DairyTalk 661: Bigger Cows, Bigger Feed Bills: Why More Stature Doesn't Mean More Profit - by Helmut Demmelhuber

DairyTalk by Helmut Demmelhuber · Sep 17, 2026 · 21m

This podcast episode is based on a technical article from The Bullvine examining the economics of body size and feed efficiency in modern Holstein breeding. The central question is whether selecting for larger cows has actually improved profitability or simply created animals with greater maintenance requirements and higher feed costs. Changes to U.S. selection tools, including greater emphasis on Feed Saved and penalties for excessive stature, signal a shift toward more moderate and biologically efficient cows. This puts greater importance on using genetic feed-efficiency information when…