation. That's 00:14:46.940 --> 00:14:49.220 a great way to put it. It transitions from being 00:14:49.220 --> 00:14:52.039 just a nice -to -have welfare upgrade to being 00:14:52.039 --> 00:14:56.320 a core financial strategy for, yeah. weatherizing 00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:58.279 the operation against market pressures. Exactly. 00:14:58.519 --> 00:15:01.100 Smart business. Okay, let's talk technology. 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:03.440 Historically, one of the biggest arguments for 00:15:03.440 --> 00:15:05.879 individual housing was, you know, the human ability 00:15:05.879 --> 00:15:08.740 to manually monitor every single calf's bucket 00:15:08.740 --> 00:15:10.779 consumption. You could see exactly who drank 00:15:10.779 --> 00:15:12.899 what. Right. That hands -on approach felt safer 00:15:12.899 --> 00:15:14.840 to many. You knew immediately if someone didn't 00:15:14.840 --> 00:15:17.019 finish their milk. But technology has not just 00:15:17.019 --> 00:15:19.820 caught up. You could argue it has surpassed manual 00:15:19.820 --> 00:15:22.879 monitoring, making pair housing arguably superior 00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:25.559 for early disease detection. That's the automated 00:15:25.559 --> 00:15:28.100 feeder revolution we're seeing. These systems 00:15:28.100 --> 00:15:31.059 are far more than just fancy milk dispensers. 00:15:31.059 --> 00:15:35.440 They are sophisticated. 247 behavioral and health 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:38.549 monitoring systems. They use transponders to 00:15:38.549 --> 00:15:40.570 track not just total consumption, but things 00:15:40.570 --> 00:15:43.110 like the calf's drinking speed, the number of 00:15:43.110 --> 00:15:45.549 visits to the feeder, the consistency of those 00:15:45.549 --> 00:15:47.590 patterns. Okay, let's get granular on the accuracy 00:15:47.590 --> 00:15:50.450 then. How effective is this automated monitoring 00:15:50.450 --> 00:15:53.110 compared to, you know, me or my staff checking 00:15:53.110 --> 00:15:55.740 a bucket twice a day? The technological leap 00:15:55.740 --> 00:15:58.200 is massive. Research confirms that these systems 00:15:58.200 --> 00:16:01.139 detect illness with something like 80 to 85 percent 00:16:01.139 --> 00:16:03.940 accuracy up to five days before a human being 00:16:03.940 --> 00:16:06.600 can typically spot a visible symptom. Five days. 00:16:06.820 --> 00:16:09.940 Five days before you see a droopy ear, a cough, 00:16:10.179 --> 00:16:12.360 nasal discharge. Think about the immunological 00:16:12.360 --> 00:16:14.879 advantage that gives you a nearly week -long 00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:17.940 head start on treatment. Five days. That's an 00:16:17.940 --> 00:16:20.299 eternity in calf health. That early intervention 00:16:20.299 --> 00:16:23.059 capability drastically reduces the severity of 00:16:23.059 --> 00:16:25.159 illness, right? You can treat the calf when it's 00:16:25.159 --> 00:16:27.700 barely symptomatic, maybe use less medication, 00:16:27.960 --> 00:16:30.029 shorter treatment duration. And this translates 00:16:30.029 --> 00:16:32.509 directly back to the balance sheet. Early intervention 00:16:32.509 --> 00:16:35.289 reduces treatment costs by a remarkable 40 percent 00:16:35.289 --> 00:16:38.090 on average and mortality by up to 25 percent. 00:16:38.110 --> 00:16:40.590 So we're saving labor, reducing drug expenditure 00:16:40.590 --> 00:16:43.330 and keeping that calf on track toward that 1000 00:16:43.330 --> 00:16:46.149 kilogram lifetime milk production bonus we talked 00:16:46.149 --> 00:16:48.649 about. But OK, I have to inject some reality 00:16:48.649 --> 00:16:52.169 here. That 85 percent accuracy sounds fantastic 00:16:52.169 --> 00:16:55.289 in a controlled university study. But these technologies 00:16:55.289 --> 00:16:58.139 are a significant capital expenditure. Sarah, 00:16:58.179 --> 00:17:00.580 what about the real world? What's the failure 00:17:00.580 --> 00:17:02.480 rate outside of the perfectly managed university 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:06.039 barn? What happens when water quality fluctuates 00:17:06.039 --> 00:17:08.519 or the sensors get messy or the power briefly 00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:11.900 cuts out during a storm? Is this 85 % accuracy 00:17:11.900 --> 00:17:14.420 truly reliable on a working farm in the middle 00:17:14.420 --> 00:17:17.329 of a polar vortex? That's a completely fair and 00:17:17.329 --> 00:17:19.690 necessary check on the hype. Yes, while the technology 00:17:19.690 --> 00:17:21.769 itself is robust, its success is fundamentally 00:17:21.769 --> 00:17:23.990 dependent on consistent calibration, maintenance, 00:17:24.170 --> 00:17:27.289 and stable power. The 85 % accuracy is achieved 00:17:27.289 --> 00:17:29.609 when the standard operating procedures, the SOPs, 00:17:29.849 --> 00:17:31.990 are followed rigorously. Which include? Which 00:17:31.990 --> 00:17:34.289 includes routine cleaning of the feeding stations, 00:17:34.569 --> 00:17:37.309 nipple changes, monitoring the technology itself 00:17:37.309 --> 00:17:40.240 for calibration warnings. If the farm staff treats 00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:43.259 the tech with suspicion or ignores those calibration 00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:45.640 warnings or doesn't clean it properly, yeah, 00:17:45.740 --> 00:17:48.400 the accuracy quickly drops. It's not magic. Right. 00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:51.460 And here is the crucial caveat that links this 00:17:51.460 --> 00:17:53.480 technology right back to the housing decision. 00:17:53.819 --> 00:17:56.700 This early disease detection capability, this 00:17:56.700 --> 00:17:59.980 80 -85 % accuracy, it's fundamentally ineffective 00:17:59.980 --> 00:18:02.529 with individual bucket feeding. You need the 00:18:02.529 --> 00:18:05.329 baseline behavior. Exactly. It requires the social 00:18:05.329 --> 00:18:08.069 environment, be it pairs or small groups, to 00:18:08.069 --> 00:18:09.970 establish those baseline drinking behaviors, 00:18:10.130 --> 00:18:13.349 speeds, and consumption rates effectively. The 00:18:13.349 --> 00:18:15.710 automated feeder's primary benefit, that early 00:18:15.710 --> 00:18:18.309 warning system, is essentially lost if you stick 00:18:18.309 --> 00:18:21.140 to individual hutches. So moving to pairs isn't 00:18:21.140 --> 00:18:22.740 just about making the calves socially better 00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:25.740 adjusted. It's about creating the necessary environment 00:18:25.740 --> 00:18:28.799 for this superior management technology to actually 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:31.539 function and provide that competitive edge in 00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:33.500 disease monitoring. That frames it perfectly. 00:18:33.640 --> 00:18:35.079 It's not just a housing decision. It's a whole 00:18:35.079 --> 00:18:37.339 management system decision. The housing enables 00:18:37.339 --> 00:18:41.039 the tech. Exactly. OK, let's transition now to 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:44.740 the maybe the painful reality of adoption. We've 00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:47.200 seen farms make this switch successfully and 00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:49.920 we've seen others. Well, not so much. Total failures 00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:52.660 even. What is the dividing line? What makes it 00:18:52.660 --> 00:18:55.420 work or not work? The biggest obstacle, and this 00:18:55.420 --> 00:18:58.079 comes up consistently across various studies 00:18:58.079 --> 00:19:00.990 and farm trials. isn't the cattle themselves. 00:19:01.150 --> 00:19:03.349 And it's usually not even the physical infrastructure 00:19:03.349 --> 00:19:06.410 once it's built. It's the people. The human element. 00:19:06.630 --> 00:19:09.450 It's the reliance on staff training, buy -in, 00:19:09.450 --> 00:19:12.150 and crucially accountability that ultimately 00:19:12.150 --> 00:19:14.569 dictates the success or failure of the paired 00:19:14.569 --> 00:19:16.910 system, especially with that automated technology. 00:19:17.210 --> 00:19:20.019 And the warning here is stark. We've heard countless 00:19:20.019 --> 00:19:21.859 stories, haven't we, of farms where the automated 00:19:21.859 --> 00:19:24.900 feeders are dutifully beeping warnings, flagging 00:19:24.900 --> 00:19:27.079 a drop in milk consumption or a skipped feeding 00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:29.880 for a specific calf. Yep, seen it. But the crew, 00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:32.619 maybe due to alert fatigue, maybe lack of understanding, 00:19:32.859 --> 00:19:34.859 maybe lack of consequence, they just walk right 00:19:34.859 --> 00:19:37.539 past them. Or they hit clear without investigating. 00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:40.359 That scenario is just heartbreaking. You have 00:19:40.359 --> 00:19:42.400 the sophisticated multi -thousand dollar piece 00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:44.920 of technology capable of giving you a five -day 00:19:44.920 --> 00:19:47.579 jump on illness. And without mandatory training 00:19:47.579 --> 00:19:50.019 and strict response protocols, it becomes nothing 00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:52.720 more than an expensive decoration. Right. The 00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:55.339 farm has successfully invested in detection but 00:19:55.339 --> 00:19:58.400 failed completely on the response protocol. And 00:19:58.400 --> 00:20:01.440 the system gets blamed. Exactly. And this variability 00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:04.299 in success leads to another significant problem. 00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:07.359 the current state of pair housing, it really 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:10.599 lacks standardization. We see success varying 00:20:10.599 --> 00:20:13.240 all over the map, like the sources said, because 00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:15.680 there isn't a clear, universally accepted roadmap 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:18.119 yet. So farms are kind of winging it. Pretty 00:20:18.119 --> 00:20:20.640 much. Improvising with pen dimensions, grouping 00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:23.380 strategies, ventilation specifics, management 00:20:23.380 --> 00:20:25.559 approaches. And this lack of standardization 00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:28.059 is dangerous, isn't it? Because it provides easy 00:20:28.059 --> 00:20:31.519 excuses for failure. If Farmer A's system fails, 00:20:31.930 --> 00:20:34.029 they might blame the whole principle of social 00:20:34.029 --> 00:20:36.569 housing. Right, when in reality, maybe they crammed 00:20:36.569 --> 00:20:39.109 three calves into a pen designed for two, or 00:20:39.109 --> 00:20:42.289 they mixed ages carelessly, violating that two 00:20:42.289 --> 00:20:44.430 -week rule we'll talk more about. This is where 00:20:44.430 --> 00:20:46.630 industry leadership really needs to step up, 00:20:46.650 --> 00:20:48.990 you'd think. If we connect this to the bigger 00:20:48.990 --> 00:20:51.990 picture of industry progress, organizations need 00:20:51.990 --> 00:20:55.029 to provide that reliable blueprint. The DCHA, 00:20:55.289 --> 00:20:58.049 the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association, they already 00:20:58.049 --> 00:21:00.490 have the gold standards program for calf and 00:21:00.490 --> 00:21:02.450 heifer management. That program is the perfect 00:21:02.450 --> 00:21:05.150 foundation. They absolutely need to develop clear 00:21:05.150 --> 00:21:07.990 certifications and standardized protocols specifically 00:21:07.990 --> 00:21:10.710 for paired and small group housing. Things like 00:21:10.710 --> 00:21:13.690 minimum pen space per calf, feeder access ratios, 00:21:13.829 --> 00:21:16.630 validated age matching criteria. That would help 00:21:16.630 --> 00:21:18.789 producers transition confidently, wouldn't it? 00:21:18.890 --> 00:21:21.390 Significantly minimizing that costly and frankly 00:21:21.390 --> 00:21:23.869 confidence damaging trial and error, period. 00:21:23.950 --> 00:21:26.470 Definitely. And looking ahead, this transition, 00:21:26.549 --> 00:21:29.490 it aligns farms perfectly with the accelerating 00:21:29.490 --> 00:21:32.180 long -term market trend. consolidation around 00:21:32.180 --> 00:21:35.079 efficiency and animal welfare standards, consumer 00:21:35.079 --> 00:21:37.660 pressure, regulatory pressure for improved welfare 00:21:37.660 --> 00:21:40.880 practices. It's only intensifying. So proactively 00:21:40.880 --> 00:21:43.519 adopting systems like pair housing, it positions 00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:45.380 the farm not just for that immediate profitability 00:21:45.380 --> 00:21:48.480 boost, but for long -term social license to operate 00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:51.039 as well. It's a dual -purpose investment, really. 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:55.160 You're potentially securing that $82 ,500 annual 00:21:55.160 --> 00:21:58.200 gain we calculated while simultaneously future 00:21:58.200 --> 00:22:00.359 -proofing your operation against potential regulatory 00:22:00.359 --> 00:22:03.400 shifts or market demands for improved housing 00:22:03.400 --> 00:22:06.660 standards. Smart play long -term. OK, before 00:22:06.660 --> 00:22:08.759 we move to the actionable takeaway list, we need 00:22:08.759 --> 00:22:12.079 to provide one more stern warning. If you listening 00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:14.599 right now are convinced by the economic case, 00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:17.240 you're likely to encounter a temptation during 00:22:17.240 --> 00:22:19.460 the transition phase. A very common one. Oh, 00:22:19.460 --> 00:22:21.640 yeah. The temptation to cut corners. Absolutely. 00:22:22.059 --> 00:22:24.960 Every single time a new housing system or technology 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:27.720 is adopted, there's pressure, internal or external, 00:22:27.940 --> 00:22:29.640 to stretch the limits of the infrastructure, 00:22:29.880 --> 00:22:32.400 usually to save a bit on capital or maybe labor 00:22:32.400 --> 00:22:34.680 initially. And the specific risk here is crystal 00:22:34.680 --> 00:22:37.619 clear. We have to warn against cramming too many 00:22:37.619 --> 00:22:41.039 calves into undersized pens or mixing ages carelessly 00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:43.339 just to fill space quickly or make groups even. 00:22:43.579 --> 00:22:45.700 If you do this. You've just shot yourself in 00:22:45.700 --> 00:22:47.759 the foot. You immediately bypass all the benefits 00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:49.400 of social development we've been talking about. 00:22:49.579 --> 00:22:52.500 It becomes the fast track, as one source put 00:22:52.500 --> 00:22:55.599 it, the express train to disease outbreaks and 00:22:55.599 --> 00:22:57.980 a complete loss of confidence in the paired system 00:22:57.980 --> 00:23:01.759 itself. Exactly. If you introduce undue stress 00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:05.180 through high stocking density and unfair competition, 00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:09.200 the calves' cortisol levels spike, suppressing 00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:12.200 their immune system. You completely negate the 00:23:12.200 --> 00:23:14.619 enhanced growth benefits, and you could easily 00:23:14.619 --> 00:23:17.519 end up with worse health outcomes than you had 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:19.900 in individual housing. And the sources are really 00:23:19.900 --> 00:23:22.200 non -negotiable on that two -week age -matching 00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:24.440 rule. Calves should be matched within two weeks 00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:28.390 of age. Max. Max. To ensure relatively even competition 00:23:28.390 --> 00:23:31.130 and minimize those dominance issues, especially 00:23:31.130 --> 00:23:33.789 at the feeder. Anything wider than that, and 00:23:33.789 --> 00:23:36.509 inevitably the larger, older calf will dominate 00:23:36.509 --> 00:23:38.650 the feeder, push the other one away. And prevent 00:23:38.650 --> 00:23:40.549 that smaller calf from achieving the necessary 00:23:40.549 --> 00:23:42.690 starter intake for proper rumen development, 00:23:42.990 --> 00:23:45.190 which defeats a major purpose of pairing them. 00:23:45.349 --> 00:23:47.730 That two -week window is such a practical, farm 00:23:47.730 --> 00:23:50.430 -level, non -negotiable metric. If you violate 00:23:50.430 --> 00:23:52.690 it, the system fails. It's a classic example 00:23:52.690 --> 00:23:55.150 of a management failure being blamed on the technology 00:23:55.150 --> 00:23:57.470 or the animal itself. So let's reiterate the 00:23:57.470 --> 00:23:59.730 core philosophical message here, coming from 00:23:59.730 --> 00:24:02.170 experts like Jennifer Van Os at UW Extension. 00:24:03.069 --> 00:24:05.690 Pair housing isn't just about welfare. It's smart 00:24:05.690 --> 00:24:08.430 business that pays long -term dividends. It really 00:24:08.430 --> 00:24:10.670 is. It's that optimal intersection of welfare 00:24:10.670 --> 00:24:13.369 and efficiency, potentially. The summary of benefits 00:24:13.369 --> 00:24:16.130 is clear. Enhanced growth, reduced stress, better 00:24:16.130 --> 00:24:18.609 starter intake, and significantly fewer culls 00:24:18.609 --> 00:24:22.410 leading to that potential $82 ,500 annual benefit 00:24:22.410 --> 00:24:25.230 for our example farm. But, and it's a big but. 00:24:25.369 --> 00:24:27.730 A huge but. All of that is entirely conditional. 00:24:28.109 --> 00:24:30.369 Adherence to strict management protocols, that 00:24:30.369 --> 00:24:32.809 20 CFM ventilation minimum, the two -week age 00:24:32.809 --> 00:24:35.170 matching, rigorous hygiene, and robust staff 00:24:35.170 --> 00:24:37.190 training on the tech and protocols, that's the 00:24:37.190 --> 00:24:39.029 price of admission to this potentially higher 00:24:39.029 --> 00:24:41.849 level of profitability. No shortcuts. No shortcuts 00:24:41.849 --> 00:24:44.369 allowed. Hashtag, check tag, actionable insights 00:24:44.369 --> 00:24:46.170 segment, the takeaway list. All right, let's 00:24:46.170 --> 00:24:48.690 bring this home. Our listener is sitting in the 00:24:48.690 --> 00:24:50.509 pickup truck. Maybe they just finished morning 00:24:50.509 --> 00:24:53.109 milking. They're driving to the feed store. They've 00:24:53.109 --> 00:24:57.150 heard the ROI numbers, $82 ,500 annual benefit, 00:24:57.329 --> 00:24:59.769 18 -month turnaround. Sounds good, but they need 00:24:59.769 --> 00:25:02.740 a checklist. What to do next? What are the three 00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:05.140 time -sensitive, actionable things they need 00:25:05.140 --> 00:25:07.339 to take away from this deep dive? Okay, let's 00:25:07.339 --> 00:25:09.579 structure this into immediate, medium, and long 00:25:09.579 --> 00:25:11.240 -term actions. Things you can start thinking 00:25:11.240 --> 00:25:14.000 about or doing right away. Okay, immediate action 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:16.599 this week. What can they do today, maybe with 00:25:16.599 --> 00:25:19.319 no major capital investment yet? First, focus 00:25:19.319 --> 00:25:21.480 intensely on ventilation and cleanliness immediately. 00:25:22.059 --> 00:25:24.690 Don't wait for new paired infrastructure. Check 00:25:24.690 --> 00:25:27.029 your current housing system, whether it's individual 00:25:27.029 --> 00:25:29.589 hutches or something else, to ensure you are 00:25:29.589 --> 00:25:32.450 meeting that crucial standard of 20 CFM of fresh 00:25:32.450 --> 00:25:35.690 air per calf for cold weather. Use a simple anemometer 00:25:35.690 --> 00:25:37.970 if you have to. This is a zero -cost management 00:25:37.970 --> 00:25:39.890 check that can improve health outcomes right 00:25:39.890 --> 00:25:42.230 now. Check the air first. Good. What else this 00:25:42.230 --> 00:25:44.869 week? Second, review your current calf grouping 00:25:44.869 --> 00:25:47.089 protocols if you eventually plan a transition. 00:25:47.630 --> 00:25:50.450 Start thinking logistics. Ensure you have a system 00:25:50.450 --> 00:25:52.990 in place so that when you do group them, age 00:25:52.990 --> 00:25:55.589 matching is tight. Plan for that stretched two 00:25:55.589 --> 00:25:57.630 -week maximum window of age difference within 00:25:57.630 --> 00:26:01.150 a pair. Get organized now. Got it. 20 CFM check 00:26:01.150 --> 00:26:03.589 and plan for the two -week rule. Okay, medium 00:26:03.589 --> 00:26:05.750 -term strategy now, say the next three to six 00:26:05.750 --> 00:26:08.049 months. How do they actually start the process? 00:26:08.410 --> 00:26:10.750 You absolutely must start small. Don't try to 00:26:10.750 --> 00:26:13.150 convert the whole operation overnight. Plan and 00:26:13.150 --> 00:26:15.279 budget for a manageable pilot group. maybe 10 00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:17.680 to 12 pairs to start. Focus these initial months 00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:19.799 on establishing crystal clear standard operating 00:26:19.799 --> 00:26:23.000 procedures, SOPs, for continuous monitoring of 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:25.319 starter intake health checks, cleaning protocols. 00:26:25.539 --> 00:26:28.000 Get the system down first. Get the system down 00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:31.119 and, more critically, commit to rigorous staff 00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:33.720 training. Implement mandatory training on whatever 00:26:33.720 --> 00:26:36.180 health monitoring system you use, especially 00:26:36.180 --> 00:26:39.279 if it's automated feeders. Specifically, how 00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:41.839 to interpret the warnings and the absolute necessity 00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:44.720 for immediate decisive action when that technology 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:47.480 signals an alert. Remember that expensive tech 00:26:47.480 --> 00:26:49.920 is only worth its price if your people respond 00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:52.839 instantly and correctly. Train the team, test 00:26:52.839 --> 00:26:55.549 the system small. Makes sense. Okay, finally, 00:26:55.710 --> 00:26:58.130 long -term positioning. The next one to two years. 00:26:58.230 --> 00:27:00.109 This is where the capital commitment comes in 00:27:00.109 --> 00:27:02.549 to realize the full potential we discussed. Right. 00:27:02.609 --> 00:27:05.049 First, truly recognize the validated potential 00:27:05.049 --> 00:27:08.750 of that $82 ,500 annual benefit, or whatever 00:27:08.750 --> 00:27:11.650 it calculates to for your operation size, and 00:27:11.650 --> 00:27:13.509 position your capital investment strategy toward 00:27:13.509 --> 00:27:15.490 the necessary pair housing infrastructure and 00:27:15.490 --> 00:27:18.210 automated feeding systems. Treat it as an investment 00:27:18.210 --> 00:27:21.289 with a documented rapid ROI, not just another 00:27:21.289 --> 00:27:23.609 cost center. Frame it as an investment. Absolutely. 00:27:24.039 --> 00:27:26.960 And second, most importantly perhaps for capturing 00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:29.279 those early detection benefits, commit fully 00:27:29.279 --> 00:27:32.700 to technology integration. You really must commit 00:27:32.700 --> 00:27:35.359 to integrating automated milk feeders to leverage 00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:38.619 that 80 -85 % accuracy in early disease detection. 00:27:39.099 --> 00:27:41.339 Understand and make sure everyone understands 00:27:41.339 --> 00:27:44.119 that this huge technological advantage remains 00:27:44.119 --> 00:27:47.319 largely ineffective with traditional, labor -intensive, 00:27:47.359 --> 00:27:50.519 individual bucket feeding systems. You need the 00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:53.009 pairing to make the tech sing. So the message 00:27:53.009 --> 00:27:55.089 is clear. Pair housing isn't just about putting 00:27:55.089 --> 00:27:57.650 two calves together. It's an optimized system 00:27:57.650 --> 00:27:59.670 that marries advanced technology with superior 00:27:59.670 --> 00:28:01.990 management standards to unlock performance and 00:28:01.990 --> 00:28:04.630 profitability that isolation, frankly, just cannot 00:28:04.630 --> 00:28:07.170 achieve based on this data. The evidence is clear. 00:28:07.250 --> 00:28:09.490 The technology exists and the economics, well, 00:28:09.710 --> 00:28:11.789 they make perfect sense. The final hurdle really 00:28:11.789 --> 00:28:13.970 is implementation and that unwavering management 00:28:13.970 --> 00:28:16.529 commitment. Your calves and, yeah, your bank 00:28:16.529 --> 00:28:19.059 account will likely thank you. This has been 00:28:19.059 --> 00:28:21.559 another deep dive from the bullvine. If this 00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:23.779 kind of analysis helps your operations stay ahead 00:28:23.779 --> 00:28:27.940 of the curve, head to www .thebullvine .com for 00:28:27.940 --> 00:28:30.140 more articles that tell you what's really happening 00:28:30.140 --> 00:28:33.130 in dairy. We cut through the noise. And seriously, 00:28:33.269 --> 00:28:35.269 subscribe wherever you get your content. We're 00:28:35.269 --> 00:28:37.730 releasing deep dives like this twice weekly now. 00:28:37.869 --> 00:28:40.009 And trust me, you don't want to miss what we've 00:28:40.009 --> 00:28:42.210 got coming next week about the unexpected impact 00:28:42.210 --> 00:28:45.529 of cow comfort metrics on culling rates. It's 00:28:45.529 --> 00:28:47.309 definitely not what you think. See you next time. 00:28:47.410 --> 00:28:47.769 Take care.