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The hosts discuss a listener question about what drives value in a seedstock operation versus what customers value, using AI sire selection and customer demands as examples. They emphasize prioritizing phenotype (especially feet), maternal function, usable pedigrees, and avoiding EPD “train wrecks,” while arguing value should come from matching cows to environment and market, especially under widespread U.S. drought and input shortages. They critique how online discourse and association tools like EPDs and genomics can create value swings, accelerate churn, and penalize alternative programs, and they stress longevity and fertility as core value drivers even though they slow “genetic progress.” They also touch on strategic, limited flushing of younger and older proven cows, and briefly promote Vince’s upcoming Shady Brook Angus sale in Tennessee.

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The hosts recap Joe’s trip to producer sales and visits with listeners, plus Korbin’s bull sale where “Stonewall” went viral with millions of views. They discuss what consistency means in cattle, arguing it comes from disciplined culling, tighter calving windows, fewer sires, and focusing on long-term cow performance, while marketing and high-dollar donors can discourage needed culling. They also answer a listener question on becoming proficient at artificial insemination by breeding more cows, practicing on commercial females first, involving additional trained help, and learning from preg-check results.

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The hosts recap a previous episode featuring their wives, share farm stories including Amy rescuing a groundhog and a phone surviving a fall into a dry ice/methanol cooler during freeze branding, and then discuss the American Angus Pathfinder program and its criteria. They debate the value of Pathfinder designations, noting how small contemporary groups, herd management differences, and ET calves can cause strong cows to miss recognition, and they emphasize the need for context and reputable data submission. The conversation shifts to bull sale season and a lengthy debate about paper catalogs versus online catalogs, marketing waste, and the importance of maintaining accurate customer mailing lists, before closing with mentions of Korbin’s upcoming sale, CCi.live streaming, and ear tag branding ideas.