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 --> 00:01:02.240 we're sparking Welcome back to the Bullvine Podcast, 00:01:02.520 --> 00:01:04.280 where we cut through the dairy industry noise 00:01:04.280 --> 00:01:06.359 to get you the insights that actually matter 00:01:06.359 --> 00:01:08.680 for your operation. And today we're diving into 00:01:08.680 --> 00:01:11.060 what we're calling the December Reckoning. That's 00:01:11.060 --> 00:01:13.819 a strong word. It is, but it's deserved. The 00:01:13.819 --> 00:01:16.659 new genetic evaluations just dropped across North 00:01:16.659 --> 00:01:20.260 America and Europe, and this wasn't just a reshuffle, 00:01:20.340 --> 00:01:22.840 it was a detonation. Detonation is exactly the 00:01:22.840 --> 00:01:24.640 word I've been using since the numbers hit my 00:01:24.640 --> 00:01:28.129 desk. Look, our mission today is... It's critical. 00:01:28.310 --> 00:01:32.349 We are analyzing the December 2025 global Holstein 00:01:32.349 --> 00:01:35.150 rankings. Right. But let's be brutally honest 00:01:35.150 --> 00:01:37.739 about the stakes right now. If you were still 00:01:37.739 --> 00:01:40.920 relying on your genetic playbook from last August. 00:01:41.120 --> 00:01:43.219 Your sourcing list, your favorite goals. All 00:01:43.219 --> 00:01:45.099 of it. It is officially obsolete. This isn't 00:01:45.099 --> 00:01:47.599 about minor fluctuations. This is about seismic 00:01:47.599 --> 00:01:49.799 shifts that are going to redefine your profitability 00:01:49.799 --> 00:01:53.500 for 2026. Exactly. Relying on that outdated data 00:01:53.500 --> 00:01:55.719 is probably the fastest way to erode your margins 00:01:55.719 --> 00:02:00.730 next year. A global bloodbath this cycle. A bloodbath. 00:02:00.890 --> 00:02:03.150 Sires that were untouchable, commanding premium 00:02:03.150 --> 00:02:07.930 prices, backing entire breeding strategies. They 00:02:07.930 --> 00:02:10.870 just cratered overnight. And these weren't errors. 00:02:11.030 --> 00:02:13.330 This was the risk materializing. And I think 00:02:13.330 --> 00:02:15.270 there are two massive stories we have to dissect 00:02:15.270 --> 00:02:18.389 here. First, the sheer volatility that just slammed 00:02:18.389 --> 00:02:20.949 the international markets. We saw untouchable 00:02:20.949 --> 00:02:23.389 genomic leaders get wiped out. Wiped out is right. 00:02:23.569 --> 00:02:27.219 And second, the blia. I mean, the massive, unprecedented 00:02:27.219 --> 00:02:30.139 consolidation of the gene pool happening right 00:02:30.139 --> 00:02:32.520 here in North America. It's terrifying in a way. 00:02:32.639 --> 00:02:35.039 We need to show you exactly which high profile 00:02:35.039 --> 00:02:38.000 sires melted down and maybe more importantly, 00:02:38.139 --> 00:02:41.800 what that phrase 75 percent reliability actually 00:02:41.800 --> 00:02:44.229 means when the numbers don't hold up. This deep 00:02:44.229 --> 00:02:46.189 dive is about protecting your bottom line. And 00:02:46.189 --> 00:02:48.250 ensuring your herd is resilient for the future. 00:02:48.370 --> 00:02:50.430 Let's jump straight into the physics of the collapse. 00:02:50.629 --> 00:02:52.569 Let's do it. We have preached the principle of 00:02:52.569 --> 00:02:55.030 genomic volatility since, well, since day one. 00:02:55.110 --> 00:02:57.610 The idea that predictions are just that. They're 00:02:57.610 --> 00:03:00.150 estimates, not guarantees. Right. This December 00:03:00.150 --> 00:03:02.949 cycle, though, that principle stopped being some 00:03:02.949 --> 00:03:05.509 theoretical warning, and it turned into brutal 00:03:05.509 --> 00:03:08.509 financial reality. We saw it across multiple 00:03:08.509 --> 00:03:10.729 international indexes. And I hear that number 00:03:10.729 --> 00:03:14.520 all the time. 75 % reliable. Especially when 00:03:14.520 --> 00:03:16.680 we're talking about these young, high -flying 00:03:16.680 --> 00:03:19.080 genomic bulls. It sounds safe, doesn't it? It 00:03:19.080 --> 00:03:22.110 sounds great. Yeah. Most people hear 75 % and 00:03:22.110 --> 00:03:24.030 they treat it as a near certainty, especially 00:03:24.030 --> 00:03:26.229 when the upside looks so incredible. But you 00:03:26.229 --> 00:03:28.449 have to remind people what that other 25 % represents. 00:03:28.770 --> 00:03:31.569 It represents a one in four chance of deviating 00:03:31.569 --> 00:03:35.050 significantly from the prediction as actual daughter 00:03:35.050 --> 00:03:37.710 data starts to roll in. Significantly. And more 00:03:37.710 --> 00:03:39.469 importantly, we have to talk about the standard 00:03:39.469 --> 00:03:42.110 error of prediction or the SEP. That's the statistical 00:03:42.110 --> 00:03:44.530 range the actual proof is likely to fall within. 00:03:45.030 --> 00:03:47.889 When we see these dramatic index drops, they 00:03:47.889 --> 00:03:51.169 aren't some black swan. event. It's not a fluke. 00:03:51.189 --> 00:03:54.229 No, it's the inherent risk materializing exactly 00:03:54.229 --> 00:03:57.009 as the statistics predicted it could. It's the 00:03:57.009 --> 00:03:59.729 hard truth of early selection. And December just 00:03:59.729 --> 00:04:02.150 exposed that vulnerability in the harshest way 00:04:02.150 --> 00:04:04.750 possible. That's the analytical view. The practical 00:04:04.750 --> 00:04:08.330 view is it's financial ruin for some of the seed 00:04:08.330 --> 00:04:10.469 stock guys who banked everything on these bulls. 00:04:10.930 --> 00:04:13.090 We aren't talking about some mid -range sires 00:04:13.090 --> 00:04:15.289 here. No, these are the absolute darlings, the 00:04:15.289 --> 00:04:17.490 ones commanding premium prices based entirely 00:04:17.490 --> 00:04:20.110 on index hype. So let's name names. Where do 00:04:20.110 --> 00:04:22.629 we start? Let's start in Europe. The damage was 00:04:22.629 --> 00:04:25.629 immediate. Look first at Switzerland, which uses 00:04:25.629 --> 00:04:27.930 the ISET, or International Selection Efficiency 00:04:27.930 --> 00:04:31.329 Trait Index. The bull was Sussmaron, Boston. 00:04:31.569 --> 00:04:33.910 I know the name. He was the former number one 00:04:33.910 --> 00:04:36.569 sire there, right? Untouchable in August at a 00:04:36.569 --> 00:04:40.810 massive plus 1645 ISET. That's the one. And what 00:04:40.810 --> 00:04:43.449 happened in December? I'm waiting for it. He 00:04:43.449 --> 00:04:46.589 suffered a stunning, almost unbelievable 52 -point 00:04:46.589 --> 00:04:49.389 ISET collapse, dropped him all the way down to 00:04:49.389 --> 00:04:52.810 plus 1593. 52 points. Now, for our listeners 00:04:52.810 --> 00:04:55.129 who operate in U .S. or Canadian indexes, you 00:04:55.129 --> 00:04:57.810 have to understand, 52 points in ISET is an enormous 00:04:57.810 --> 00:04:59.990 correction. It's a complete recalibration of 00:04:59.990 --> 00:05:02.689 projected genetic value. So for herds that invested 00:05:02.689 --> 00:05:05.569 heavily in his semen, his embryos, based on that 00:05:05.569 --> 00:05:08.779 summer ranking, That potential revenue worth 00:05:08.779 --> 00:05:11.060 hundreds of thousands of dollars industry -wide, 00:05:11.220 --> 00:05:15.680 it just evaporated overnight. 52 points. That 00:05:15.680 --> 00:05:18.240 is absolutely gut -renting. Can you imagine being 00:05:18.240 --> 00:05:21.079 a breeder or an investor who banked heavily on 00:05:21.079 --> 00:05:23.420 that single bull just six months ago? You thought 00:05:23.420 --> 00:05:25.279 you had the golden ticket. You bought at the 00:05:25.279 --> 00:05:28.019 absolute peak, expecting those daughters to carry 00:05:28.019 --> 00:05:31.360 that. plus $16 .45 value, only to wake up and 00:05:31.360 --> 00:05:33.620 realize the projected value of all those pregnancies 00:05:33.620 --> 00:05:36.579 just took a massive haircut. That's not a blip. 00:05:36.579 --> 00:05:38.439 That is a heart attack for your balance sheet. 00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:40.779 And if you think that's bad, wait till you hear 00:05:40.779 --> 00:05:43.420 the story out of Italy. Oh, no. The volatility 00:05:43.420 --> 00:05:45.620 there was even more pronounced, and it hit a 00:05:45.620 --> 00:05:49.000 high -profile niche market. Italy uses the GPFT, 00:05:49.060 --> 00:05:52.240 or Genomic Profitability Trade Index. Okay. The 00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:56.699 star was a bull named KNO Ecuador P. He's a high 00:05:56.699 --> 00:05:58.720 -profile polled sire, which means he carried 00:05:58.720 --> 00:06:01.259 additional market value. So even more hype. Exactly. 00:06:01.259 --> 00:06:05.319 He plummeted an incredible 98 GPFT points, dropped 00:06:05.319 --> 00:06:08.959 from 49 .43 all the way down to 48 .45. 98 points. 00:06:09.160 --> 00:06:11.560 That sounds like a complete technical failure, 00:06:11.579 --> 00:06:13.839 not just a correction, that's a wipeout. It is 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:17.160 arguably the single most brutal proof correction 00:06:17.160 --> 00:06:20.339 among any of the elite sires in this entire cycle. 00:06:20.480 --> 00:06:23.279 It just goes to show what happens when market 00:06:23.279 --> 00:06:26.339 enthusiasm, the hype, pushes a bull far beyond 00:06:26.339 --> 00:06:28.420 what the reliability metrics should allow. The 00:06:28.420 --> 00:06:31.240 risks just, it resolves itself. And often it 00:06:31.240 --> 00:06:33.360 resolves itself violently. And it wasn't just 00:06:33.360 --> 00:06:35.920 them. Scandinavia saw the same pattern, right? 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:38.779 In their NTM, the Nordic Total Merit Index. Absolutely. 00:06:38.860 --> 00:06:41.500 And their index is heavily weighted towards health, 00:06:41.660 --> 00:06:44.139 fertility, function, things that reflect their 00:06:44.139 --> 00:06:45.959 high labor cost model. You'd think it would be 00:06:45.959 --> 00:06:48.540 more stable. You would. But the former genomic 00:06:48.540 --> 00:06:51.420 leader, Fly P, experienced a precipitous eight 00:06:51.420 --> 00:06:54.620 point NTM drop. He went from plus 49 NTM down 00:06:54.620 --> 00:06:57.300 to plus 41. Now, eight points doesn't sound as 00:06:57.300 --> 00:07:00.060 dramatic as 98. It doesn't. But for the NTM index, 00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:02.199 which is extremely stable and very difficult 00:07:02.199 --> 00:07:04.360 to move, that's one of the sharpest single round 00:07:04.360 --> 00:07:06.709 declines on record. for a bull that high up the 00:07:06.709 --> 00:07:10.129 list. So it proves that no index, no matter how 00:07:10.129 --> 00:07:12.949 balanced or function focused it is, is immune 00:07:12.949 --> 00:07:16.189 to genomic correction when that 25 % risk matures. 00:07:16.449 --> 00:07:18.250 Okay, let me put on my farmer hat for a second 00:07:18.250 --> 00:07:19.610 because this is where the real pain hits home. 00:07:19.910 --> 00:07:22.329 Go for it. I'm sitting here, I'm looking at a 00:07:22.329 --> 00:07:25.110 semen tank full of straws that were bought at 00:07:25.110 --> 00:07:27.889 a premium six months ago and now they've lost 00:07:27.889 --> 00:07:31.360 50. 60, almost 100 points in projected value, 00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:34.500 my first thought is, I got burned chasing the 00:07:34.500 --> 00:07:37.620 hot new bull too hard. And that's a fair reaction. 00:07:37.800 --> 00:07:39.819 I bought what was essentially a high -risk stock, 00:07:40.019 --> 00:07:42.379 but I treated it like a guaranteed blue -chip 00:07:42.379 --> 00:07:44.819 investment for my next heifer crop. And that 00:07:44.819 --> 00:07:48.209 is the precise, practical lesson here. Genomic 00:07:48.209 --> 00:07:50.470 selection gives you this enormous advantage of 00:07:50.470 --> 00:07:53.029 compressed generation intervals. You get to genetic 00:07:53.029 --> 00:07:56.750 gain faster, but the cost of failure is astronomical. 00:07:57.149 --> 00:07:59.870 The excitement of maximizing that gain? pushes 00:07:59.870 --> 00:08:03.329 us as breeders toward concentration. We rely 00:08:03.329 --> 00:08:05.930 too heavily on one or two unproven superstars. 00:08:06.009 --> 00:08:08.430 But the system is designed to correct as reliability 00:08:08.430 --> 00:08:11.290 matures. The discipline required is to understand 00:08:11.290 --> 00:08:14.029 that this volatility demands ruthless risk management. 00:08:14.230 --> 00:08:17.089 It demands diversification. If you got burned 00:08:17.089 --> 00:08:19.790 this December, it's a tough lesson, but it's 00:08:19.790 --> 00:08:22.569 one that requires immediate action. Agreed. The 00:08:22.569 --> 00:08:26.360 key takeaway here. Volatility is real. It materialized 00:08:26.360 --> 00:08:28.540 with a vengeance. And if you concentrated your 00:08:28.540 --> 00:08:31.060 risk, you'd be paid the price. You have to treat 00:08:31.060 --> 00:08:34.480 that 75 % reliable sire like a portfolio investment, 00:08:34.740 --> 00:08:38.159 not a single stock. Well said. So now let's shift 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:40.899 gears completely. Okay. If that first part was 00:08:40.899 --> 00:08:42.840 about the devastating collapse of certain high 00:08:42.840 --> 00:08:45.659 flyers, this next part is about the terrifying 00:08:45.659 --> 00:08:49.399 rise of singular force and the market consolidation 00:08:49.399 --> 00:08:51.649 that comes with it. Let's talk about the U .S. 00:08:51.669 --> 00:08:53.610 market, where the genetic landscape isn't just 00:08:53.610 --> 00:08:57.149 shuffling, it's narrowing. It is narrowing drastically 00:08:57.149 --> 00:09:00.169 under one major program. Narrowing is an understatement. 00:09:00.169 --> 00:09:03.149 It's turning into a virtual monopoly. And, you 00:09:03.149 --> 00:09:05.009 know, frankly, you can't argue with the effectiveness 00:09:05.009 --> 00:09:07.730 of the strategy. No, the results are there, but 00:09:07.730 --> 00:09:09.169 you have to worry about the long -term implications. 00:09:10.269 --> 00:09:13.269 Genesaurus isn't just winning. They are sweeping 00:09:13.269 --> 00:09:15.190 the table in a way we haven't seen in decades. 00:09:15.450 --> 00:09:17.669 The data is. It's historically staggering. We're 00:09:17.669 --> 00:09:20.090 talking about net merit dollars, or NM, or the 00:09:20.090 --> 00:09:22.350 U .S. dairy industry's primary profitability 00:09:22.350 --> 00:09:24.269 index. The one most commercial guys live and 00:09:24.269 --> 00:09:27.409 die by. Right. As of December, Genesource now 00:09:27.409 --> 00:09:31.269 controls an astounding 22 of the top 30 net merit 00:09:31.269 --> 00:09:34.289 spots. 22 out of 30. That represents a remarkable 00:09:34.289 --> 00:09:37.750 73 % market share in the index that most U .S. 00:09:37.750 --> 00:09:39.470 commercial dairies use to make their strategic 00:09:39.470 --> 00:09:43.269 mating decisions. 73 percent. I mean, that concentration 00:09:43.269 --> 00:09:46.509 of elite profit genetics is just it's unprecedented. 00:09:46.750 --> 00:09:49.350 They have clearly cracked the code on what drives 00:09:49.350 --> 00:09:51.850 profitability in the U .S. system. That balance 00:09:51.850 --> 00:09:54.350 of production, health and longevity that NMO 00:09:54.350 --> 00:09:57.419 prioritizes. And they hold the crown jewel. Genesource 00:09:57.419 --> 00:10:00.120 Retrospect Et defends his number one NMR position 00:10:00.120 --> 00:10:04.039 at a massive $1 ,296. He just embodies their 00:10:04.039 --> 00:10:06.220 mastery of that total economic merit formula. 00:10:06.399 --> 00:10:07.960 And it's not a one -off. Their pipeline is full. 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:10.799 Exactly. The most explosive newcomer was Sandan 00:10:10.799 --> 00:10:13.419 on Call Eid. He debuts at number nine NMR and 00:10:13.419 --> 00:10:15.659 number three GTPI with a commanding production 00:10:15.659 --> 00:10:19.779 profile, 1845 milk, 151 fat, and 70 protein. 00:10:20.039 --> 00:10:22.000 The sheer fact that one program can dominate 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:24.460 this intensely just shows relentless focus breeding. 00:10:24.740 --> 00:10:26.279 Okay, let's stop right there because this is 00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:28.120 the critical debate. This is the double -edged 00:10:28.120 --> 00:10:30.659 sword. Analytically, I have to acknowledge it. 00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:34.220 This concentration delivers elite, consistent, 00:10:34.379 --> 00:10:37.120 and highly profitable results. It offers a clear, 00:10:37.179 --> 00:10:39.659 repeatable path to high -profit genetics. It 00:10:39.659 --> 00:10:41.779 does. For the commercial farmer who just wants 00:10:41.779 --> 00:10:43.940 the best numbers today, it's a simple choice. 00:10:44.200 --> 00:10:46.960 That's the pro argument. Efficiency and predictability. 00:10:47.240 --> 00:10:50.000 But practically, I'm raising the alarm about 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:53.679 systemic risk. I get the efficiency, but... If 00:10:53.679 --> 00:10:56.580 73 % of the elite genetics are flowing from the 00:10:56.580 --> 00:10:59.500 same maternal lines using the same sire fathers, 00:10:59.799 --> 00:11:02.679 where is our diversity in five years? That's 00:11:02.679 --> 00:11:04.700 a billion dollar question. This concentration 00:11:04.700 --> 00:11:07.120 feels like a ticking time bomb for inbreeding. 00:11:07.240 --> 00:11:09.820 We've seen this before in history where dominant 00:11:09.820 --> 00:11:12.399 bloodlines run too deep. The result is always 00:11:12.399 --> 00:11:15.399 the same. Loss of resilience, compromised fertility. 00:11:15.899 --> 00:11:18.659 Exactly. Reduced calf figure. It introduces a 00:11:18.659 --> 00:11:20.940 systemic risk that goes way beyond an individual 00:11:20.940 --> 00:11:23.480 bull's index score. I agree with the concern. 00:11:23.659 --> 00:11:26.460 We have to emphasize that this high genetic ceiling 00:11:26.460 --> 00:11:30.139 comes with a very high genetic constraint. While 00:11:30.139 --> 00:11:32.899 the Genisaurus program is brilliant at maximizing 00:11:32.899 --> 00:11:36.039 gain, that gain is being built on an increasingly 00:11:36.039 --> 00:11:38.700 narrow foundation. We're essentially betting 00:11:38.700 --> 00:11:42.259 the farm on the success and durability of just 00:11:42.259 --> 00:11:44.740 a handful of maternal lines. That's a great way 00:11:44.740 --> 00:11:46.820 to put it. And wait, let me push back on your 00:11:46.820 --> 00:11:49.980 efficiency point for a second. Isn't high consolidation? 00:11:50.750 --> 00:11:53.289 actually good for standardization and maximizing 00:11:53.289 --> 00:11:55.389 short -term gain? You could make that argument. 00:11:55.649 --> 00:11:58.190 Why should a commercial farmer worry about diversity? 00:11:58.490 --> 00:12:00.490 That's always been a concern for the seed stock 00:12:00.490 --> 00:12:03.129 breeders, right? If I'm just milking cows, why 00:12:03.129 --> 00:12:05.250 does the breadth of the gene pool matter to my 00:12:05.250 --> 00:12:07.909 milk check next year? That is a fundamentally 00:12:07.909 --> 00:12:10.789 important question. And the answer is it matters 00:12:10.789 --> 00:12:13.110 because the consequences of profound inbreeding 00:12:13.110 --> 00:12:15.190 aren't subtle. They show up on the balance sheet. 00:12:15.250 --> 00:12:17.509 They show up as reduced conception rates, fewer 00:12:17.509 --> 00:12:20.409 live births, increased stillbirths, all measurable 00:12:20.409 --> 00:12:23.289 costs to the commercial farmer. And beyond that, 00:12:23.330 --> 00:12:25.370 a lack of diversity translates to vulnerability. 00:12:26.169 --> 00:12:29.129 Environmental and health pressures. If the dominant 00:12:29.129 --> 00:12:31.649 maternal lines all happen to share a weakness 00:12:31.649 --> 00:12:34.950 to a new pathogen or a specific management stressor, 00:12:34.990 --> 00:12:38.889 that 73 % market share means the entire US herd 00:12:38.889 --> 00:12:42.029 is vulnerable. Genetic diversity is our insurance 00:12:42.029 --> 00:12:44.389 against the unknown challenges of the future. 00:12:44.919 --> 00:12:47.539 So while the seed stock guy is managing the immediate 00:12:47.539 --> 00:12:50.799 inbreeding coefficient, the commercial guy is 00:12:50.799 --> 00:12:53.100 the one who pays the price in herd health and 00:12:53.100 --> 00:12:55.539 wasted semen costs five years from now. Exactly. 00:12:55.720 --> 00:12:58.899 Which puts a huge premium on careful mating software. 00:12:59.200 --> 00:13:01.139 And this isn't just an American thing, is it? 00:13:01.139 --> 00:13:03.360 We are seeing these concentration echoes across 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:05.600 Europe. We are. Look at Switzerland again. The 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:07.899 foundational Game Day maternal line underpins 00:13:07.899 --> 00:13:11.080 three of their top five, Iset Sires, Monset, 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:14.159 Boston, and Torchlight. The influence is enormous. 00:13:14.279 --> 00:13:16.600 Same story, different country. And in the Netherlands, 00:13:16.820 --> 00:13:19.340 where the focus is on functional longevity, the 00:13:19.340 --> 00:13:22.080 Altasazel bloodline claims four of the top 10 00:13:22.080 --> 00:13:24.899 proven sire positions. The top genetics in the 00:13:24.899 --> 00:13:27.440 world are becoming highly centralized. So the 00:13:27.440 --> 00:13:31.120 dominance of these bloodlines, Genasource, Gameday, 00:13:31.159 --> 00:13:36.200 Altasazel, sends a clear signal. You must, absolutely 00:13:36.200 --> 00:13:39.019 must, invest in ruthless inbreeding management. 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:41.240 It's non -negotiable now. You have to use your 00:13:41.240 --> 00:13:43.539 mating programs to actively monitor and manage 00:13:43.539 --> 00:13:46.039 those coefficients. Don't let the pursuit of 00:13:46.039 --> 00:13:50.159 that 1296 NMN Eller score today destroy the genetic 00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:52.840 foundation of your herd tomorrow. Protecting 00:13:52.840 --> 00:13:55.220 genetic diversity is no longer a luxury for the 00:13:55.220 --> 00:13:57.690 elite breeder. It's a foundational step for maintaining 00:13:57.690 --> 00:14:00.370 fertility and long -term resilience for the commercial 00:14:00.370 --> 00:14:03.149 farmer. Okay, let's shift our focus now to where 00:14:03.149 --> 00:14:05.789 the cash register is ringing globally. Because 00:14:05.789 --> 00:14:09.009 the evaluations this December were, they were 00:14:09.009 --> 00:14:11.490 unambiguous. Components are now the defining 00:14:11.490 --> 00:14:14.230 trait of profitability. Absolutely. The global 00:14:14.230 --> 00:14:17.200 economic trend is crystal clear. Processor payments 00:14:17.200 --> 00:14:19.840 are increasingly tied to milk solids, fat and 00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:21.799 protein. It's just a reflection of consumer demand, 00:14:21.980 --> 00:14:24.580 right? Less fluid milk, more cheese, more yogurt, 00:14:24.620 --> 00:14:27.019 more butterfat. The index formula is simply reflecting 00:14:27.019 --> 00:14:29.399 that economic reality on the ground. Right. So 00:14:29.399 --> 00:14:31.539 for every U .S. or Canadian farmer listening, 00:14:31.779 --> 00:14:34.899 your mantra right now has to be volume is vanity, 00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:37.519 solids are sanity. I like that. Selecting for 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:39.820 high components is no longer an optional trait. 00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:44.139 It is a direct, measurable path to maximizing 00:14:44.139 --> 00:14:46.309 your revenue per hundredweight. because that's 00:14:46.309 --> 00:14:48.549 where the premiums are. And this evaluation cycle 00:14:48.549 --> 00:14:50.909 didn't just confirm the trend. It gave us the 00:14:50.909 --> 00:14:53.870 new prototypes, the bulls that redefine what 00:14:53.870 --> 00:14:56.110 high component production looks like at the elite 00:14:56.110 --> 00:14:58.350 level. So who are the new kings of components? 00:14:58.669 --> 00:15:01.710 In Canada and the US, the bull defining the new 00:15:01.710 --> 00:15:04.509 component ceiling is beyond high level ET. Wow. 00:15:04.690 --> 00:15:08.090 He vaulted an explosive 11 spots to number four 00:15:08.090 --> 00:15:11.289 in Canada's LPI. And he claimed the number one 00:15:11.289 --> 00:15:14.230 GTPI spot in the U .S. precisely because of his 00:15:14.230 --> 00:15:16.590 exceptional component profile. OK, so give me 00:15:16.590 --> 00:15:18.570 the specific numbers. What's making him so profitable? 00:15:18.870 --> 00:15:22.230 We are talking about 165 kilograms of fat on 00:15:22.230 --> 00:15:25.750 a high volume base alongside 78 kilograms of 00:15:25.750 --> 00:15:29.149 protein. 165 kilos of fat. That production profile 00:15:29.149 --> 00:15:31.509 proves that the old tradeoff, the idea that you 00:15:31.509 --> 00:15:33.529 couldn't have extreme volume and extreme density. 00:15:33.610 --> 00:15:36.210 is officially broken, you can have both. And 00:15:36.210 --> 00:15:38.269 your milk check demands that you select for it. 00:15:38.370 --> 00:15:40.950 It's fascinating because the market isn't just 00:15:40.950 --> 00:15:42.830 rewarding high percentages anymore, but high 00:15:42.830 --> 00:15:45.710 kilograms. He's moving a huge amount of fluid 00:15:45.710 --> 00:15:48.950 milk that is also extremely rich. Exactly. But 00:15:48.950 --> 00:15:51.289 we also saw the rise of the extreme percentage 00:15:51.289 --> 00:15:54.389 specialist. Beyond Hooray It debuted at number 00:15:54.389 --> 00:15:56.309 three LPI in Canada. And what's the profile? 00:15:56.639 --> 00:15:58.879 He hits the percentage extremes with a plus 1 00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:03.879 .0 % fat and a plus 0 .52 % protein. His profile 00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:07.179 is tailor -made for herds targeting maximum premiums 00:16:07.179 --> 00:16:09.580 in markets with strict percentage payment grids. 00:16:09.639 --> 00:16:11.320 That's the difference between a farm just scraping 00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:13.600 by on margin and a farm that's generating an 00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:15.860 elite milk chick. The component density is the 00:16:15.860 --> 00:16:17.899 key lever. And we see it everywhere. Look at 00:16:17.899 --> 00:16:20.980 Germany, which uses the RZG index with its focus 00:16:20.980 --> 00:16:23.720 on health and efficiency. The new genomic co 00:16:23.720 --> 00:16:26.360 -leader, Saturn RDC, immediately distinguished 00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:30.340 himself with a massive plus 0 .88 % fat alongside 00:16:30.340 --> 00:16:33.320 excellent health traits. The global market is 00:16:33.320 --> 00:16:36.320 rewarding this exact phenotype. It's a truly 00:16:36.320 --> 00:16:38.360 global phenomenon. Italy's new international 00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:41.299 genomic leader, De Novo Locust Iappi, he's at 00:16:41.299 --> 00:16:44.639 54 .50 GPFT. He's also built on this component 00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:47.539 philosophy. He is. He posts strong component 00:16:47.539 --> 00:16:50.519 kilograms, plus 115 kilograms of fat, and plus 00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:53.179 96 kilograms of protein. And the Netherlands. 00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:55.399 In the Netherlands, they use the INET, their 00:16:55.399 --> 00:16:57.820 total profit index. The standout is Genesource 00:16:57.820 --> 00:17:00.919 Mistro. He has the highest INET at plus 799. 00:17:01.240 --> 00:17:03.379 And if you dissect that score, what's driving 00:17:03.379 --> 00:17:06.759 it? Components. Components. Plus 146 kilograms 00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:09.930 of fat and plus... 84 kilograms of protein. The 00:17:09.930 --> 00:17:13.309 correlation is just. It's undeniable. Selecting 00:17:13.309 --> 00:17:15.210 for high fat and protein is now the most direct 00:17:15.210 --> 00:17:17.950 path to maximizing your revenue. When you see 00:17:17.950 --> 00:17:20.930 a bull like High Level posting 165 kilos of fat 00:17:20.930 --> 00:17:24.450 or Hooray posting over 1 % fat, you're looking 00:17:24.450 --> 00:17:26.390 at the new gold standard for dairy profitability. 00:17:26.990 --> 00:17:29.250 These component specialists are not noosh bulls 00:17:29.250 --> 00:17:31.569 anymore. They are the core revenue drivers, and 00:17:31.569 --> 00:17:33.450 the index rankings are now clearly reflecting 00:17:33.450 --> 00:17:35.789 that economic truth across every major dairy 00:17:35.789 --> 00:17:38.529 market. The time for prioritizing volume alone 00:17:38.529 --> 00:17:40.930 is over. If you aren't selecting aggressively 00:17:40.930 --> 00:17:43.470 for components today, you are essentially leaving 00:17:43.470 --> 00:17:45.490 cash on the table with every single milk check. 00:17:45.670 --> 00:17:48.130 Shifting our focus back to Europe now, we often 00:17:48.130 --> 00:17:51.359 see a mindset that prioritizes durability, function, 00:17:51.420 --> 00:17:54.920 and trouble -free performance over just chasing 00:17:54.920 --> 00:17:58.000 extreme index points or production volume. This 00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:00.220 is the heart of what we call the invisible cow 00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:03.230 philosophy. And it's critical for commercial 00:18:03.230 --> 00:18:05.690 viability in these high cost labor environments. 00:18:05.930 --> 00:18:08.650 It's the logical extension of systems that face 00:18:08.650 --> 00:18:10.670 really high replacement costs and pressure on 00:18:10.670 --> 00:18:13.650 efficiency. The invisible cow is the complete 00:18:13.650 --> 00:18:17.369 antithesis of the show Ringstar. Right. The breeding 00:18:17.369 --> 00:18:20.289 philosophy rewards balanced, moderate, functional 00:18:20.289 --> 00:18:23.660 cattle. They're designed to thrive in real -world 00:18:23.660 --> 00:18:26.079 commercial systems without creating management 00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:28.440 headaches. So let's define this. What does the 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:30.160 invisible cow actually look like on the farm? 00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:32.720 She's the cow that you don't notice. You don't 00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:34.579 notice her during milking because her temperament 00:18:34.579 --> 00:18:36.960 is calm and her utter health is perfect. You 00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:38.759 don't notice her during breeding checks because 00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:41.440 she cycles on time every time. You don't notice 00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:43.200 her when the vet comes because she hasn't had 00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:45.980 a single case of mystitis or a foot ulcer in 00:18:45.980 --> 00:18:48.660 two years. She doesn't win the show. And she 00:18:48.660 --> 00:18:50.420 might not even be the highest yielder in your 00:18:50.420 --> 00:18:52.960 herd, but she stays in the herd for lactation 00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:56.059 after lactation. Her true value, then, is only 00:18:56.059 --> 00:18:58.460 visible when you check the bottom line. It's 00:18:58.460 --> 00:19:01.480 the profit driven by low labor needs, minimal 00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:04.619 vet bills, and low replacement costs. Precisely. 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:08.019 And the Netherlands, using their NBI or net value 00:19:08.019 --> 00:19:11.160 index, they just completely validate this philosophy 00:19:11.160 --> 00:19:14.619 with the absolute conquest of the Altazazel bloodline 00:19:14.619 --> 00:19:17.519 in the proven rankings. Alta Zazzlesons claim 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:21.140 four of the top 10 NBI positions. That level 00:19:21.140 --> 00:19:23.500 of dominance proves that the market is willing 00:19:23.500 --> 00:19:25.460 to sacrifice a little bit of extreme production 00:19:25.460 --> 00:19:28.980 for trouble -free... durable performance. It 00:19:28.980 --> 00:19:31.599 does. It validates a breeding philosophy that 00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:33.960 prioritizes robustness. And when you look at 00:19:33.960 --> 00:19:36.480 their genomic lists, bulls have to deliver on 00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:39.200 function. For example? Genosaurus Modi, for example. 00:19:39.339 --> 00:19:42.440 He cracked the incredible plus 420 NBI ceiling 00:19:42.440 --> 00:19:45.400 in the genomic ranks, but he did it while simultaneously 00:19:45.400 --> 00:19:48.220 delivering phenomenal functional longevity. And 00:19:48.220 --> 00:19:50.180 what's the number on that? An increase of plus 00:19:50.180 --> 00:19:55.450 872 days of projected lifespan. 872 days. That 00:19:55.450 --> 00:19:58.529 figure is why it's mind boggling. That means 00:19:58.529 --> 00:20:00.470 Modi's daughters are projected to stay in the 00:20:00.470 --> 00:20:02.910 herd over two years longer than the average cow. 00:20:03.089 --> 00:20:06.109 That combination extreme index with extreme longevity 00:20:06.109 --> 00:20:09.309 is the new ceiling. The economics of the industry 00:20:09.309 --> 00:20:12.230 demand that kind of durability. The old production 00:20:12.230 --> 00:20:15.869 longevity tradeoff is breaking down. Elite genetics 00:20:15.869 --> 00:20:18.430 can now deliver cows that both stay in the herd 00:20:18.430 --> 00:20:21.289 and fill the tank, which is crucial for amortizing 00:20:21.289 --> 00:20:24.170 those heifer rearing costs. Exactly. And we see 00:20:24.170 --> 00:20:26.430 that same focus on durability really strongly 00:20:26.430 --> 00:20:29.190 in the UK with the sheepster legacy, specifically 00:20:29.190 --> 00:20:31.869 on the daughter proven side governed by their 00:20:31.869 --> 00:20:35.210 PLI, the Profitable Lifetime Index. Right. OCD 00:20:35.210 --> 00:20:37.589 Trooper Sheepster. He graduated to the number 00:20:37.589 --> 00:20:40.970 one daughter proven sire in the UK with a 783 00:20:40.970 --> 00:20:44.450 pound PLI. But his significance isn't just his 00:20:44.450 --> 00:20:46.569 own rank. He's become a breed shaping sire of 00:20:46.569 --> 00:20:49.130 sons. That's the definition of a true foundation 00:20:49.130 --> 00:20:51.359 sire, isn't it? When his own offspring started 00:20:51.359 --> 00:20:53.900 dominating the next generation of genomic lists. 00:20:54.380 --> 00:20:57.819 Precisely. Multiple sheepster offspring, including 00:20:57.819 --> 00:21:00.039 Badger Seemers Daytrip at number two genomic 00:21:00.039 --> 00:21:02.500 and Progenesis Preston at number three, they 00:21:02.500 --> 00:21:05.160 now dominate the young sire lists. So it's a 00:21:05.160 --> 00:21:07.279 legacy. It's the kind of bloodline dominance 00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:10.180 that builds lasting competitive advantage focused 00:21:10.180 --> 00:21:12.720 on functional traits like mastitis, resistance, 00:21:12.940 --> 00:21:15.519 and fertility. And the proof is in the daughters. 00:21:16.119 --> 00:21:18.319 The sheepster daughters show a clear lifespan 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:21.940 advantage of plus 110 days. That longevity confirms 00:21:21.940 --> 00:21:24.460 the sheepster legacy is reshaping the entire 00:21:24.460 --> 00:21:27.539 UK breed toward functional durability and lower 00:21:27.539 --> 00:21:30.940 replacement costs. It validates the core tenets 00:21:30.940 --> 00:21:34.240 of that invisible cow philosophy globally. If 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:36.519 you're paying huge labor and feed costs, you 00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:38.140 need a cow that doesn't require your attention. 00:21:38.539 --> 00:21:40.119 Okay, we spent the first part of this talking 00:21:40.119 --> 00:21:42.740 about the high -risk, high -reward genomic bulls 00:21:42.740 --> 00:21:44.920 that just cratered, costing farmers millions 00:21:44.920 --> 00:21:47.519 in anticipated value. We did. Now we need to 00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:49.759 talk about the necessary antidote to that volatility. 00:21:50.119 --> 00:21:52.660 The daughter -proven anchors. The safety net 00:21:52.660 --> 00:21:54.759 for your entire operation. I think we really 00:21:54.759 --> 00:21:57.359 need to stop calling proven sires old news. I 00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:59.500 agree. They're not just for the cautious farmer 00:21:59.500 --> 00:22:02.009 anymore. They are insurance against the dramatic 00:22:02.009 --> 00:22:04.329 volatility we just saw in Switzerland, Italy, 00:22:04.470 --> 00:22:07.690 and Scandinavia. They provide a predictable floor 00:22:07.690 --> 00:22:10.869 of certainty where genomic scores only offer 00:22:10.869 --> 00:22:13.210 high potential hope. The value of that certainty 00:22:13.210 --> 00:22:15.470 is so often undervalued in the chase for the 00:22:15.470 --> 00:22:18.650 absolute highest index score. When you are mating 00:22:18.650 --> 00:22:21.730 100 or 200 heifers, you need reliable production 00:22:21.730 --> 00:22:24.230 and, just as importantly, reliable fertility. 00:22:24.630 --> 00:22:27.460 So who are the pillars? In Scandinavia, Peak 00:22:27.460 --> 00:22:30.799 Reno ET retained the number one proven spot at 00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:34.630 plus 42 NTM. His value is simply his stability. 00:22:34.950 --> 00:22:37.269 His traits are locked in with high reliability, 00:22:37.609 --> 00:22:40.069 high yield at 130, and exceptional fertility 00:22:40.069 --> 00:22:43.430 at 120. That is a known dependable quantity for 00:22:43.430 --> 00:22:45.569 your core meetings. That reliability is your 00:22:45.569 --> 00:22:47.930 management buffer. You can make long -term feed 00:22:47.930 --> 00:22:49.890 housing decisions based on Raynell's daughters 00:22:49.890 --> 00:22:51.829 because you know exactly what you're going to 00:22:51.829 --> 00:22:55.170 get. Exactly. And in the UK, OCD trooper Sheepster 00:22:55.170 --> 00:22:59.230 is a proven pillar. He's at a 783 -pound PLI 00:22:59.230 --> 00:23:02.759 with 77 % reliability. And remember, that's daughter 00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:05.079 -proven reliability, which is statistically different 00:23:05.079 --> 00:23:07.619 and far more mature than a 75 % genomic proof. 00:23:07.859 --> 00:23:10.759 So we know exactly what he delivers. We do. Plus 00:23:10.759 --> 00:23:16.680 0 .17 % fat, plus 0 .07 % protein, and that crucial 00:23:16.680 --> 00:23:20.240 plus 110 days of lifespan. You can bank on that 00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:22.569 longevity. Wait, I want you to clarify that point 00:23:22.569 --> 00:23:25.369 on reliability. You mentioned the genomic sires 00:23:25.369 --> 00:23:28.670 that crashed were 75 % reliable. Why is a daughter 00:23:28.670 --> 00:23:32.130 -proven bull -leg sheafster, even at 77 % reliability, 00:23:32.430 --> 00:23:35.130 so much better for risk mitigation? That's where 00:23:35.130 --> 00:23:37.950 the physics comes back in. A 75 % genomic reliability 00:23:37.950 --> 00:23:40.009 is based on the relationship of that animal's 00:23:40.009 --> 00:23:42.609 DNA profile to a very large reference population. 00:23:42.849 --> 00:23:46.089 It's a highly educated guess. The 77 % reliability 00:23:46.089 --> 00:23:48.809 of a proven sire, however, is based on actual 00:23:48.809 --> 00:23:50.349 daughter production records under commercial 00:23:50.349 --> 00:23:52.910 conditions. It's a completely different and far 00:23:52.910 --> 00:23:55.549 more stable source of data. The standard error 00:23:55.549 --> 00:23:57.690 of prediction drops dramatically once actual 00:23:57.690 --> 00:23:59.890 daughters are in that formula. So a genomic bull 00:23:59.890 --> 00:24:02.150 can crash because his DNA relationship to the 00:24:02.150 --> 00:24:04.170 reference set proves to be inaccurate. But a 00:24:04.170 --> 00:24:06.710 proven sire at 77 % is... is simply refining 00:24:06.710 --> 00:24:09.269 existing data, not proving a theory from scratch. 00:24:09.529 --> 00:24:11.569 That difference is massive. It's the difference 00:24:11.569 --> 00:24:14.150 between a highly accurate forecast and a verified 00:24:14.150 --> 00:24:17.230 observation. And for a real world example of 00:24:17.230 --> 00:24:19.970 reliability maturing, look at Genesaur's captain 00:24:19.970 --> 00:24:23.329 on the UK proven list. He moved to number seven, 00:24:23.410 --> 00:24:26.619 but that's not the story. The story is, his proof 00:24:26.619 --> 00:24:30.099 has now matured to a near -perfect 98 % reliability. 00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:35.279 98%. He still transmits 997 kilograms of milk 00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:39.440 and strong fat. That high reliability, 98%, is 00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:41.559 the kind of certainty that no genomic projection 00:24:41.559 --> 00:24:44.460 can ever match. It's the evaluation system working 00:24:44.460 --> 00:24:46.779 perfectly, giving us the most accurate picture 00:24:46.779 --> 00:24:49.119 possible. So the practical application for you 00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:51.250 listening right now is simple. But it's often 00:24:51.250 --> 00:24:53.289 overlooked in the race for the next big number. 00:24:53.369 --> 00:24:55.630 It is. You need to allocate a meaningful portion 00:24:55.630 --> 00:24:58.109 of your matings. And we suggest at least 30 to 00:24:58.109 --> 00:25:00.589 40 percent to these elite proven sires. They're 00:25:00.589 --> 00:25:02.710 your dependable risk management tool. They anchor 00:25:02.710 --> 00:25:04.910 your herd, ensuring predictable performance and 00:25:04.910 --> 00:25:06.910 fertility, while you chase those high potential 00:25:06.910 --> 00:25:08.730 gains of the genomic market with the rest of 00:25:08.730 --> 00:25:10.950 your matings. That balanced portfolio is what 00:25:10.950 --> 00:25:13.569 separates stable, profitable herds from the gamblers. 00:25:13.890 --> 00:25:16.240 All right, let's bring it all home. A farmer 00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:18.119 just finished milking is driving to the feed 00:25:18.119 --> 00:25:21.480 store. They need to turn this massive influx 00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:23.400 of information and volatility into immediate 00:25:23.400 --> 00:25:26.759 action. What are the three strategic imperatives 00:25:26.759 --> 00:25:29.440 they need to act on from this December reckoning? 00:25:29.579 --> 00:25:31.740 OK, here are the three critical takeaways that 00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:34.720 transition from data analysis into actionable 00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:37.140 farm strategy. Let's hear them. Number one is 00:25:37.140 --> 00:25:39.920 immediate action. This week, audit your semen 00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:42.799 tank and diversify. And the why on that is to 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:45.599 mitigate. the extreme volatility risk we saw, 00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:49.140 that 52 -point drop in Boston, the 98 -point 00:25:49.140 --> 00:25:51.519 plunge in Ecuador P, that concentration risk 00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:53.799 is just too high to stomach. That's right. Go 00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:56.019 look at your tank, review your invoices, check 00:25:56.019 --> 00:25:58.619 your breeding sheets. If you are 100 % heavy 00:25:58.619 --> 00:26:01.299 on one unproven hot bull, stop mating to him. 00:26:01.400 --> 00:26:06.150 Today, diversify ruthlessly. Cap any single unproven 00:26:06.150 --> 00:26:09.069 genomic sire at a maximum of 15 to 20 % of your 00:26:09.069 --> 00:26:11.670 total matings. A team of high -quality genomic 00:26:11.670 --> 00:26:13.710 sires where the risk is spread out will always 00:26:13.710 --> 00:26:16.289 outperform a single superstar who crashes. It's 00:26:16.289 --> 00:26:18.829 portfolio management for your genetics. It is, 00:26:18.910 --> 00:26:21.589 and it's the only reliable risk management policy. 00:26:21.990 --> 00:26:24.130 Okay, number two is a medium -term strategy. 00:26:24.650 --> 00:26:27.750 Three to six months. Rewrite your criteria to 00:26:27.750 --> 00:26:30.460 prioritize components. Why? Because that's where 00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:33.140 the money is. Processors are rewarding solids 00:26:33.140 --> 00:26:35.700 and the economic landscape demands high -quality 00:26:35.700 --> 00:26:38.539 milk. This is the quickest path to maximizing 00:26:38.539 --> 00:26:41.079 your revenue per hundredweight. Your action item 00:26:41.079 --> 00:26:43.720 here is to immediately adjust your mating criteria 00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:46.680 to aggressively target sires transmitting high 00:26:46.680 --> 00:26:49.359 kilograms and high percentages of fat and protein. 00:26:49.640 --> 00:26:52.200 You need those elite component specialists. The 00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:56.339 beyond high -level ET at 165 kilos of fat. The 00:26:56.339 --> 00:27:00.009 German prototype Saturn RDC at plus... 0 .88 00:27:00.009 --> 00:27:02.470 % fat. And the component strength of Genesource 00:27:02.470 --> 00:27:03.910 Mystra. These aren't just numbers. These are 00:27:03.910 --> 00:27:05.769 the new revenue drivers for the next decade. 00:27:06.130 --> 00:27:08.549 Ensure your genetic program is maximizing the 00:27:08.549 --> 00:27:10.529 milk check based on modern payment formulas. 00:27:10.809 --> 00:27:12.309 Okay, what's number three? And finally, number 00:27:12.309 --> 00:27:14.430 three is your long -term positioning. One to 00:27:14.430 --> 00:27:16.890 two years out. Manage inbreeding ruthlessly. 00:27:17.130 --> 00:27:19.990 The why on this is simple. The genetic concentration 00:27:19.990 --> 00:27:24.500 is severe. We saw genosaurs capture 73 % of the 00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:27.200 top U .S. net merit spots. We saw the dominance 00:27:27.200 --> 00:27:29.819 of European lines like AltaZazzle and Gameday. 00:27:29.920 --> 00:27:32.400 The gene pool is shrinking faster than ever before. 00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:35.299 So use mating software to monitor and manage 00:27:35.299 --> 00:27:38.299 inbreeding coefficients before every single mating 00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:40.599 decision. This isn't optional anymore. It's survival. 00:27:41.130 --> 00:27:43.450 You have to actively seek those outcross options 00:27:43.450 --> 00:27:46.829 to maintain fertility, calf vigor, and long -term 00:27:46.829 --> 00:27:49.450 herd resilience. Don't let the short -term financial 00:27:49.450 --> 00:27:52.890 gain of chasing the number one NM1 bull undermine 00:27:52.890 --> 00:27:55.309 the long -term health and fertility of your entire 00:27:55.309 --> 00:27:57.609 herd. That's the difference between a flash in 00:27:57.609 --> 00:28:00.410 the pan and sustained generational profit. Excellent. 00:28:00.549 --> 00:28:02.910 The December reckoning was. It was painful for 00:28:02.910 --> 00:28:05.069 some, but it delivered crystal clear signals 00:28:05.069 --> 00:28:07.390 on risk management, economic priorities, and 00:28:07.390 --> 00:28:09.670 genetic stability. This has been another Bullvine 00:28:09.670 --> 00:28:12.250 podcast. Remember, the lesson of December 2025 00:28:12.250 --> 00:28:15.309 is stark. Hype doesn't fill the bulk tank components 00:28:15.309 --> 00:28:18.230 and reliability do. For more straight -talking 00:28:18.230 --> 00:28:20.710 analysis, the full global rankings, and detailed 00:28:20.710 --> 00:28:25.009 treat breakdowns, head to www .thebullvine .com. 00:28:25.170 --> 00:28:27.109 And subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 00:28:27.789 --> 00:28:30.250 We're out with new deep dives every day, helping 00:28:30.250 --> 00:28:31.990 you make sense of the noise and the numbers. 00:28:32.410 --> 00:28:35.589 Next time, we're tearing apart the complex and 00:28:35.589 --> 00:28:38.589 often hidden costs of low fertility and why those 00:28:38.589 --> 00:28:40.910 elusive days open are costing you far more than 00:28:40.910 --> 00:28:41.390 you realize.