Most of us were taught to trust our eye and our “kind” when picking Holstein heifers. But what if breeding by coat color and style is quietly costing you real money in 2025? In this episode of The Bullvine Podcast, we dig into genomic data, heat-stress research, and beef-on-dairy economics that challenge some of the most deeply held assumptions in dairy breeding. You’ll hear how the genes that control color are not the genes that drive milk and fertility, why genomic selection has doubled genetic gain while accelerating inbreeding, and how a smarter semen and replacement strategy can unlock more than $4 per hundredweight in some herds.

Key Takeaways

· Why pigment genes like MC1R and COPA have almost nothing to do with the main milk and fertility loci driving Net Merit, Pro$ and other profit indexes.

· How genomic selec ...