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DairyTalk 190: From Powerful Cows to Narrow Targets - Where Holstein Is Heading - by Helmut Demmelhuber
German Holstein breeding is currently at risk of drifting into a new extreme. While recent selection strategies rightly emphasize health traits and functional efficiency, critics warn that body strength, milk potential, and genetic diversity are being sacrificed in the process. Smaller, highly “efficient” cows may fit certain systems - but they also raise questions about long-term economic resilience and market suitability. This episode explores why breeding progress must remain balanced and why courage for diversity is essential to keep the Holstein breed adaptable for the decades ahead.
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