DairyTalk 202: Beyond the Index - Aligning Breeding with Milk Market Reality - by Helmut Demmelhuber

The same genetics can deliver completely different financial
results - depending on how your milk is priced. This episode
explores why many breeding programs fail not because of poor
genetics, but because they are misaligned with processor payment
systems. Using a simple three-gear framework - genetics, market,
and management - we show how chasing volume can destroy margins
in component-driven markets. The discussion also covers modern
trade-offs, from inbreeding and genetic concentration to robotic
compatibility and calving ease. The key message: profitable
breeding starts with understanding how you get paid for milk.
With comments on a "The Bullvine"-article (December 21th, 2025)
by Andrew Hunt: https://www.thebullvine.com