DairyTalk 384: Breeding Goals Under Pressure: Why Traditional Indexes Miss Market Signals - by Helmut Demmelhuber

This episode builds on a technical analysis of the growing
mismatch between genetic breeding objectives and current milk
market signals. The article highlights how pricing structures
have shifted in favor of protein, exposing farms focused on
butterfat to significant revenue losses. It examines the lag in
widely used breeding indexes, which often fail to capture rapid
market changes in time. Given the biological delay inherent in
genetic progress, today’s breeding decisions have long-term
economic consequences. The discussion emphasizes the need to
realign selection strategies and on-farm metrics with
protein-driven market demand, particularly in cheese-oriented
supply chains. With comments on a "The Bullvine"-article (April
12th, 2026) by Andrew Hunt: https://www.thebullvine.com