STtalks #385 - STgenetics® Newest Traits: STurdy & Mature Live Weight with Kevin Ziemba, Jocelyn Johnson & David Kendall

STtalks #385 - STgenetics® Newest Traits: STurdy & Mature Live Weight with Kevin Ziemba, Jocelyn Johnson & David Kendall

From STtalks by STgenetics

April 28, 2026 · 40 min · Season 1 · Episode 385

About this episode

This episode discusses new traits in dairy cattle breeding aimed at improving efficiency and durability.

In this STtalks we discuss how the dairy industry defines and breeds for true efficiency beyond simply reducing cow size. Kevin Ziemba, Jocelyn Johnson and David Kendall join us to introduce two new STgenetics® traits; Mature Live Weight (MLW), built from over 1.8 million robot-recorded body weight records from more than 5,000 Holstein cows, and STurdy, an index combining linear type traits with MLW to identify cows that are wider and more robust relative to height and weight, designed to help producers moderate size while maintaining durability and functionality. This STtalks takes a deep dive into the concept of truly STurdy cows and how selection with these two new traits can achieve athletic, durable and profitable herds.

People in this episode

Guests: Kevin Ziemba, Jocelyn Johnson, David Kendall

Topics covered

  • dairy industry
  • breeding efficiency
  • cow size
  • Mature Live Weight
  • STurdy traits
  • durability
  • profitability

Keywords

  • dairy
  • breeding
  • efficiency
  • Mature Live Weight
  • STurdy
  • Holstein
  • cattle
  • traits

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: STgenetics

Products: Mature Live Weight, STurdy

Places: Holstein

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