On your Herd Summary Report (tan paper), in the lower left hand corner, you may see a printed message that says "Record Publication". This means that you have given DHIA permission to print your Herd Average data and individual cow data. Of course, data will only be printed if production level is high enough for recognition. The herd must be above association average, and only exceptional individual cows are recognized. Data may be printed and released through the local DHIA Assocaition, or Minnesota DHIA. If the message says "No Record Publication" this means you are on the Privacy Code, and your records will not be published. If you want to change your Publicity Code, talk to your Field Rep on the next sample day. If you won't be tested again before the end of the year and want the Code changed, please call us at 800-827-3442.
Just below that Record Publication Message, you will see the Disclosure status of your herd. This refers to who has access to herd and cow level data on the Herd Profile for your herd. Limited Access is the most common choice, and means that only DHIA and the cooperating organizations, such as USDA, Breed and AI organizations can access that very limited data. Open Disclosure is required for many DHIR programs, and means that another herd could request that very limited data. No Disclosure means your data does not go to USDA.
The 2000 District Meetings for Minnesota DHIA are listed below. These are busi- ness meetings that any member is welcome to attend. Local DHIA Boards are ex- pected to send representatives.
All meetings start at 11:30 with lunch. Delegates will be selected to the Annual Meeting at St. Cloud on March 1, 2000. The Annual Meeting is at the same time and location as the Central Minnesota Farm Show. Featured speaker is Dr. Steve Eicker, a leading edge dairy consultant who is also one of the key parties in the ongong development of the Dairy Comp 305 family of software
It's time once again to make resolutions for the new year. Consider improving your pregnancy rate by 5% in the next twelve months. Pregnancy Rate is defined as Heat Detection Rate (%) times Conception Rate (%). In other words the number of pregnant cows divided by the number of heats that occur in the herd. This of course assumes all cows have a heat by 50 days, and have one every 21 days until they conceive.
Increased Pregnancy Rate should be a major goal of nearly every operation. Only 5% of Minnesota herds have pregnancy rates at or above 20%, with statewide averages running below 12%. A mere 1% improvement in pregnancy rate from 12% to 13% can increase profitability by $77 per cow in the herd according to University of Minnesota Consulting Veterinarian Dr. Paul Rapnicki. In a 100-cow herd, that's $7700 per year! The greater the percentage increase, the greater the increase in profits.
Properly administered targeted breeding programs can significantly improve pregnancy rates. Dairy Comp 305 herd management software can take the time consuming hassle out of injection scheduling, insemination timing and event record keeping.
By creating an OVSYNCH event and setting the injection and breeding date intervals, Dairy Comp 305 can automatically build easy to use scheduling reports. Just enter the date of the first injection and Dairy Comp 305 does the rest. As you give the injections and do the inseminations simply check them off the list as you go. These handy schedules mean more accurate insemination timing plus no more missed prostaglandin or GNRH injections. Contact Gregg Adler or Jeff Lerum today at 1-800-827-3442 for a free set of Dairy Comp 305 breeding efficiency analysis reports for your herd and a live demonstration of Dairy Comp 305 herd management software.
Fearing identification tags can be purchased through your DHIA Field Rep and delivered directly to your door from the factory. Fearing "Button " tags, one of several types available, have a high retention rate and are easier to read than the traditional steel tags Field Reps and Vets have been using for years. These tags, like all Fearing tags can be printed with American ID on them for DHIA purposes. Ask your Field Rep for details.