E208 The Great Holstein Shakeup: How 16 Years Rewrote Breeding Rules

In this illuminating episode of The Bullvine Podcast, hosts Bella and Douglas dive deep into the revolutionary transformation of Holstein breeding over the past 16 years. Analyzing Holstein Canada registration data from 2008 to 2024, they explore how breeding philosophy has shifted from show-ring aesthetics to farm-level profitability and sustainability.

Topics Covered

Introduction

• Hosts introduce the concept of Holstein breeding transformation
• Overview of the shift from conformation-focused selection to profitable, functional cows

Genetic Diversity: Death of the "Super-Sire" Model

• Analysis of registration data showing dramatic decrease in genetic concentration
• DOORMAN, GOLDWYN, and BUCKEYE represented 12% of all registered females in  ...