Frequency - Number of Milkings/Test
You have the flexibility to choose how many milkings you would like tested on test-day. For farms using DHIA Technician Services, fewer tested milkings result in lower costs and lower DCRs. There are no price differences for Owner-Sample or Mail-In Owner-Sample herds.2x or 3x Testing (2/2 or 3/3 milkings)
Herds that milk twice-daily or three-times daily can test all of their milkings. This testing-method results in the highest DCRs and may provide more accurate test results than AM/PM testing.
AM/PM (1/2, 1/3, or 2/3 milkings)
Herds using the AM/PM option will typically test one out of two (or three) or two out of three milkings, and alternate the tested-milking(s) each consecutive test-day. For instance, a farm milking twice-daily would test in the morning one month and in the afternoon/evening the next. Milkweights and sample results from the milking not tested are estimated by computer/processing center, using nationally-approved factors. AM/PM testing is a lower-cost alternative and results in lower DCR values than 2x or 3x testing, but is often still considered acceptable my many breed associations and AI companies.
