Recently we here at the Bullvine have come under some fire for some comments that we have made.  The reaction to what we have said, while not unexpected, does cause us some concern and we feel  the need to address it before it goes too far.

What Makes Us Different

By all accounts this year’s World Dairy Expo was one for the ages. The cattle were great and seeing so many people was excellent.  The response from  many breeders was unbelievable.  We were inundated with people coming up to tell  us how much they enjoy  reading the Bullvine.  The consistent message was “I read it every morning.” “I think about it in the barn.” “I just love how you tell it like it is and no bull.”

It was  exactly that aspect that  lead to some of our most interesting conversations at Madison.  While most people loved and appreciated it when we shared  our true opinion, there were also those that did not appreciate our “as we see it” comments and, in fact, felt that we had no right to make such comments.  They also felt the need to try to force their opinion on us.

What  they don’t realize is that the whole reason we started the Bullvine was not to be a billboard or promoter of whoever will pay us the most money, but rather to actually be something different – to be that voice that is willing to tell it like it is.  (Read more about us) Moreover, judging by the amount of support we have received both online and at Madison, that is exactly what everyone looks for in the Bullvine.

We Are Passionate

There is nothing better in life than to earn a living doing what you are passionate about.  We at the Bullvine  are passionate  about the dairy industry.  Whom  do you know that would commit well over $200,000 in time, resources and cash into starting an online forum for dairy breeders to gain insight, and debate all the aspects that make the dairy industry great, with no current cash return at all?

In staying true to our passion and values, I have held off many requests to advertise on our site as we feel that it would break the level of trust that our readers have put in us.   I am searching for ways to generate revenue for the Bullvine that does not affect our credibility as an unbiased source.

Why We Do It?

When I think about why I, with, my mother Karen, and father Murray, run the Bullvine there are three main points.  It’s not to get rich.  It’s not to be some sort of tabloid.  Rather we seek to help inform  the average breeder about the many great opportunities to advance their herds and take their passion for dairy breeding to a  new level.

We are not writing for those  who spend hundreds of thousands of dollars  at the big sales. We are not writing for the A.I. companies that will spend massive dollars with us in advertising. We do it for  average breeders, who buy semen at full price.  The ones who buy some embryos from time to time.  The ones who see all the potential that genomics has but hesitate to take the risk  and buy that high index heifer because first they want to be sure it will work.  Every day we are working to find those bloodlines that make the smart investment (read – Gillette Visions 2012 – Lots to watch for) and the sires that will help breeders  accelerate their breeding programs (Read – The Top 12 Holstein Genomic Young Sires To Use for Maximum Genetic Gain) so that they can be “in the know” like the ones  who spend the big bucks.

Friendships

Over the years we have built many great friendships in the dairy industry and, at times, those very friendships have tested our resolve to our mission (Read – The Hot House Effect on Sire Sampling). Sometimes we have to share results from our  analysis that may not be  that great for people that we know, respect and call friends.  It has put our internal resolve to the test.  It’s not easy to go to events like Dairy Expo and see people that we have known for 10, 20, 30 years turn a cold shoulder to us because of what we wrote (read Select Sires vs. Semex – A Contrast in Cooperatives) even though we know that what we said was correct and needed to be said. To see people we would have called friends, snub us for our reporting  is not easy.  It truly tests our commitment to what we have started.  But we can assure you, we remain committed.

Does it make me feel good saying the dairy breeding industry as we know it will be dead in under 5 years (Read – How Genomics is Killing  The Dairy Cattle Breeding Industry)? This is an industry I love that I have grown up in. My parents, siblings and many of my best friends work in the industry and  it may not even exist? No!  That doesn’t feel good.  But I had to step back, put my businessman hat on and say “What is the smart business move for A.I. companies to do?” and then predict from there.  This type of strategy development is something I have been very fortunate to do for companies like, Deloitte, Avaya, and Dlink and  for my main company www.inboundsales.net and find it somewhat easier there  because I am not as emotionally  invested as I am in the dairy industry.  I feel that by saying it, educating breeders and discussing it, maybe, just maybe, we can prevent it from happening.

The Bullvine Bottom Line

When I sit and talk to many of the top seed stock producers who are at the forefront of the industry, they all make the same comments “You know what you’re saying  is not rocket science.” “For the most part, this isn’t anything that we don‘t know.” “It’s great  that you are willing to say it and put proof to it”.  Exactly!  We don’t believe we are saying anything that most of the in-crowd don’t know.  What we are doing is bringing to light what many other breeders already know or suspect.  We also don’t expect everyone to agree with what everything we say.

Why do we do it?  Well that answer is simple.  We do it so that when your average “salt of the earth” breeders take that jump and invest $30,000, $40,000 or even $100,000,  which could be  a significant portion of their  hard earned money, they can do so being confident they are making  an informed  decision, for their farm and their families.  We may save one of them from making a mistake. We may even help more of them make money.  That’s why it’s worth it! That’s why we do it.

Don’t agree with us?  Let us know – we believe that feedback is the only way we can improve.  So please give us your feedback. (Fill out the space below or email us at feedback@thebullvine.com)

This week has been very challenging for me.  Our family unfortunately lost my grandfather to cancer earlier this week and while I was able to go and spend some great quality time with him just before he passed, I had to be out of the country on business mid-week and meant that I have not been able to support my family as I would like to.  On the plus side it has given me time to reflect as I sat on the airplane for 5+ hours and thought about just how amazing the dairy community is.

It’s about the community

The biggest thing that stands out is how the dairy community steps up and helps their own.  This week marks a great event, Friends of Andrea Crowe Fundraiser, being put on by the friends and family of Andrea Crowe in support of her battle with cancer (to read more It’s Time to Pull Together and Support One of Our Own).

The way the dairy community has come to her support and is not something you find every day.  This struck me as I was talking with some business executives and they talked about how a child of a contemporary’s child was in a battle for their life.  These executives who had more than enough means to offer help, just shrugged their shoulders and moved on to the next topic of discussion.  They did not think to ask what they could do to help.  They did not go out and start a fundraiser to help the family.

I am extremely impressed with the work that Angela Masters, Brian Craswell, Amber Craswell, Blair Weeks, Bloyce Thompson, Bruce Wood, Marie-Eve Veronneau and many others that have been putting in so much effort in order to help support Andrea.  Often the best way to show you care is not with words, but with action, and the members of the Eastern Canadian dairy community are doing exactly that.

Did you step up and contribute

When my paternal grandfather past 9 years ago I learned a huge life lesson that I will never forget.  My grandfather achieved many successes in his life.  He had been a Master Breeder, won many awards for his community involvement but the one thing that I learned is that it’s not about what awards you win or how much money you make, it’s about the effect you had on the people around you.  He always worked at helping young farmers and members of the community to progress.  He was never a schoolteacher but it not surprising that many of his daughters did become teachers.  When he passed the number of people that came out to pay tribute to the effect he had on their lives was overwhelming.

This week when my maternal grandfather passed I was reminded, it’s not about how much money, it’s about who will remember you when you are gone.  Which is a lesson I need reminding from time to time, as I seek to grow the companies I run.  Since the death of my first grandfather there has not been a day that I have not thought of him.  The role models that both my grandfather’s were and my father still is, has me striving every day to be a better father to my children, husband to my wife and member of my community.

The Bullvine Bottom Line

Life is not about how much money you make, or show winners you breed.  Life is about being a part of your community, and there is no better community in the world than that of the dairy community.  I have put up a sign in my office that says “Who Is Going To Miss You When You Die?” and each day I am going to make sure that I do at least one act that will contribute to my community so that when I pass at least one person will say, that “Andrew Hunt made difference”. Thank you Grandpa Sterling and Grandpa George for showing me what it means to make a difference.

No, I have not judged the Royal or Madison.  No, I have not bought or sold a Supreme Champion.  However, what I have gotten is worth far more, and has helped me become far richer than any of these things could have.  It gave me the confidence to be heard, the ability to know what I am talking about, and the skills to defend my position, and these three things have served me extremely well in my career.

With Ontario Summer Show & Dairy Cattle Evaluation Clinic coming up tomorrow and Friday it has me thinking about how fortunate I was to grow up and have the amazing opportunity to learn at these great events.  I  remember being 11 years old and poking my head around Lowell Lindsey or Orton Eby trying to get a look at the cattle.  I can also remember trying to stand as close as I could to Bert Stewart so that when he would pick someone to give reasons he would pick me.  The skills that I learned there have served me extremely well.  The following are three skills I learned at these evaluation clinics that have set my career on fire.

Public Speaking

There is no question the ability to speak well in public is a great skill to have.  Everyone always ask me why don’t you get nervous before speaking to crowds of five hundred and sometimes one thousand people?  I say, “Why that is easy. Try giving reasons on a class of Jersey 2 yr. olds after Court Carmichael has just given reasons on the class that you placed exactly opposite to his. Of course,  they do look at me kind of funny, but the point is, there has been no better place to learn how to speak in public than at these clinics.  I can tell you I  remember to this day the feeling I had when Orton Eby and Frank Donkers came over and said, good job kid.  I tell you I was on top of the world.  Two men that, to this day, I still think the world of, patting me on the back.  There could be nothing better.

I can never forget  the first time I went to Madison and heard the 4-H members from the US give their reasons.  Man, did they sound sweet and long.  “She is dairy from the tip of her nose to the tip of her tail,”  They have some good sayings that seem to roll off their tongues.  Fortunately, for me,  Bert Stewart was there telling me, “Just say what you see and leave all the other BS for them.”  Those experiences showed me that having the ability to articulate what you are saying and putting mental images in your audiences’ head can do wonders for bringing what you have to say to life.  Not only do you learn  to say that she has a “more desirable” set of feet and legs instead of “better”, but, you also gain the ability to clearly articulate what you are thinking.

Evaluation Skills

From having to hire sales people or selling  to some of the biggest tech companies in the country or building demand generation programs for extremely complex products, the ability to evaluate options is a skill everyone should have in their tool box.  Learning at these evaluation clinics the importance of a scorecard or understanding how subtle nuances can make the world of difference to overall conformation or profitability, has helped me understand the need for systems and processes for everything you do.

When I first started judging, I tried to do everything on gut feel.  Sure, I got lucky sometimes, but in order to build repeatable results you need to have systems in place that set you up for success.  That  starts with knowing what   the end result is aiming for  (the true type model) and then understanding what areas are where  the money is made (mammary systems) and what areas are  just for show (size and stature).

Confidence to Defend My Position

Some might say I have enough confidence to fill a sinking ship, others might call it arrogance. Either way, the ability to translate that “arrogance” into “confidence” comes from the lessons I learned during these dairy cattle evaluation clinics.  Knowing your reasons for why you believe one option is better than another one is and having the ability to defend your opinion, even under the most rigorous of scrutiny, is a skill all young people should have.

It’s a skill that will serve you well regardless of the career you choose. This is especially true of you go into a sales career, such as I have.  Knowing the reasons why one option is better than another is one thing, being able to convince others that it is, is even more important.  That skill has served me extremely well.  I have been fortunate to sell products from $1.99 to over 2 million and the one thing that is the same in all these processes is you must have  the ability to defend why your option is the best option for that specific prospect’s needs.  That’s a skill I learned at these clinics.

The Bullvine Bottom Line

From my first trip to the InterCounty 4-H  Judging Competition and winning top placings and still not making the Madison team, to my last trip and winning top reasons things sure did change as  a direct result of what I learned at the dairy cattle evaluation clinics.  However, more importantly, the lessons I learned at these clinics have served me in every facet of my career as I judge, show and sell in the arena of big business.  Rich indeed!

Whenever a new sire tops the list, or a cow wins a big show, everyone sees the prefix on that animal.  However, just because you bred that animal does, that make you the true breeder?  More and more you are seeing top animals that have just one generation bred by the breeder.  Does that make them the true breeder of that animal?

With the amount of top cattle that are being bought and sold, you are seeing more and more pedigrees that have different prefixes in each generation.  While at one time we used to see five, six, or more generations all with the same prefix, now it’s not unusual to see six different prefixes in six different generations.

While I am all for the trade of dairy cattle because it’s what makes the genetics market go around,   should the last breeder on the pedigree get all the credit for breeding that animal?  As we all know you cannot make a great show cow or top index animal in just one generation.  It takes generation after generation with a clear goal in mind and a smart breeding strategy to breed the next great one.  Yet, when we look to give awards, assign master breeder points, etc. we give all the credit to whoever’s name is on the prefix.

While it’s not a slam-dunk to buy a cow and breed the next great one, buying into a well thought out, established cow family can certainly accelerate the process.  We see it more and more as many top herds look to diversify and add new bloodlines into their operations in order to provide the genetics that their particular market demands.  Does that make them a master breeder or a smart businessperson?

In some cases these top herds have had to buy into new cow families because their main cow families are not ranking at the top any more.  This begs the question whether they are really master breeders or a master buyer?  I know it’s a tough question and I would say, of the main top herds today, many of them have generation after generation of their own breeding.

The same debate is true for show cattle.  Look at the cows that are winning at Madison and the Royal.  How many of them are bred and owned?  A large majority of the time, the original breeder sold that animal years ago, and it could be on its fourth or fifth ownership group now.

The Bullvine Bottom Line

While breeding a top show cow or high genomic animal takes a lot of work, I wonder if we give enough credit to the generation after generation it took of smart breeding to achieve that end result.  Are we too quick to simply look at the current prefix on the animal and let the breeding recognition stop there?  Today’s buzz words are “repeatability” and “sustainability” so I ask, “What is the mark of a truly great cattle breeder?”

For more information check out The Bullvine Bull Book or our Genetic Evaluation Resource Center.

Do you think The Bullvine is too controversial?  Would you prefer to read just more of the same old fence sitting  that everyone else is  content to put out?  A week back, I had a conversation with a general manager of one of the major artificial insemination companies about The Bullvine.  As we have known each other for over 20 years, it was a candid conversation and he was bringing to my attention that, while he thought The Bullvine was great, there were many misconceptions about us out there.  With that in mind, I figured it is time to set the record straight.

Not All Our Content Is Meant To Cause a Stir

Yes many of our articles such as Has Photo Enhancement Gone Too Far?, Holstein vs. Jersey: Which Breed Is More Profitable? and Are You Ready For Genetically Modified Cattle?  have breeders talking.  There have also been many articles that are much more for educational purposes.  Good examples of these are Top 10 Questions to Ask Before You Sign That A.I. Contract, Charting the Right Course at Seagull Bay Dairy and one of my favorites Cristy Nurse: From Show Ring Beauty to World Class Rower who will be representing Canada as part of the women’s 8’s rowing team at the upcoming summer Olympics.

At The Bullvine, we want to express all sides of the story.  That is why there is more than one writer here at The Bullvine, each with a very distinct perspective on the industry.  I (Andrew Hunt) typically write the pieces that are strongly opinionated and Karen Hunt does the educational and breeder profile pieces.  You will notice that the articles that I write never include others in my opinion. They are very much my commentary and do not reflect that of others, sometimes not even that of the editor of this magazine.  Karen, on the other hand, uses her gift for writing and years of experience in the dairy cattle industry (check out our about us sections for more) to bring a fresh viewpoint to many of the challenges facing breeders today.

We Do Not Hate Big AI Companies

There seems to be a misconception that we hate all the large AI companies and play to the small organizations.  That could not be farther from the truth.  Over the years, we have been fortunate to build strong relationships with many of the people that make this industry great.  Remember that my brother is the COO of one of the largest AI organizations and that our editor was the information director for the Canadian Association of Animal Breeders for many years.  We don’t hate big AI, we just don’t cater to them either.

This is how we are different.  Instead of just kissing up  to whoever pays us the most money, we feel that we would like to keep our integrity and tell it as we see it.  We do not expect everyone to agree with what we are saying.  Heck, I would be upset if they did.  Rather we want to give all dairy breeders the opportunity to hear a fresh perspective and provide a forum for them to share their own comments.

That is why you see  comments from the likes of Ron Flatness and representatives from the smaller AI organizations.  It’s not because we agree 100% with everything they say.  Rather  we feel that everyone should be allowed to express their opinion.  In fact, if you read many of the comments on articles, you will actually see that we have disagreed with these people many times and that we also predict that, unless they can get lean and mean, none of these companies will be around in the end.

The Bullvine Bottom Line

For the few  who are afraid to do an interview with us because they think we are too political it’s time to man up. This industry was not formed by those who did not have the horns  to take a stand.  The future is led, not by those who play it safe, but rather by those who are willing to put it all  on the line.  Thank you to all those that have been very gracious in interviewing  with us. I am sure if you asked any of these people, they would tell you how easy it was and about the  great feedback that they have received because of doing the interview.  So take the Bullvine by the horns and honk if you’re not afraid!

This Sunday I will be celebrating my sixth wedding anniversary with my amazing wife Zosia.  She truly is the love of my life.  Yes, she ranks higher than dairy cattle.  One of the things that I think is so amazing is how exactly opposite she is to me.  Maybe that resulted from   years of my father teaching me about corrective mating, but when I found Zosia, I ended up applying everything I knew about dairy cattle breeding to good practice in choosing my wife.

For years, I had dated some very lovely farm girls and one or two bimbos. Trust me there is a very big difference between the two.  While these hard working, passionate woman, meaning the farm girls not the bimbos, were amazing woman and many have gone on to great things in the cattle industry, it just didn’t feel right for me.  None of them seemed like they were “the one” until one day, I met a woman who had grown up, in downtown Toronto, or at least a country boy’s definition of downtown TO.

One of the first things she asked me was “can we go cow tipping?” Now for many that question would have been enough make them jump the fence and run out on that date.  Instead, since I had already ordered my prime rib, even after she had told me she was a vegetarian, I figured I should see the date through.  Maybe it was because of genetics.  I am myself the product of balanced breeding (father is 5.6 and mother is 5.9).  Maybe it was the challenge.  After all, she did jump out of the car before I had it parked, so she could avoid the awkward end-of –the-first-date goodbyes.  Nevertheless, there was something about this woman that had me hooked.

It wasn’t until later that I realized that it was because she was the perfect corrective mating for me.  Zosia, is smart, humble, and beautiful.  Three things I aspire to be.  For me I equate it to using Blitz (me) on a Demspy (Zosia).  I am your high producing, milk machine, while my wife is that hot 2 yr. old everyone would want to have (oh did I mention she was also studying to become a doctor?).

Even on the conformation traits we could not be more opposite.  She has big beautiful eyes, mine look like I am asleep most of the time (also a strong dominant trait as the last 4 generations of Hunt men all have this).  She is model slim   and, even after three kids, could walk down the fashion runway tomorrow (though she would never admit it).  Me, on the other hand, well let’s just say I put on the frosh 15 and never looked back.  She has the world’s cutest little head while mine might not fit in most small cars.  Oh wait! That’s not my head …that’s my ego.

So as any good young dairy breeder knows, it’s not about how good you look but rather how good your progeny look that counts, so we are shooting for the Class Extra status.  In our 6 years of marriage I have applied the other side of the animal breeding equation, resulting in three children.  At 5 (for those doing math he was born 10.5 months after the wedding day), almost 3, and 1.5 years, my wife has proven to be a very fertile woman, and I guess I am pushing to be a high conception sire.  This is also genetic as my brother has had three kids in 4 years as well.

The better part is how amazing and amazingly different each of our children are.  While for years I had watched as we flushed cows and got daughters that could look so different, I have never had the perspective on it that I do now.  As any parent knows, it’s what makes your children different that makes them amazing.  While we breed dairy cattle for uniformity, I think that when it comes to our children we almost want the exact opposite.

The Bullvine Bottom Line

In the past when I set out to start quirky things like a dairy magazine just because I feel I have something to say, or quit  a lucrative  job because I think I would be happier running my own company, my wife has always been there with 110% support.  She is the rock to my weirdness and the perfect partner for me.  Please note:  we will not be flushing her to the next hot stud to come along.

Exhibiting dairy cattle at a high level has a long North American history.  It is steeped in tradition.  Fitters have learned some techniques to do things that most people never thought possible.  However, the interesting thing that most outside the fraternity probably don’t realize is that they have also learned to adhere to an honor system known simply as “the Code.”

Now you will not find “the Code” published anywhere and if you asked them what makes up “the Code,” they would never tell you.  A fitter learns the code from years of working with the same crew at the same shows and understanding how things operate.  As mysterious as it is sacred, “the Code” is an unwritten set of rules – the bible of fitter sportsmanship, if you will – that has been handed down through generations.

The Legends of the Game

Even though the code has been around since breeders starting exhibiting cattle, it remains a taboo subject, so much so that many of the fitters are simply unwilling to talk about it.  Even when outsiders criticize the ethics of many of these fitters, they stand fast together and keep “the Code” to themselves.  They even self-police who is playing by “the Code” and who is stepping outside the lines.  I have even seen it comes to blows when one fitter takes it too far and an “enforcer” or elder statesmen sees the need to help “educate” a young fitter.

I can still remember when I first started showing cattle, and having the legendary Bert Stewart, (side note: Bert is probably given more to educating dairy youth than any other human being on the planet) show me how they used to do toplines and get things just right.  From there I aspired to tune my skills by watching the likes of Larry Bennett and Lowell Lindsay.  While the techniques have changed, there is no question these men and others like them pioneered the craft of dairy cattle fitting and helped make our breed great

The Cow Whisperer

However, there probably is no person to whom I can attribute learning more about “the Code” than from the late David Brown.  While I have heard many things said about David, there is no one can deny his love of cattle and his insane ability to get a cow ready for the ring.  David was some sort of “cow whisperer.”  He could just look at a cow and know exactly what it would take to have her looking her best the moment she entered the show ring.  I will not say that all those tactics were in line with the written code of ethics.

MERKLEY STARBUCK WHITNEY EX-CAN EX-96-5YR-USA

I can still remember when in 2002, David wanted to bring the great Merkley Starbuck Whitney, the 2 time Grand at the Royal back for one more tour.  Having not shown in at least 8+ years and not been in milking form in at least seven, everyone had their doubts.  However, David was determined to make it happen.  Therefore, at about 2 am on a cold Friday morning, David rolled his string into our local fair, and sure enough, there was Whitney, small head in all.  While I will not say that she looked as good as when she won the Royal, she easily looked good enough to win her class and be Grand, not only there but also at the Rockton Championship show.  He even had her at the Royal that year.  And while she did not relive former glory at the Royal, she certainly held her own against cows half her age.  All this because of David’s passion and ability to understand what it takes to get a cow ready for the show ring.

The Next Generation

Now I am sure, given past posts on this site, that most of you are expecting me to come down hard on the current group of fitters as there practices are seen as “un-ethical” or down right immoral.  However, in reality that is not how I feel.  I grew up working with these guys on the show circuit, and still to this day consider many of them to be friends.  Now just because they are friends is not why I am taking it easy.  It’s because I have huge respect for the life they live and the work they do.

If I was to come out here and start lambasting them I would be doing the exact same thing that hockey enforcers Stu Grimson, Chris Nilan and Jim Thomson did when they spoke out about fighting in hockey years after they retired.  And as the great Don Cherry puts it, “they are pukes” and “hypocrites.”  However, it’s not just because of that I do not come down as hard.  It’s more that I understand “the Code” that they all conduct themselves under.  They support their own very strongly and if you ever want to see who the truly great show cattle are just ask one of these fitters, or better yet, watch what cows or cow families they invest in.  It’s very telling.

The one challenge I do have when it comes to show ethics is the effects it has on marketing.  Many unaware breeders looking to invest their hard-earned money into show cattle do not have the insight that is needed to play in this marketplace.  Yes, unknowing breeders do invest in poor choices, not knowing what is going on.  While I have heard the term “buyer beware” come up, it still alarms me when this happens.  My advice in this regard is, don’t invest in something you know nothing about.  I would not invest in the stock market without first learning about the market and then getting the advice of an expert.  The same is true when it comes to investing in great show cattle and genomic animals.  Barclay Phoenix, Jeff Stephens and Mike Heath, are just three of the many great cattlemen that have the eye for cattle and integrity to help steer you in the correct direction.  Remember these men only have their name to trade on, so they know it’s not about the quick buck, but rather providing a great service.

The Bullvine Bottom Line

While many outsiders would like to have all fitters barred from the business, it really is different when you look at it from an inside perspective.  I have a great deal of respect for those who choose to live that lifestyle.  It is not an extremely lucrative life, and it is not easy on personal life.  If it had not been for me developing extreme allergy to dust at age 18, I might still be doing it today.  While I am no longer involved from the inside,   I am still involved with the marketing business.  Whether it`s the next Royal or Madison Grand Champion or the world`s next top model, it is important to have the right people behind the scenes with the right preparation and those final finishing touches.  I am proud to have had the opportunity to learn “the Code” that all these men (well mostly men), live by and their internal system for ensuring that they put on the best show possible.

This article marks a great accomplishment for the Bullvine.  It is our 81^st article in the past 3 months.  That is 26 articles a month.  That represents  more than double the number of quality articles of our nearest competitor and more than quadruples that of most dairy publications (note: these results do not include event or show reporting articles).  It has me asking if these results mean t we are working that much harder than our competitors are? or does it mean they are fat and lazy couch potatoes?

When we started the Bullvine, we said that we were not just an event-reporting magazine.  We would not be a billboard or promoter of whoever will pay us the most money.  We have already shown we are something different, something real.  We are providing what’s been missing for real dairy breeders. (for more read Twice the Bull, Half the S**t)  Moreover, our more than 3,000 daily visitors and 10,000 subscribers in just 3 months would say that breeders are responding.

Obviously, we are doing something right.  So then my question turns to what the others are doing?  Much as I anticipated after being part of the dairy industry for the past 30 years, nothing has really changed.  Sure, some of them are trying to use social media a little more and others are maybe trying to be a little edgier with their content, but in reality, nothing has really changed.  They are just sitting on their butts watching the world go by.

Is this a blatant shot across the bow of our competitors?  Yes, but that is because we did not start the Bullvine for fame or fortune.  We started the Bullvine to help educate breeders and provide them with un-biased information about the dairy industry.  Does that mean we don’t have an opinion?  Not even close.  We have expressed very strong opinions.  Over the past few months, we have stirred up a lot of conversation with such articles as:

• Has Photo Enhancement Gone Too Far?
• What PETA Does Not Know About Raising Dairy Cattle
• Are You Ready for Genetically Modified Cattle?
• Why the Ability for Breeders to Test their Own Bulls will NOT Change the World
• Lylehaven Lila Z: Was She Really Worth $1.15 Million?
• What the Experts Won’t Tell YOU About the Future of the A.I. Industry

What does this mean to you?  While we would not expect everyone to agree 100% with what we have said, we are making breeders think.  We are making them think about their breeding programs and the industry as a whole.

The Bullvine Bottom Line

What I ask now is, “Is it making the other dairy publications think?”  The very real possibility, is that they going to continue to just sit on their couch potato butts.  Neither you nor I should be responsible for raising couch potatoes – even though it sounds so agricultural.  Here at the Bullvine we are raising your expectations, your level of information and your hopes for the future of the dairy industry.  Thanks for supporting our opening quarter!

From the “milk wars” in the 1960’s that established Canada’s supply management system to the various rounds of World Trade Organization meetings, Canada’s quota system has always been a contentious subject for many reasons.  We decided to look at the issue from an animal breeding perspective.  We are not trying to analyze the pros and cons of the quota system, but rather what it means for dairy farmers’ breeding programs.

Various rounds of world trade talks have touched on this issue but, similar to US subsidies, it seems that even though they are counter productive to world trade, no one wants to broach this issue.  With that, we found that it has the following three effects on Canadian breeder’s genetics programs:

• Limits Entry to Market
  Because farmers need to own quota in order to ship fluid milk, it limits who is able to produce milk.  Often times in a new operation the cost of quota is the single largest capital investment in starting a new dairy.  This greatly restricts herd size as well as often times this means that the next generation of dairy farmers have to go work in other industries in order to build enough capital in order to enter the market.  Many times these individuals never come back and are a true loss to the dairy industry.  Those that have the smarts to excel in other industries end up doing great things in other markets instead of helping advance the dairy breeding industry.
• Provides Stables Pricing
  
  While the world price for milk saw a significant drop in late 2008, due to Canada’s supply management system Canadian dairy producers did not directly feel that effect.  This meant that Canadian breeders could continue to run their programs as if nothing had changed.  But many top breeders who’s “genetics” check is either the yearly vacation fund, or others whose genetic sales represent the majority of the farm’s profit, saw a significant drop in fresh heifer and even high end genetic sales to their major market, the US. “Big deal!” you may say.  Actually, this was very significant.  Having just come out of the BSE turmoil, Canada was looking to rebuild their world export markets and for many breeders their programs are not won or lost on the value of what the top animals sell for, but rather the cost of recipients.  With a low price for fresh heifers, many breeders went from making a profit on their recipients to taking a significant loss. So while the quota system helped protect them on their milk check, nothing could help them on their genetics check through this period.
• Promotes Inefficiency in Production
  Any smart breeder knows how to breed for maximum profitability however, with a stable milk price that is higher than world market price, many Canadian producers have not been forced to maximize the efficiency of their dairy operations. Peter Slade found that when comparing Ontario Dairy Farmers operations to New York dairies that New York farmers where up to 17.5% more economically efficient in their milk production.  This efficiency did not only come from their operations alone but also their breeding programs.  Because New York dairies are forced to look as every aspect of their operations and look how they can maximize revenue, their mating programs are substantially more geared towards efficient milk production than that of Ontario operations. Canadian breeders have been able to focus on type more significantly for many years, and hence their distinct advantage in this area.

The Bottom Line

The quota system has been both a gift and a curse to Canadian dairy farmers. There is no question when you look at the big picture that the quota system has been great for dairy farmers.  However, when it comes to their breeding programs, it has had a bias and limiting effect.  Granted, it has allowed breeders to focus much more on type and breeding the Canadian kind, but, at the same time, it has also built a false market security and therefore, there has not been as much focus on production and efficiency that other markets have been forced to address.  The real advantage comes for many dairy operations when both opportunities are recognized and maximized by the savvy Canadian dairy breeder.

What do you think?  Share your comments below.

In a world that seems to never stop changing, it used to be that the single-family dairy farm offered a bastion of security from the volatility of rest of the world.  However, with dairy farms getting larger and breeding programs becoming genetic organizations, it raises the question, is the typical dairy farm dying?”

There once was a time where a 30 cow-milking herd could produce enough milk to cover the bills and run a solid breeding program that would sell high quality young stock to pay for life’s extras.  I don’t see that today.  However, I do  see one or two other significant things that are happening.

Genetic Sales are Drying Up

New technologies such as IVF and sexed semen and tools such as genomics have created an abundance of top genetics available.  This has caused a drastic reduction in the demand for mid-level cattle.  Gone are those sales of $20,000 and $30,000 for a nice pedigreed 2 yr. old that might win the state or local show.  That  used to be the money that, for many breeders, paid for the kids’ education or purchased the new truck.

Today’s genetic marketplace now has a go big or go home mentality.   You either have a cow or heifer at the top of the list, or you might as well not  bother.  While there are some programs that have found their breeding niche, such as polled or Red carriers, for the most part, the strong pedigreed, maybe not top index, cow families are now finding it hard to get the much-needed return on investment that is required to run their breeding programs.

With the increase in the amount of money these top animals are demanding, there has also been an increase in what I like to call “Genetic Companies.”  No longer are individual dairy breeders flushing a few cows to increase the genetics of their own herd and then selling  some breeding stock to help pay the bills.  This end of the business is now handled by conglomerates or even corporations complete with marketing and genetics staff.  They are run with total focus on the bottom line and much greater resources than the average breeder can compete with.

But wait!  With all this change, money, and growth, where is the dead part of the dairy industry?

The Next Generation Is Not Staying Home

Maybe it’s the cost of entry or maybe it’s that the lifestyle does not suit many of today’s youth but more and more it seems like these highly talented young people  are heading elsewhere to apply their talents.  As the average dairy farm has had to grow in numbers it has also meant that the cost to start or take over such an operation has gotten very costly.  What other industry, relies on the next generation for survival?  If you can answer this question, you will know what the family farm needs to do to survive too!

The typical new dairy operation is no longer 30-40 head milking herd, but rather your 100+ plus dairy operation, here the name of the game is operating efficiency and profitability.  This is a much-needed change.  Having said that, it is not so easy for many operations to go from a lifestyle choice to a company.    It also has a huge impact on the next generation who are considering entering into dairy farming and taking on the necessary debt.

As the world has gone through a credit crisis, getting financing to start your dairy operation has gotten harder and harder.  For many talented and hardworking youth, their paths have been drawn to other industries where they can apply their efforts with more financial reward and less risk.

The Bullvine Bottom Line

If you asked if   the stereotypical dairy farm is dead?  My answer would be a resounding, “Absolutely yes!”  As I watch many of the breeders I idolized growing up who focused on breeding generation after generation of foundation cattle now enter their retirement age, and their children are not there to take over the family operation, it makes me wonder where the future is?

The answer I am finding is, dairy farming is now not simply “big business” but, more accurately, “bigger   business.”  Through technology we are seeing  production operations that have grown to sizes I could have never imagined.  Add to this, the more recent dramatic changes in genetics programs and  dairy-farming 21^st century style, looks very different from it did 20 or 30 years ago.  Is all this change bad?  No, in reality  change is good.  The key piece is that the dairy farmers of tomorrow must keep the passion for working with and breeding great cattle, and we must find a way to keep the next generation involved.  With that one piece from the past,  the industry we all know and love has a very bright future.  From the science of insemination, to machine and robotic milking to genetic analysis we never dreamed of, the dairy farm is not only surviving but thriving!

In every walk of life, there is a full spectrum of abilities. Every responsible dairy breeder knows that there are some whose farm practices make headlines to the detriment of others.  Not every cow achieves what Smurf has.  Recent comments in the Ottawa Citizen by a PETA writer about Smurf’s Guinness World Record achievement, just goes to highlight their lack of understanding of the relationship many dairy producers have with their cattle.

Smurf, or fully named Gillette Emperor Smurf EX-91, received international attention earlier this week. It was specifically noted that, “after the 216,891 kg. she has so far produced in her lifetime — enough for an eight-ounce glass for every man, woman and child in Ottawa — (she) earned her recognition by Guinness as the most prolific milk producer in the history of dairy cows.”  This well-deserved recognition for exceptional achievement also brought criticism that it was built on greed and exploitation. Ferme Gillette was urged to make the compassionate decision and put Smurf out to pasture.

Compassionate decision making comes easily to Eric Patenaude, as anyone who sits down with this dairy farmer would know.  His goal was not the fortune and fame of “getting into the Guinness Book of World Records” or being quoted in “The Ottawa Citizen”.

The solution that was offered to Eric was for him to make sure that SMURF enjoys a “happy retirement with her youngster”. While I do not question the lovely images of the PETA writer, not many of us envision retirement and youngsters side-by-side and I say that while enjoying every one of my eight grandchildren who visit the farm and call it, “Granny Camp”.  Likewise, multi-generational living is the cherished “norm” for the large Patenaude family who celebrate both the highs and lows that living and working on a dairy farm entails – and they do it together!!

I’m sure the Patenaude’s from senior Gilles to the youngest toddler happily standing in the barn today is filled with many thoughts about cows and not one of them is based upon “exploitation or profit”.  Those words don’t come naturally to the Patenaude’s or to their way of working with the cows they love.

As is often the case with great animal caretakers, Eric cares about people too.  His response to the verbal PETA attack was as gracious and caring as you could possibly imagine, “They’re a good organization,” he said. “They do good things for some animals. As far as Smurf is concerned, we’re going to discuss the possibilities.” Togetherness is a wonderful way to work things out, regardless of your human or animal origins.

Of course, it is all too easy when you’re looking to support harsh arguments in any field, that you can seek until you do find a picture, or a person to support the extreme positions. That happens in every family, organization or activist group.  If you look only for the negative you will find what you’re looking for.

At Ferme Gillette negativity isn’t the motivating force as Eric explains, “We want what’s best for Smurf,” He adds. “I think she’s reached 16 years because she’s in the right place. We’re the people who know what’s best for Smurf. They want to put her in an animal sanctuary, but I think at this point she is in an animal sanctuary.” Thousands of visitors to this farm would heartily agree.  Many see the Patenaude’s as mentors, not only of dairy farming, but of a wonderful way of life.

The PETA writer, whom I have never met and then would never presume to criticize, recognizes part of SMURF’s “luck”, the other part, that is overlooked, is that the majority of Canadian dairy breeders raise their cow families the same way they raise their own families.  Families don’t put each other “out to pasture, so to speak”. In families success isn’t built on luck, it’s built on love.

I have a message to those “critics” that feel the need to make comments about me personally and www.thebullvine.com. You think you have the last laugh when you make comments about me to others in the industry. You think that you are going to scare me off or force us to back down.  Do you think that you could make a few comments, say a few things and we would go away with our tails between our legs?  Well I have a message to you.  YOU ARE DEAD WRONG.

You really need to do your homework on me.  First, those that know me well enough know that I am not in my brothers pocket.  He is a big boy and has done very well at Alta Genetics, but that has no effect on what we do at www.thebullvine.com. If anything the competitiveness between us, just makes me want to kick his a** that much more. Throughout my career no matter what negative has been said or happened to me, I have come back twice as strong.  When one door has closed, I have opened up a new one. Trust me those new doors are much bigger.  The Inbound Sales Network is one of the fastest growing digital agencies in the world.  Do you think that this is an accident?  Or, perhaps, just maybe, when it comes to this “internet” thing we know what we are talking about.

You need to understand my motives here.  (If not go back and read “TWICE the BULL – HALF the S**T“) We did not start www.thebullvine.com for fame or fortune, we started www.thebullvine.com to give breeders a voice and share information that breeders have been begging for.  Happily, the early results have backed this up substantially.  We are already in the top 2 or 3 dairy magazine sites for traffic and our reader surveys show that breeders love the new site.  We have already had over 200 reader responses with only one giving us anything lower than 7/10 and all saying “Keep up the Great Work.”

So  did you think on the personal level that I would not come back swinging?  Wrong again.  While I will not give you the credit of identifying you specifically, what I will do is continue to publish and educate the breeders as we have so far.  So you don’t think Lady GaGa has anything to do with dairy cattle, that our article on photo enhancement revealed too much, or that I should not be commenting on whether AI companies should own cattle.  Great! Keep talking, and trust me  will we too.  We will continue to produce content that breeders want to read.  Maybe if you actually read the Lady GaGa piece and realized one of the lessons, “Know your audience,” you would not be chirping so much about what we are doing if you spent more time actually connecting with your marketplace.

In the end what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.  Criticism, constructive or otherwise, will always make us come back twice as strong,  To be the voice of the breeders that others have bullied or have others messages forced their message down their throats. Does this mean I am alone in this fight?  Not one bit.  I have our amazing team here, and the more than 2,000 readers that come to the site daily to be inspired about how to take their breeding programs to a new level Thank you. Let’s keep growing this wonderful industry that means so much to each of us who can take the lumps and keep on going!

For many years Canada has considered itself to be at the center of the Holstein universe.  But a closer look at the top ranking lists reveals that the world is changing.  The following are some interesting stats about who is dominating the top lists:

• One of the top five LPI sires is sired by a CAN bull
• 5/10 are CAN bred and proven
• 19/50 top LPI sires are CAN  sired.
• 1/50 of the top TPI sires are CAN  sired
• The # 1 CAN  proven and bred sire (Topside) only ranks #42 for LPI worldwide.

The world has changed.  Previously most world  markets came to Canada to buy their seed stock.  Today  the proof is in the pudding. Countries that began by using our genetics are getting results that are as good or better than ours are.

Not only  has there  been a shift in   the top sires from around the world reside, it is  interesting to note that the following countries all have sires higher on the MACE LPI list than the top Canadian bred and proven bull

• USA x 25
• GREAT BRITAIN  x3
• GERMANY  x2
• NETHERLANDS x2
• JAPAN  x2
• ITALY  x 1
• DENMARK X 1
• HUNGARY x 1
• FRANCE  x1

While it’s understandable to see the US dominating this list, it’s also interesting to note the countries like Great Britain, Japan, Denmark, and Holland all have multiple sires that rank higher than Canada on the MACE LPI list.

In 21^st Century cattle breeding, genomics is  increasing the accuracy of MACE conversions and the  global marketplace has the tools to share and compare the results accurately. Canadian breeders can no longer discredit top international sires as not being good enough to use in their breeding programs. Planet’s recent domination of the top LPI cow list and the fact that only five of the top fifty cows are Canadian sired, demonstrates that even Canadians are using international bulls.

So what does this mean?  Does it mean that Canadian breeders are not as good as the ones in other countries?  I think it’s more evidence that much like other industries the world has become flat.  (Don’t tell Christopher Columbus).  In the same way that  the internet and global sourcing of products have changed other industries, the internet and Genomics  have changed the Holstein breeding industry.

It no longer matters weather you are looking at TPI, LPI PLI or net merit you no longer need to look at country of origin but rather a world list.  With top genetics coming from many countries, it’s no longer about what countries dominate the list but rather what breeding programs produce the chart toppers. In the same way that  companies like Apple, Microsoft and Wal-Mart have expanded, many herds or rather breeding programs will become bigger than their country of origin.  They will become global entities.  Look at how Semex is no longer just Canadian genetics, or ABS is no longer just US.  They are global organizations with global programs.

Finally, , look at the way  herds like Morsan, Gillette, and De-Su among others, now have global sales representatives and are multinational breeding organizations. More and more herds are getting dedicated marketing and sales staff whose sole job is the international promotion of their genetics.

The world is changing at a very rapid pace, and if you try to rest on your laurels too long, the world will simply    pass you buy.  Now is not the time to say, “Hey we  are Canada and, therefore, we are amazing!”  Instead it’s time to say, “We are Canada and look how we are using our know-how to take breeding to the next level, no matter what the source or country of origin of our Holstein Genetics” Our systems of evaluation are world class.  We can trust them to give us the information Canadian breeders need to be leaders of the pack.