E261 The Silent Genetic Squeeze: Is Holstein Breeding Painting Itself into a Corner?

In this episode, The Bullvine Podcast pulls back the curtain on a crisis hiding in plain sight: the dramatic rise of genomic inbreeding in Holstein dairy cattle. Join us as we break down why inbreeding levels in elite Holstein bulls have tripled in just a decade, how industry metrics like Expected Future Inbreeding (EFI) can mislead even savvy breeders, and what this means for your farm’s bottom line. We dig into the root causes-AI stud consolidation, contract restrictions on top sires, and the relentless chase for genetic gain-and connect the dots to real-world impacts like lost milk yield, fertility challenges, and a shrinking gene pool. You’ll also get practical, evidence-backed strategies to protect your herd, from demanding genomic inbreeding data to leveraging crossbreeding and gene banks. If you care about the long-term profitability and r ...