About this episode

The episode discusses the data systems and technological advancements driving progress in dairy genetics with guest Nate Zwald.

The dairy industry has made more genetic progress in the last 15 years than at any other point in history. But most people don’t fully understand what’s actually driving it. In this episode of the AgCulture Podcast, Paul sits down with Nate Zwald — President of Progenco and former President & COO of ABS Global — for a deep dive into the data infrastructure, genomic revolution, and technological shifts transforming dairy genetics. Nate shares stories from growing up on Bomaz Farms, explains how genomic testing changed the industry forever, and unpacks why the future of dairy genetics may depend less on semen companies… and more on who controls the data. The conversation explores the growing importance of phenotypic data, the decline of traditional DHIA systems, the rise of robotic milking data, and how artificial intelligence could fundamentally reshape animal breeding over the next decade. This is one of the most important conversations we’ve had yet about the intersection of genetics, AI, data ownership, and the future structure of livestock agriculture. MEET THE GUEST Nate Zwald is President of Progenco and one of the most experienced leaders in modern dairy genetics. Over…

People in this episode

Host: Paul Windemuller

Guest: Nate Zwald

Topics covered

• dairy genetics
• data infrastructure
• genomic revolution
• artificial intelligence
• animal breeding
• phenotypic data

Keywords

• dairy industry
• genomic testing
• data ownership
• robotic milking
• breeding systems
• AI in agriculture

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Progenco, ABS Global, Alta Genetics

Places: Bomaz Farms

More episodes of AgCulture Podcast

• Can Brazil Become a Dairy Superpower?: with Marcelo Pereira de Carvalho | Ep. 126 · June 3, 2026 · 21 min
• Traceability, risk, and the global beef market: with Jaclyn Wilson | Ep. 124 · May 20, 2026 · 38 min
• Competing with the Giants: Building a Different Kind of Seed Company: with Bob Miller | Ep. 123 · May 14, 2026 · 39 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the AgCulture Podcast podcast page.