DHIA Annual Summary in Dairy Star

Minnesota DHIA is pleased to announce that the Dairy Star will be printing our year-end data as a part of their publication. We made this decision because shrinking herd numbers have caused us to look at new ways of providing information. The Annual Summary has required significant staff time to prepare the data, sell advertising, and assemble the publication. Working with the Dairy Star enables our staff to concentrate on the business of DHIA service, and let those active in publishing and advertising do what they do best.

The Board of Directors selected the Dairy Star because of its wide circulation (all Minnesota dairies and expanded service to neighboring dairies) and growing reputation for being the source for dairy news in the region.

Over the last 6 years, Minnesota DHIA has lost just over 200 herds per year, in a level trend line. Meanwhile, our percentage of herds on DHIA continues to increase. We still have 3,000 customers, well over half of the Minnesota dairies. We have expanded into neighboring territories, with 180 of our customers farming in Wisconsin. At the same time, 2003 was a banner year for new customers to join DHIA in Minnesota, with the 141 new DHIA members at year-end, setting a new high for the last 5 years.

Year-end DHIA data chronicles remarkable production and quality that are the result of hard and smart work on the part of dairy producers, and in some cases, good advice from their consultants. It is our pleasure to share this data with all dairy producers and subscribers. Because of the volume of data, Dairy Star will spread the data out over 6-7 issues.

We will continue to send data to local associations and breed organizations as in past years. Summary information can be found on our website, www.mndhia.org.

We thank the 90 DHIA Field Representatives, four milk labs, and two data processing centers that it is our privilege to work with for their dedication and cooperation in collecting and assembling the data. We also humbly thank the 3000 dairy producers that invite us to your farms each month to chronicle production, health, and reproductive information for use in on-farm management of your dairy herds.

Please note that some DHIA members have selected the "No Publicity" option, and their data will not be presented here or in data sent to local associations or breed groups.

Theodore Roosevelt once said that the best that life can offer is to work hard at work worth doing. That is a blessing that the people of DHIA share with our customers.

Included in this message is the popular DHIA Scorecard containing averages for the end of 2003. Refer to your latest herd summary report to fill in the blanks in the far right column. Use a highlighter to draw a vertical line down the column that most closely matches your rolling herd average for milk. Place an X next to the data in each line that comes closest to the value for your herd from the right hand column. Once you are done, you have a graph of your management. Items to the left of the vertical line represent areas that may be a problem in your herd. Items with an X on the right of the vertical line are your strengths.

National Mastitis Council Update from Gabe Gieske

The University of Minnesota is offering on-line classes on the use of Dairy Comp 305 software. We have had 16 employees complete the class and they felt it to be a valuable use of their time … and they enjoyed it! Those completing the class were Beth Fox, Tiffany Fuhr, Ron Gruber, Jeri Hansen, Angie Hopp, Keith Jorgenson, Wayne Kozitka, Garth Larson, Jo Pedersen, Jim Sheehan, Joe Drexler, Todd Beaver, and Kris Kimball. Several of our staffers also completed the class. For more information, please go to the U of M website address; www.cvm.umn.edu/Outreach/outreach/events/dairy_comp305

All meetings start with lunch at 11:30, except Stearns which begins at noon, and Wisconsin at 10:30 a.m.. All districts will elect delegates to the Minnesota DHIA Annual Meeting in Zumbrota on Thursday March 25, 2004. Please call Minnesota DHIA with any questions. The phone numbers of each location are listed in case you need to be contacted while attending. District Meetings are open to all members, but local board members are encouraged to attend. Agenda items will be finances, US Animal Identification Plan, services, and organizational structure. Come prepared to share your opinions.

Northwest District - Becker, Beltrami, Clay, Clearwater, Hubbard, Kittson, Lake of The Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Ottertail, Roseau, Wadena, and Wilkin Counties
  Monday March 15 at Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen - Richwood Room. 218.935.2701
     Election of Director & Alternate (Sjostrom retiring)

Milk Quality Top 100 for January 2004 sample days (SCC in 1,000s)

The popular Bulk Tank SCC Report available to on-farm Dairy Comp 305 and Scout users is included in your packet of reports. This report is ranked from high to low based on the SCC contribution to the tank by individual cows. It estimates the economic impact of removing a cow or group of cows from your tank. This is one of many reports that on-farm software users can access to aid in managing their dairies. Average production at year–end shows an advantage of about 2,000 pounds of milk per cow on the Rolling Herd Average for herds using this on-farm software. Winter is our prime time to install and provide training for software use on farms. Call us for more information or a demonstration on your farm using your data.