The Numbers

Update for Minnesota DHIA Leaders

May 2002

Meters

You may recall that Tru-Test, manufacturers of the meters we use, discontinued making plastic and metal parts for the 68 and 102 pound meters a couple of years ago. Our current inventory of new parts for the triggers (necessary to keep meters level and reading accurately) will last us through an average summer of repairs.

Unless some associations purchase more 110-pound meters, this will be the last year that triggers on the older 102 and 68-pound meters will be able to be repaired.

We have received volume pricing from Tru-Test on the purchase of new meters. Our volume price on meters ordered by this May 15 is $225 per meter. This price includes one extra flask for every 2 meters ordered (order 10 meters and get 15 flasks). Note that the average price to repair and recalibrate an old meter is about $30. Buying a new meter really costs under $200 when factoring in that you will not have to repair and recalibrate the old one. Current price for a new 110# meter is $320.

Delivery of the new meters is projected for mid July.

Nearly half of the meters in our system are now the 110-pound meters. These meters use less vacuum and have less foam in the flask. The pipe clamp system is different, with less need of repair.

Please call Gary or Joyce at 800-827-3442 with questions or to place an order.

Field Rep Conferences

We wrapped those up last week. We did some computer work:

looked at customizing Vet List
first look at using Vet Enter for events instead of Barn Notes (more complete data with less entry, and no pick list required – selection is automatic)
looked at 21 day analysis in bredsum (see ads by ABS and Monsanto featuring DC305 bredsum 21 day analysis)
teased them with some windows features
Reviewed sold cow reports for the year, removed youngstock lists for 2 years, and the all youngstock born in the last year report (includes bulls). These will likely make the list again next fall, when the topics are timely

In addition to Biosecurity, we also discussed:

crossbreeding
tests per herd (we gave them name tags with average tests per herd, let them wear them all day, then explained the numbers at the end)
New Uniform Operating Procedures
Eartag and software sales
SCC and Repro trends
ATA problems with sires
Maternal Grand Sires – filling in those missing from USDA and ATA data, and fixing Scouts with no "mapping" that moves cow sire to calf maternal grand sire

Field Reps missing were Harley Bork and Doug Bruender. Leaving very early was Deb Imdieke. All will need to make up the conference per Quality Certification Services Regulations and Minnesota DHIA policy. We expect local support and cooperation in this endeavor. We did have a Saturday Conference for those with other jobs.

The Numbers

We finished April with just over 298,400 cows tested in 3,367 herds. That is an increase of about 1000 cows and a decrease of 875 herds since I became manager in 1998. We now employ 105 Field Reps compared to 128 at that time. The average Field Rep tests 32 herds and 2,842 cows. We do expect several Field Rep retirements during this year. We encourage locals to first look at sharing equipment and field reps, before looking to hire a new Field Rep. There is tremendous overhead expense to starting a new employee; 3 weeks of on-farm training on average, 3 days of school in Buffalo, plus computer, printer, modem, and meters that would not be necessary if you did not replace retiring field reps. In addition, spreading existing herds to current Field Reps helps keep them on the job, and supports that overhead among more herds.

95.2% of herds on DHIA tested in April. The first 4 months of 2002 show a higher percent of DHIA herds testing than during the past 3 years.

There were 19 new herds started in April. That is the highest number since January of 2000, when we started our free test giveaway.

There are currently 522 on-farm software users of Dairy Comp 305 and Scout. That means a little more than 1 of every 6 DHIA customers uses our software.

Due to healthy eartag and software sales, and the increase in numbers of tests per herd, we are off to a good start for 2002.

224 people attended the 30 software user meetings we held around Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Notes

We are working to develop a paperless option for those with email service. We expect the system would enable us to email reports to you in a format you could read and print on your own computer. This would save you time, and save us postage. This is our summer project, with a goal of being ready for general distribution by fall.

Eartag sales have been picking up. We have averaged over 2000 tags per month sold so far this year. Fearing button tags are one of our top sellers. These tags have the American ID on them, and those who have used them for a couple of years report good retention rates. It is pretty important the tag be in the ear 2 years after you put it there, and it is nice if you can read it without a flashlight and a cooperative heifer. The button tag fills both bills. The other very popular tag is the Z Tag. This company boasts high tag retention (and has been replacing the few lost tags for free). Most of these we sell are larger plastic tags with American ID, your management number, and a whole host of other options as well. This tags fits your need for a management number and the industry need for an American ID number – all on the same tag. Z tags were recommended to us by dairy farmers at district meetings a few years ago and seem to be very popular for good reason. It is important to note that one animal should never be tagged with tags with different American ID numbers, so all of our tags are available in duplicate. This also makes great sense for tracking – you only have one number to record or look up.