Feature Articles

• Mystic Valley Dairy: The Secret Behind Their Jaw-Dropping 125-Pound ECM Average
  Wisconsin's Mystic Valley Dairy shatters records with 125 pounds of energy-corrected milk daily. Discover how "doing 100 little things right" creates extraordinary results. E235 Mystic Valley Dairy: The Secret Behind Their | RSS.com Ever wonder what it takes to run a dairy farm where cows produce a staggering 125 pounds of energy-corrected milk daily? I recently had the chance to dive into the world of Mystic Valley Dairy, and let me tell you, what Mitch Breunig has created there is nothing shor […]
• MANURE TO MONEY: How Smart Dairy Farmers Are Turning Waste into Serious Profits
  Dairy farmers are flushing away $15,000 per 100 cows annually. Discover how savvy producers are turning manure into a goldmine through strategic composting. E234 MANURE TO MONEY: How Smart Dairy Farmers Are | RSS.com While your neighbors complain about your farm's smell and regulators circle with new runoff restrictions, you're flushing profits down the drain. That pile of manure you're paying to dispose of? It's worth thousands in untapped revenue. According to data from the University of Wisco […]
• Hanoverhill Starbuck’s DNA Dynasty: The Holstein Legend Bridging 20th-Century Breeding…
  From $2,500 calf to genetic revolution: How one bull's DNA reshaped global dairy farming and still whispers in 83% of Holsteins today. E233 Hanoverhill Starbuck’s DNA Dynasty: The Holst | RSS.com The legendary Hanoverhill Starbuck, pictured here at 5 years old by photographer Jim Rose, stands as a monument to genetic excellence. Measuring an impressive 73½ inches (1.87m) at the shoulder and weighing 2,580 lbs (1,173 kg), his powerful frame supported by what many consider the finest feet and legs […]
• Revolutionary Colostrum Protocol Adding $500 Per Heifer to Your Bottom Line
  Are you discarding liquid gold? Discover how extended colostrum feeding adds $500 per heifer while slashing treatment costs and boosting lifetime milk. E232 Revolutionary Colostrum Protocol Adding $500 | RSS.com Your current calf feeding program may be limiting your profitability by up to $500 per heifer. Discover how leading producers are capitalizing on the untapped potential of extended colostrum feeding. Traditional calf feeding approaches that transition quickly from colostrum to milk repla […]
• 2024 Holstein Canada Master Breeders: Excellence in Balance, Breeding, and Legacy
  19 Canadian dairy farms earn elite 2024 Master Breeder status—discover the secrets behind their balanced breeding success! E230 2024 Holstein Canada Master Breeders: Excelle | RSS.com The Holstein Canada Master Breeder shield represents the pinnacle of achievement in dairy cattle breeding – a symbol of decades dedicated to developing exceptional cattle that balance production, conformation, health, fertility, and longevity. Since 1929, this prestigious award has recognized Canadian breeders who […]
• Dad at 80: How Murray Hunt Revolutionized Canadian Dairy Genetics
  At 80, Murray Hunt’s dairy genetics innovations still shape global herds—meet the visionary who made science the farmer’s ally. E229 Dad at 80: How Murray Hunt Revolutionized Can | RSS.com My father Murray Hunt at 80: The quiet visionary who transformed Canadian dairy breeding with scientific precision and practical wisdom. Behind those thoughtful eyes lies decades of innovation—from developing the Dollar Difference Formula to revolutionizing Type Classification systems—that helped position Cana […]
• When Faith Meets Farming: Mark Yeazel’s Amazing Journey from Holstein Breeder to Tanza…
  From elite Holstein breeder to Tanzanian missionary: How Mark Yeazel trades show rings for orphan care through dairy farming. E228 When Faith Meets Farming: Mark Yeazel’s Amazi | RSS.com You know what gets me? Stories about dairy farmers who entirely flip the script on their careers. And man, do I have one to tell you about today? Have you heard about Mark Yeazel? This guy spent three decades building one of the country's most influential Holstein breeding programs. He then shocked everyone by s […]
• BLACK HIDE BLINDNESS: Why Breeding Only for Color is Destroying Your Dairy-Beef Profits
  Black hide obsession is costing you thousands. Those cheap Angus straws? Economic suicide. Discover why color alone won't save your beef-on-dairy profits. E227 BLACK HIDE BLINDNESS: Why Breeding Only for C | RSS.com You're riding a fading trend, and your bottom line will pay the price. Since 2017, US beef semen sales have skyrocketed by 6.5 million units, while Holstein semen sales plummeted by 6.3 million units. This massive shift has created a temporary market advantage, but those cheap black- […]
• Stud Wars: April 2025 – The Genetic Force Awakens
  Sexing Tech's 40% NM$ empire vs ABS's 68% polled coup – the dairy genetics galaxy will never be the same. E225 Stud Wars: April 2025 – The Genetic Force Awa | RSS.com The battle for Holstein genetic supremacy rages on in a galaxy not so far away. As we unveil the April 2025 sire share analysis, prepare to embark on an epic journey through the stars of bovine excellence. From the rise of a new empire to the resilience of the Rebel Alliance, our tale is one of innovation, strategy, and the relentl […]
• From Show Ring to Genomic Legacy: The Transformative Impact of Aitkenbrae Starbuck Ada on Ho…
  How one unassuming cow born in rural Ontario revolutionized Holstein genetics worldwide, bridging show ring glamour with genomic science. E222 From Show Ring to Genomic Legacy: The Transfo | RSS.com Do you know what amazes me about the dairy world? How a single cow can change everything. That's exactly what Aitkenbrae Starbuck Ada did. Born in 1986, this remarkable cow didn't just win ribbons—she created an entire dynasty that's still shaping Holstein genetics worldwide. I've always been fascina […]
• Spring Pasture Powerplay: Balancing Grazing Efficiency with Milk Component Goals
  Spring pastures can slash profits—discover how to protect your milk check with innovative grazing strategies. E221 Spring Pasture Powerplay: Balancing Grazing E | RSS.com So, we're heading into that critical time of year again when dairy farmers across the Northern Hemisphere face one of their biggest seasonal challenges. You know what I'm talking about – that tricky transition from winter housing to spring pastures. It's fascinating how about 63% of grazing farms are scrambling to adjust their […]
• Unlocking Dairy Robot Financing: How Smart Farmers Are Funding Their Automated Future
  Losing $500/day without dairy robots? Discover financing hacks boosting milk yields 9% & slashing labor 28%—before your herd falls behind. E220 Unlocking Dairy Robot Financing: How Smart Fa | RSS.com Have you been eyeing those sleek robotic milking systems but can't figure out how to make the numbers work? You're not alone. I've been talking with dairy farmers across the country who wrestle with the same question: How do you justify dropping $200,000+ per robot when the bank's giving you tha […]
• Rising to Excellence: The Remarkable Journey of Cord Hormann and Wilcor Holsteins
  From a 16-cow tie-stall to international glory: How Cord Hormann built Wilcor Holsteins into Germany's elite breeding program through vision and patience. E219 Rising to Excellence: The Remarkable Journey | RSS.com Cord Hormann accepts the prestigious Grand Champion trophy for O Katy at the 51st Schau der Besten in Verden, Germany. This crowning achievement represents years of dedicated breeding work at Wilcor Holsteins, where Cord's philosophy of quality over quantity has produced exceptional r […]
• April 2025 Global Holstein Evaluations: New Leaders Emerge as Genetic Progress Accelerates Worldwide
  Historic US genetic base shift meets global polled revolution in April 2025 Holstein rankings – discover new leaders reshaping dairy genetics. E218 April 2025 Global Holstein Evaluations: New L | RSS.com The April 2025 genetic evaluations for Holstein cattle have arrived, revealing significant movements across major dairy breeding nations. These latest rankings showcase remarkable genetic progress, with several standout performers emerging across genomic and proven categories. Balance remains a […]
• Northeast Spring National Holstein Show 2025
  March 31st, 2025 @ Hamburg, NY E217 Northeast Spring National Holstein Show 2025 | RSS.com The New York Spring Holstein Show, judged by Ryan Krohlow, showcased exceptional dairy cattle across multiple age divisions. The competition featured remarkable depth of quality throughout, with Krohlow consistently emphasizing structural correctness, mobility, dairy character, and mammary system quality in his evaluations. In the heifer classes, Butlerview Farm claimed both Junior Champion and Reserve Jun […]
• When Cows Were Kings: Revisiting Carnation’s Golden Age of Dairy Breeding
  How the 1900s 'contented cows' sparked a dairy revolution: Carnation Farms blended animal welfare with cutting-edge science to create genetics that still shape modern herds. E216 When Cows Were Kings: Revisiting Carnation’s | RSS.com A Pastoral Legacy: Holstein dairy cattle graze peacefully on Carnation Farms’ expansive pastures in Washington’s Snoqualmie Valley, with the farm’s impressive complex of barns and buildings nestled against the forested hillside. This historic image captures the esse […]
• BEEF-ON-DAIRY REVOLUTION: Former Dairy Farmers Finding Gold in the Beef Market Corporate Gia…
  While mega-dairies grabbed headlines, small farmers quietly hijacked beef genetics – creating a stealth revolution corporate giants never saw coming. E214 BEEF-ON-DAIRY REVOLUTION: Former Dairy Farmer | RSS.com The dairy establishment missed it completely. While industry leaders were busy building mega-dairies and multinational processing plants, America's dairy farmers quietly changed the genetic foundation of their industry. In just five years, beef-on-dairy has exploded to 7.9 million semen u […]
• BST Reapproval: The Key to Unlocking Dairy Sustainability
  BST: Dairy’s Controversial Climate Hero? Discover how this taboo tech slashes emissions and boosts efficiency—plus why the industry’s sustainability future hinges on embracing it. E213 BST Reapproval: The Key to Unlocking Dairy Su | RSS.com The future of dairy farming is facing a critical moment. The industry stands at a crossroads between environmental demands and economic survival. Bovine somatotropin (BST), an overlooked solution for decades, could significantly improve sustainability metrics […]
• Round Oak Rag Apple Elevation: The Bull That Changed Everything
  Born from an unlikely mating, one bull revolutionized global dairy breeding with genetics so powerful they still dominate herds 60 years later. E212 Round Oak Rag Apple Elevation: The Bull That | RSS.com Round Oak Rag Apple Elevation (1965-1979), the legendary Holstein sire dubbed “Bull of the Century,” photographed in his prime at Select Sires. This unassuming black and white bull from Virginia transformed global dairy genetics with his exceptional ability to transmit production, conformation, […]
• Cottonseed Showdown: How This Controversial Feed Could Boost Your Milk Check by 15%
  Controversial feed boosts milk checks by 15%? New research reveals how whole cottonseed could be your dairy profit game-changer! E211 Cottonseed Showdown: How This Controversial F | RSS.com Forget what you've heard about cottonseed risks—new research published in the Journal of Dairy Science shows strategic WCS feeding can add $2.50/cow/day through smarter milk component management. We break down the real costs, benefits, and implementation secrets your nutritionist isn’t telling you. The Whole […]