A new report that estimates the value of each cow in the herd, relative to an average replacement heifer, is now available to dairymen through Minnesota DHIA.
The Cow Value report is based on several premises:
A dairy cow's current value is the sum of her value for beef and the value of the milk she is likely to produce in the future. The value of her future production is based on:
The Cow Value report is available through your Field Rep. If you have Dairy Comp 305, you can also run the report yourself at any time. Information needed to generate this report includes: Heat detection and conception rates, Replacement Heifer costs, Cull cow value, Milk price, Feed costs, Culling rates and Average 305 day milk. To get the most out of the report, you will need to review this information before running it. The program includes descriptions of terms and suggestions of values to use. In addition, your Field Reps have had training on using Cow Value and can help determine which numbers best fit your situation.
The report includes two new terms -- Cwval and Pgval. Cwval is short for Cow Value and Pgval short for Pregnancy Value. The values shown under Cwval and Pgval are impacted by her reproductive status (open, bred, or pregnant). If she is open, her Cwval is what she is worth as an open animal in comparison to an average replacement heifer. Her Pgval is the amount that would be added to her Cwval if she is bred on the day of the report and becomes pregnant to that breeding.
For example, if an open cow has a Cwval of -200 and Pgval of 800, she would be worth $600 (-$200 + $800) more than an average replacement heifer for the future profitability of the dairy -- if he breeds her today and she becomes pregnant to that breeding. Of course, her value will decline if she gets more days in milk before being bred.
If the cow is bred, her Cwval includes a probablility that she is pregnant, and the Pgval is the additional amount that she will be worth if she is indeed pregnant. If the same cow is used, and she is currently bred, her Cwval might be 50 and her Pgval 550. Her Cwval is higher (50 vs -200) because there is a chance that she is pregnant, but her total worth if she indeed is pregnant is still $600 (50 + 550).
If the cow is pregnant, her Cwval includes 100% of her Pgval. Her Pgval is now the amount that she will decrease in value is she loses the pregnancy. Again using the same cow, but assuming she is pregnant, her Cwval will be 600 and her Pgval will be 800. To see what she is worth if she loses the pregnancy we subtract 800 from 600 and get -200 (the same as she was in the first example as an open cow).
Factors such as high SCC are not used directly in the Cwval calculations, but they do impact a cow's production, which is used. The report is meant to be an additional tool available to dairymen to help make decisions impacting the future profitability of their operation. The Cwval numbers, in conjunction with other information on the report such as SCC and times bred, should help a dairyman determine if indeed he should "breed her one more time".
Looking for a new computer or the latest technological wonder -- the Palm Pilot? Minnesota DHIA now has both available for sale.
COMPUTER: Desktop PC with 64 MB SDRAM, 10 GB Hard Disk Drive, 48 X DC ROM, 56K V.90 Modem, Monitor and Printer. For more information, please call Andy or Joyce at 1-800-827-3442. Each PC can be set up to your specifications to best meet your needs.
PALM PILOT: Palm IIIe. Price, including the Dairy Comp setup is $290. Not sure if a cow in heat was marked as a "Do Not Breed", or which bull a pregnant cow was bred to? Look it up quickly using this very handy little computer designed for use out in the barn (plastic covers are available).
Note if you already own a Palm Pilot and just want the Dairy Comp software, the cost is $140. This includes installation and training.
This year's Minnesota Dairy Extravaganza will be held in conjuction with the North American Farm & Power Show on November 30th at the Minneapolis Convention Center. From 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. the Minnesota Dairy Leaders Roundtable will sponsor a seminar entitled "Surviving/Thriving in the Current Dairy Price Downturn".
The Farm & Power Show will run Wednesday - Friday, November 30 - December 1. For free tickets and bus information, Minnesota and South Dakota attendees can ask their local equipment dealer. Iowa, North Dakota and Wisconsin attendees should call Tradexpos 1-800-949-3976 for free ticket information.
Earlier this year, Ray Buettner was honored as the Minnesota DHIA Rookie of the Year. Ray is the Field Rep in Wadena County. He originally started testing in East Ottertail County a few years ago, tried his hand elsewhere for awhile and eventually returned to testing.
Ray is currently testing 40 herds with a total of 3,017 cows. He is a very conscientious Field Rep, always prompt and quite aware of the value of accurate herd records. He tests his herds regularly with an average test day interval of 31.6 days. His average test day to process time is a respectable 2.28 days.
Ray is eager to offer newer DHIA services like MUN testing and on-farm software. In the last year, he has added 4 new herds and now has one on-farm Dairy Comp user and one Scout user. Thanks for all the good work, Ray!
The Windows version of Scout and Dairy Comp 305 are now available from Minnesota DHIA. These offer all the same great features of the previous DOS version plus quick and easy-to-use menus and tabs. Just point and click!
If you want to increase profitability, have fast access to lab results, improve the accuracy of herd production and health records, produce current vet lists and reduce paperwork, you may want to check out these premiere dairy management software programs. Both offer you individual cow and herd information, easy-to- read graphs and reports.
SCOUT and Dairy Comp 305 are sold and supported by your Minnesota DHIA staff. Remember now through Nov. 21 Scout installations are just the price of 100 lbs of milk. For more information, ask your field rep or call 1-800-827-3442 today!
The Michel Brothers of Ottertail County are selling 2 registered Jersey heifers and 1 grade Holstein heifer. For more information, please call Trenton in the evening at 218-863-5749.
Pat & Debbie Holzem of Sherburne Country are selling their entire herd of grade Holsteins. They have approximately 115 cows in milk, all AI breeding. Please call them for more information at 763-441-6283.
Cows For Sale is a service of Minnesota DHIA. Members can advertise for just $2.50 per animal with a maximum of $50 per herd (good for 60 days). For more information, talk to your Field Rep on sample day or call us at 800-827-3442.
Testing Milk Urea Nitrogen (MUN) levels can pay off in many ways. Research at Cornell University indicates a 10-to-1 return on the cost of MUN testing. This is reflected in potential savings in feed costs and reduced days open.
Overfeeding or underfeeding protein, or feeding unbalanced protein to carbo- hydrate rations can decrease feed efficiency, increase feed costs and lower milk production. MUN analysis can be used to identify potential problems in your feeding program.
At Minnesota DHIA, we have found that those who test MUN levels have signifi- cantly higher Rolling Herd Average's than those who do not. The average RHA's for both groups are shown below.
Test MUN Levels Do Not Test Difference --------------- ----------- ---------- RHA Milk (Lbs) 20,515 19,123 +1,392 RHA Fat (Lbs) 771 727 +45 RHA Prot (Lbs) 648 608 +39
In addition, the average herd size of both groups differ noticeably. Those who test MUN levels average 108 cows per herd and those who do not average 79 cows per herd. What does all this mean? MUN testing seems to be correlated with more milk.
For more information on MUN testing through Minnesota DHIA, talk to your Field Rep on test day or call our office at 1-800-827-3442.