Minnesota DHIA News

A PUBLICATION OF MINNESOTA DHIA                                                   Volume 7, Issue  10                                                             October 2007

Benefits of Monthly DHIA tests

Most DHIA customers test every month, and most Field Reps offer to test herds on a regular basis each month.  Some of the consultants who work with your DHIA data with have offered us their opinions on why it is important to have regular monthly tests.  Here is some of what they shared with us:

The number one reason to test every month is Milk Quality.  I need to review new infections each month, current versus last SCC, high SCC cows, etc.  Then I like to track trends and am able to make a change before we reach a critical point.  The bottom line is if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it!  Dr. Gary Neubauer of Pfizer Animal Health in New Ulm

Testing within the first 30 days after a cow freshens is critical for monitoring early lactation SCC,  and comparing it to the SCC at dryoff.  Monitor high fat tests on those fresh cows for ketotic cows.  Russ Fischer of Klaphake Feed Mill in Melrose

Monthly tests are important because I look at the last 12 months worth of Monitor data to get an overall impression of the herd.  Then I look at first and second test 305 projections on heifers and cows to evaluate how fresh cows are doing and determine if we have made the right changes.  Dr Cheryl Kraft of Alexandria Vet Clinic

We need monthly DHIA tests to help make timely management decisions, catch problems rapidly, and determine if management changes have been successful.  To me, the most valuable information is SCC data.  How many new infections?  What is the New Infection Rate on fresh cows?  What is that fresh cow doing?  What is my current preg rate, and how is repro changing?  Without monthly tests, we’ll miss valuable data, especially on those fresh cows.  Jim Salfer, Regional Extension Educator from St. Cloud

For sure, if a herd manager expects to make progress in milk quality, they will be severely handicapped without monthly individual cow SCC results.  Dr. Jeff Reneau of the University of Minnesota

If you are not currently testing every month, visit with your Field Rep on your next test to make those arrangements.

Milk production as measured by Rolling Herd Averages are impacted by the number of times a herd tests. 

· Herds testing 8 or 9 times in the last year are averaging 19,436 pounds per cow per year.

· Herds testing 10 times in the last year are averaging 19,782 pounds of milk per cow per year

· Herds testing 11 times in the last year are averaging 20,842 pounds of milk per cow per year

· Herds testing 12 or more times are averaging 21,199 pounds of milk per cow per year

Managers utilizing DHIA more often gain about 440 pounds of milk per cow per additional test, or a gain in milk worth about $66 per cow per additional test at $15 milk. 

Do good managers test more often or does testing more often improve management performance?

Farm Safety Quiz:

A rolling bale has the same momentum as a subcompact car traveling at the same speed True False

Answer on next page

In order to be published in the year-end Annual Summary for Minnesota DHIA, herds must have 11 tests in calendar year 2007, and must have selected the publicity option.  To check, look at the lower left corner of your herd summary report.  It will say either “Publication” or “No Record Publication”.  To change your option, talk to your Field Rep on sample day.

DHIA Service Reminders

1. All but about 2 dozen Minnesota DHIA herds are now processing your data at Dairy Records Management Systems (DRMS).  Thanks to the Field Reps and customers for your patience during the conversion.

2. All reports are optional on each sample day.

3. All herds should be offered monthly tests (12 per year) as a service standard – 56% of MnDHIA herds have 12 tests in the last 365 days, and we are now supplying twice a month service to one dairy.  One large dairy is testing the fresh cow group more frequently.

4. Herds may ask for a special test at any time, for example you can have a test any time to help evaluate SCC. 

5. Individual cow mastitis culturing services are available to all farms.  If your regular field rep is not trained in this area, we will supply one who is, for this special sampling.

6. Milk ELISA Johne’s testing is up and running, with about 2,000 cows per month being tested using the DHIA milk samples.

7. Computers should accompany Field Reps to farms, with printed reports available on the farm on sample day (this does happen on nearly all farms – if it isn’t happening on yours – it is an exception).  Most popular reports are “Sample Day Downby Milk”, Action Lists (why wait until the mail comes with the same information?), Reproduction Report, and Youngstock Reports.  Some Field Reps leave the “Monitor” which tracks and compares data over a year.

8. Meters and other equipment should be clean and sanitary when delivered and when it leaves your farm.  Field personnel should wear rubber footwear and should clean and sanitize the footwear before leaving your farm.  If you have any concerns on cleanliness, please visit with your Field Rep on sample day or call MNDHIA at 1.800.827.3442. 

9. DHIA offers a variety of management eartags for sale.  We offer both Al Flex and Destron-Fearing.  The most popular tags are the large and extra large pre-numbered tags with management numbers on them.  We are also selling a lot of the button tags with the official ID on them, and the button RFID tags.  You can order tags or check prices with your field rep on sample day or by calling MNDHIA.

"Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish." --Albert Einstein

Cows for Sale: 

For information on listing your cows, please contact Nancy at 1.800.827.3442, ext. 13, or email nancyz@mndhia.org

Information on the Internet is subject to the same rules and regulations as conversation at a bar.  ~George Lundberg

A rolling bale has the same momentum as a subcompact car traveling at the same speed: True
Never try to stop a rolling bale, even with a tractor. A bale gains momentum as it moves. You wouldn't try to stop a car free-wheeling down a hill, likewise, don't try to stop a large round bale.

September Quality Leaders

Herd Owner	SCC	Cows	Herd Owner	SCC	Cows
DAN AND JOLENE SCHLANGEN	36	68	GARY P LIESER	105	55
SCHEFERS BROS	39	77	LIESER DAIRY	105	78
ROLLING W ACRES	44	27	DUANE J DEUTSCH	105	35
DAVID SCHUUR	48	56	FJEL-MAR DAIRY	106	182
HABERER HILL DAIRY	51	23	PAUL & MARY ZIMMERMAN	107	62
DAIN MOLDAN	52	37	SAPA SKA FARM INC	107	83
GEHL ACRES	56	82	MARSHALL KORN	107	77
MARK KLEHR	57	54	ROBERT + FAWN STAUB	108	30
CURT + JACKIE BEKIUS	58	76	SONNEK FARMS	108	71
HAPPKE HOLSTEIN FARM	63	69	DAVID POPOWSKI	108	137
JEFF MILLER	64	61	STEVE TRISCO	108	55
JASON + NANCY BACHMANN	64	34	DEAN FRISLE	109	69
JOHN+MARY RADEMACHER	67	113	DAN + MARY HOPFER	109	97
LARRY AND DIANNA BRAEM	68	40	JON WINTER	110	39
STANLEY MARTIN	70	33	PINESTREAM DAIRY ED POPP	110	98
MIKE HENDRICKX	71	38	STEVE+KERRY HOFFMAN	111	101
GERALD+LISA BURG	71	43	GILMAN HALBAKKEN	112	88
MAYNARD SCHUMACHER	71	49	RANDY SCHROHT	112	85
KEVIN & SHEILA THARALDSON	77	57	OAT HILL DAIRY	113	82
KEVIN & CHERYL KRUIZENGA	78	70	JASON SMELTER	114	57
KARA-KESH HOLSTEINS	80	3	VON WAHLDE DAIRY INC.	115	96
ROBERT SLATER	80	30	ACKERMAN FARMS	115	108
JULIAN + DAVID SJOSTROM	80	54	WILL TACHIBANA DAIRY	115	38
ROBERT MILLER	81	64	ROLLING SPUR CATTLE CO.	115	1286
PETERM&LYNN HENDRICKSON	81	67	DANNA LALIBERTE	115	11
RKB DAIRY	82	89	MARSHLAND FARMS	115	108
DARAN AND CHRISTY BORTH	82	68	JEFF BLENKER	116	48
JOHN ROBERS	84	20	D & J  DAIRY	117	102
JERON NATHE	85	232	CHARLRS NIENABER	117	70
KIDMAN DAIRY	85	104	JOEL & NICOLE GROSS	119	45
DONALD + DARLENE MATROS	86	72	TOM FUECHTMANN	120	102
BOB & TERRI KETCHUM	87	122	CHARLES-TERRY RUECHEL	120	90
MARVIN & JAN SUCHY	87	53	REUBEN AND JANICE STOMMES	121	65
DEVOINE KRUSE	88	139	DAVID HALLBERG&STEPH LARS	121	55
JAMES AND PAUL GREGORY	91	99	MIKE & PAT BERNECKER	121	55
SCHOSSOW DAIRY	91	58	PAGE DAIRY	121	49
WINTER VIEW HOLSTEIN'S	91	39