Vermont DHIA

“What happens on the dairy farm on DHI sample day can be boiled down to the answers to a few basic questions,” stated Bruce Dokkebakken, National DHIA audit review committee chair and Minnesota DHIA manager.

• How many milkings are weighed?
• How many milkings are sampled?
• Who collects the weights?
• Who collects the samples?
• Where does the information go besides back to the farm?

Dokkebakken continued, “We don’t need 60-some test plans to define that for our customers and the industry. The revised test plans should make it easier to understand how data were collected and how they will be used. The bottom line is that no matter what test plan a dairy producer chooses, he or she gets certified quality data to help manage the dairy operation for better decision making. And on most test plans, the industry, including dairy herds not on DHI test, benefit from the process.”

To reduce the number of test plans, herds previously under the APT plans (a.m./p.m. with timers) will move to DHI-AP or DHIR-AP. Field technicians collect a wealth of information on each farm, including milking times and frequency, which is used to generate on-farm data that go into a model to compute production records. Thus, today’s results are quite precise.

Even though the revised system offers fewer test plans, it actually provides more flexibility and more testing options. The previous system put dairy herds in very rigid “boxes.” Now, each plan has a couple basic parameters (such as testing frequency, samples taken/not taken, supervised/ unsupervised testing, and DHI/DHIR). The new testing plans can be customized to gather and process data as desired by each individual dairy producer. Bottom line: less is actually more. Whether the information is used for genetic evaluations or herd/cow management, the data are credible and accurate – no matter who uses it.

The changes provide several benefits to the DHI system, producers and other industry groups, such as Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory (AIPL), AI organizations and breed associations, for simpler descriptions and use. USDA/AIPL uses the information generated from these plans for genetic and management research, reports and processing sire summary results.

• Simplify test plan choices for dairy producers.
• DHI staff is well versed in all test plan options and will help dairy producers select the correct test plan to effectively manage their dairy business.
• The new system is customizable to fit all dairy producers’ needs.
• The data collection ratings (DCR) calculation is not affected. (For more information, refer to the DCR articles posted on the National DHIA web site at: http://www.dhia.org/dbc_articles.asp.)
• Today’s DHI continues to offer relevant test plans that meet dairy producers’ needs.

From a dairy producer’s perspective, potentially the most appealing part of this revised system is that the producer will not have to do anything to adapt. The DHI field technician and dairy records processing center (DRPC) will put each dairy into the correct plan, based on the previous test plan used. However, this may be a good time for dairy producers to visit with their field technician about the “best” test plan to fit the dairy’s needs. Consider the options and services that will yield the most relevant information to enhance management decisions.

What’s the timeline for implementing the reduced number of DHI test plans? In October 2009, the dairy industry (breed associations, DRPCs, AI and AIPL) endorsed the new system. Starting this month, DRPCs began making programming updates – input and output programs, interfaces and associated reports and edits. These updates will be completed by Dec. 31, 2010. During the year, National DHIA, QCS and DRPCs will foster a cooperative effort to provide educational support to field service affiliates and industry cooperators regarding the new test plans. These plans will go into effect Jan. 1, 2011.

With the dairy producer’s best interests in mind, National DHIA/QCS took a leadership position to move the milk testing system forward. The revised program provides tailor-made test plans that are available to all dairies – no matter their size, shape, management strategy or business structure.

January 2010

Reprinted with permission from National Dairy Herd Information Association, a trade association for the dairy records industry, which serves the best interests of its members and the dairy industry by maintaining the integrity of dairy records and advancing dairy information systems.