The Bullvine
Business & Finance
About
Welcome to the official podcast of The Bullvine , where we dive deep into the world of dairy farming and the people behind the scenes. Each episode is crafted to serve your passion for dairy excellence, bringing you the latest updates, expert interviews, and inspiring success stories from the industry. Whether you're a seasoned farmer, a genetics enthusiast, or simply curious about the dairy sector, our podcast promises to keep you informed and engaged with its firsthand knowledge and relevant insights. Join us in revolutionizing dairy farming, one story at a time!
Episodes
- E555 The $221,760 Corridor Trap Hitting 600‑Cow Upper Midwest Dairies in 2026
This episode details a 2026 financial crisis for a 600-cow dairy, revealing a $221,760 deficit. It examines how milk check realities diverged from financial projections, the impact of FMMO rule changes, and the critical questions dairy own…
- R554 Roxy, Dellia and The Mothers Who Built the Breed
This episode from The Bullvine podcast discusses the history of 10 influential Holstein cows that shaped the modern breed. It examines their impact on genetics and the dairy industry, highlighting their lasting legacies from 1968 to the pr…
- E553 Why Your Show Heifer Development Program Starts in the Maternity Pen, Not the Fitting Chute: The 28% IgG Gap That Decides the Class
This episode of The Bullvine Podcast, E553, focuses on show heifer development, emphasizing the critical role of the maternity pen. It explains how a 28% IgG gap due to delayed colostrum feeding impacts a heifer's disease protection, a dec…
- E552 The $28,614 Tenth: Why Upper Midwest Protein Is Now Worth More Than Fat
Dairy markets have seen protein surpass butterfat in value for the first time in a decade, with significant financial implications for dairy operations. This shift affects sire selection, feed rations, and capital investments, as detailed…
- E551 The 52-Point Gap Hiding in Every Jersey Sire Catalog in Canada
This episode of The Bullvine Podcast, E551, analyzes a 52-point discrepancy in Canadian Jersey sire catalogs, revealing that top sires average below breed average for reproduction index. It discusses how milkability, conformation, and A2A2…
- E550 How Albert Cormier Rewrote the Rules of Global Holstein Business – and Made the Whole Industry Catch Up
This episode details the career of Albert Cormier, a Canadian Holstein businessman who challenged industry norms. It covers his ability to spot talent in livestock, his innovative approach to genetics, and his lasting impact on the dairy i…
- E549 $3,110 In, $1,100 Out: The Cull Trap Holding 470,000 U.S. Dairy Cows – CPI Hits 68
The Bullvine Podcast episode E549 discusses the economic factors preventing dairy farmers from culling cows, with replacement costs significantly outweighing cull values. It introduces the Bullvine Culling Pressure Index (CPI), currently a…
- E548 72 Milk Pans, Fired Quidlings, 24% Returns: Abigail Adams, America’s First Dairy CFO
This episode explores Abigail Adams's financial acumen, detailing how she managed the Adams family farm and investments, achieving up to 24% returns on government notes while navigating coverture laws. The episode highlights her role as a…
- E547 $43 a Test, $160M for the Lab: Why Select Sires and ABS Are Quiet on the GeneSeek Close
This episode discusses the implications of Zoetis
- E546 The $6,600 6‑Week Weaning ‘Savings’ Trap: Why It Can Mean an $11,000 BRD and Calving Bill on a 300‑Cow Dairy
This episode analyzes a 300-cow dairy's miscalculation of savings from 6-week weaning. The actual costs associated with Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) and delayed first calving significantly outweighed the perceived savings, leading to a…
- E545 Stud Wars April 2026 — The Empire Strikes Back
This episode analyzes the April 2026 dairy genetics rankings, highlighting STgenetics' high ranking concentration versus market share, the impact of Holstein USA's TPI formula change, and the implications of the potential Select Sires + ST…
- E544 490 PA Dairies Gone in 2025. Two Spent $40,500 to Not Be Next.
Pennsylvania saw 490 dairies close in 2025. Two farms each spent $40,500 on dairy herd manager apprenticeships, a strategy that proved more cost-effective than other options. The episode details the financial implications of herd manager t…
- E543 The Economic Reality of Pellet-Free Robotic Milking. A Retrofit Barn Could Lose $71K Trying.
This episode analyzes the economic implications of pellet-free robotic milking, highlighting that while Double Creek Dairy saved $171,000 annually, a 240-cow retrofit barn could face losses of $44,000 to $71,000 in the first year. It discu…
- E542 Gene-Edited Cows Are Legal. Your 2029 Milk Cheque Isn’t Safe.
The Bullvine Podcast discusses the implications of FDA and Health Canada approving gene-edited livestock, focusing on SLICK Holsteins. The episode explains how this permanent genetic trait affects dairy producers, impacting milk pricing an…
- E541 The New FMMO Rule Costs a 500-Cow Dairy $97,750 a Year – Before a Mile of Freight
The new FMMO rule imposes significant annual costs on dairies, potentially costing a 500-cow operation over $97,000 before freight. This episode examines the rule's impact on milk hauling costs, profit margins, and discusses potential stra…
- E540 Holstein Canada’s Governance Rewrite Passed. 0.8% of Members Voted.
Episode E540 of The Bullvine discusses the recent governance rewrite by Holstein Canada, where 0.8% of members voted on by-law changes. The episode details four significant clauses passed with limited debate, including changes to member re…
- E539 Your Handshake Succession Plan Is Worth $31,700. Ask the Metskes.
The Metske v. Metske case demonstrates the pitfalls of handshake succession plans, with a court reducing an award from $405,000 to $31,700. This episode details the ruling, emphasizing the need for formal legal documents like deeds, buy-se…
- E538 Quebec Spring Holstein Show 2026
The Quebec Spring Holstein Show 2026 featured a Grand Champion with a notable pedigree. The episode details the successes of various farms, including Ferme Jacobs' championship wins, Pierre Boulet's consistent performance, and Ferme Fortal…
- E537 $368 Insurance, −$1,830 from Farming: What Actually Keeps One Iowa Dairy Alive
This episode analyzes USDA data showing median farm household losses, highlighting how essential off-farm spousal income and employer-sponsored health insurance are for dairy farm survival. It breaks down the financial realities and explor…
- E536 How a $286 Milk Replacer Shortcut Cost One 600‑Cow Herd $30,000 in Future Milk
This episode details how a 600-cow Wisconsin herd experienced over $30,000 in future milk losses due to switching to a cheaper plant-protein milk replacer. Research from Cornell and Iowa State highlights the impact of preweaning average da…
- E535 The $585‑Per‑Service Beef‑on‑Dairy Trap: What a 500‑Cow Herd Reveals About Your Replacement Pipeline
This episode of The Bullvine examines the financial implications of beef-on-dairy breeding, highlighting a $585 per service cost and a $1,580 breakeven calf price. It details the declining heifer supply for 2027 and provides strategies to…
- E534 The Hidden Gene Behind a Supreme Champion: Sir Inka May, Carnation, and the Rise of Red & White Holsteins
This episode details the story of Sir Inka May, a bull whose hidden red gene became foundational to Red & White Holsteins. It covers his purchase, his progeny, his influence through key Holstein sires, and the breed
- 533 Darigold’s $4/cwt Deduction. Idaho’s Five-Processor Bidding War. The Map That Shows Which Side You’re On.
This episode of The Bullvine analyzes the impact of dairy processor consolidation and co-op deductions on farmers, detailing how reduced competition and changes in make-allowance calculations affect producer margins. It contrasts regional…
- E532 Powerhouse Up 119, Rozline Down 626: The April 2026 Holstein Proof Reset on Your Sire List
The April 2026 Holstein USA proof reset, with a formula change emphasizing protein, has significantly altered sire rankings. This episode discusses the impact on bulls like Powerhouse and Garza, the new genomic top 10, and offers a strateg…
- E531 $7,700 Saved, $156,600 Lost: The Beef-on-Dairy Trap CoBank Warned You About
This episode of The Bullvine Podcast analyzes three beef-on-dairy strategies, highlighting how sire selection and calf management impact profitability, with potential annual differences of $156,600 per 500-cow herd.
- E530 From 65 Cows to 10,000, the Bull Nobody Wanted, and an Economist Who Tells It Straight: WDE Names Its 2026 Award Winners
World Dairy Expo
- E529 The Importers: Cows Shot, Mansions Burned, Pedigrees Built
This episode details the efforts of 19th-century importers who brought Dutch cattle to North America, facing challenges like disease and establishing foundational bloodlines still present in dairy pedigrees today.
- E528 TPI 2026’s $17,500 Protein Trap: Breeding Holsteins for a Protein Market That Doesn’t Exist
This episode examines TPI 2026's genetic formula, highlighting how its emphasis on protein may lead Holstein breeders to lose significant revenue if they don't align with actual market prices for fat and protein. It contrasts this with str…
- E527 Galicia’s Farmers Tracked 12 Portuguese Tankers a Day Into a €14 Million Subsidized Plant. Then They Dumped 15,000 Litres on the Pavement.
Galician farmers protested the Inleit scandal, where subsidized local plants imported cheaper Portuguese milk, leading to a 15% contract squeeze. The episode examines the financial impact on farms, the failure of Spanish Food Chain Law, an…
- E526 The New York Spring Dairy Carousel 2026
This episode of The Bullvine Podcast covers the 2026 New York Spring Dairy Carousel, detailing the show cows, cow families, and results from five different breed shows. It analyzes the implications of the results for dairy farmers, genetic…
- E525 $60,000 an Acre: A Fortune 50 AI Company Offered the Huddlestons $26 Million for Their Kentucky Farm. They Refused.
This episode examines the case of Ida Huddleston and Delsia Bare, who rejected a $26 million offer from a Fortune 50 AI company for their 534-acre Kentucky farm. The discussion covers land valuation, the impact of AI-driven development, an…
- E524 Why Greg Bethard Passed on Private Equity — and the $6,638‑Per‑Cow Debt Line Behind That Call
This episode of The Bullvine, E524, features Greg Bethard and other dairy operators discussing their decisions to forgo private equity. It analyzes the critical role of debt per cow, contrasting different ownership structures and providing…
- E523 The Henschels Dumped $38,664 of Milk After a Blizzard. The Federal Safety Net Paid $0.
This episode discusses the Henschel family's milk loss during a 2026 blizzard, where they dumped milk due to transport issues and received no federal aid. It analyzes USDA programs, calculates the financial impact of transport shutdowns, a…
- E522 The $586‑Per‑Kilo Dairy Quota Trap: Why New Ontario Quota at 6% Bleeds Cash Every Year
The Bullvine Podcast, E522, reveals how Ontario dairy quota, despite being seen as a stable asset, is financially draining. With a price cap and 6% interest rates, newly financed quota results in significant annual cash flow losses, affect…
- E521 The $0.93 FMMO Hit: 3 Questions to Protect Your 2026 Milk Cheque
This episode analyzes the financial impact of FMMO modernization on U.S. dairy farms, detailing how policy changes have reduced revenue. It introduces a three-question filter to help farmers evaluate policy information and discusses the im…
- E520 The Golden Age of the Holstein: Farmer‑Bred Sires Who Built the Genomic Era
This episode explores the transition in Holstein breeding towards farmer-bred sires, showcasing bulls like Mountain, Durham, Goldwyn, O-Man, and Shottle-Rudolph who significantly impacted the breed's genetic future.
- E519 $1,000,000 Banners, $0 Judge Accountability: The Show Ring Gap Nobody Wants to Talk About
This episode of The Bullvine analyzes the significant financial value tied to dairy show wins, highlighting the gap between exhibitor ethics and judge accountability. It questions the long-term value of investments in a system influenced b…
- E518 Jeremy Hill: The Scientist Who Became Dairy’s Fiercest Champion
Jeremy Hill, a scientist who pivoted from medical research to dairy, champions milk
- E517 The $1,700 Longevity Paradox: How Peter Smith Cut Culling 23% and Put $140K Back in His Dairy
This episode discusses Peter Smith's dairy management strategy, which reduced culling rates by 23% through biofilm-disrupting protocols, leading to increased lifetime profit per cow. It highlights the economic benefits of cow longevity, ch…
- E516 CAPTAIN Gained 369 TPI Points. HOMECOMING Lost 414. Inside the 59% Failure Rate of April 2020’s Top Genomic Sires
This episode analyzes the performance of 401 genomic bulls from April 2020, highlighting a 59% failure rate among elite sires. It details how factors like TPI volatility, base changes, and formula shifts impacted bull performance, with Gen…
- E515 Pennsylvania to Texas: Fine Checks, Fading Herds – 2026’s 19.70 Kill Zone
This episode analyzes the U.S. dairy industry
- E514 How Seven Franchise Cows: Roxy, Dellia, Blackrose, and Four Others Built Modern Holstein – One Daughter at a Time
This episode explores seven
- E513 140M Pounds in 45‑Inch Stalls: Why +Stature Sires Don’t Always Pay
This episode discusses how increased Holstein cow size due to genetic selection has created a mismatch with standard 45-inch freestalls, leading to significant milk production losses. It highlights real-world examples and data demonstratin…
- E512 From 35 Cows to a WDE Grand Champion: 4 Breeders Using Sales, Embryos & Presentation to Make Registered Holsteins Pay
This episode features four Holstein breeders who discuss strategies for profitability in registered cattle, including sales, embryo marketing, and presentation. Their experiences range from small family farms to large operations, offering…
- E511 Canada’s 20 Most-Used Holstein Sires: 96th Percentile LPI, Yet Only 31st Percentile Fertility
Episode E511 of The Bullvine Podcast analyzes why Canada's top Holstein sires, despite high LPI scores, exhibit low fertility. The discussion covers Lactanet's subindexes, the economic impact of inbreeding, and practical strategies for sel…
- E510 The Classifier Behind Eight EX‑97s: Bruno Jubinville’s Lifetime Crusade for Balance
Bruno Jubinville, despite starting with no English, built a remarkable career in dairy classification, eventually managing On-Farm Operations at Holstein Canada. He classified eight of the eleven 97-point cows in Canadian history and champ…
- E509 The 3‑Lactation Trap: Are $3,010 Heifers Pushing You Toward Beef Checks Instead of Five‑Lactation Cows?
This episode examines the economic factors, such as the high cost of replacement heifers and increased use of beef-on-dairy semen, that lead many dairy herds to achieve only three lactations instead of the desired five. It discusses the im…
- E508 5 Backup Bulls Nobody Wanted That Rewrote the Holstein Breed
This episode of The Bullvine explores the "Backup Bull Pattern," highlighting five bulls—Mark, Mtoto, O-Man, Blitz, and Elevation—who were initially overlooked but ultimately transformed the Holstein breed. Their stories illustrate the imp…
- E507 How the Juárez Blockades Froze $1.45 Billion – and Blindsided Your Milk Check
The E507 episode of The Bullvine discusses how the 2025 Juárez blockades, which stranded 38,000 trucks and froze $1.45 billion in exports, significantly impacted U.S. dairy producers. It argues that ignoring corridor risks, like those at t…
- E506 Emily Miller-Cushon’s Physics-to-Dairy Pivot: Pair Housing’s 130g/Day Gain Edge and $3,300/Heifer Savings
Emily Miller-Cushon’s research, transitioning from physics to dairy science, demonstrates that pair-housed heifers gain 130g/day more and can save dairies up to $9,900 annually by reducing replacement inventory costs. Her study indicates b…