Performance trends in Michigan dairy herds
DairyMetrics program is a useful benchmarking tool for evaluating dairy herd performance.
When reviewing a herd’s performance records, dairy herd managers and their consultants may wonder how the herd compares to other dairy herds in the state and elsewhere. A comparison to herds that are managed similarly can be referenced when developing performance goals. This article provides information about Michigan dairy herds based on two management characteristics: production and herd size.
The DairyMetrics program available from Dairy Records Management Services (DRMS) was used to summarize performance data for Michigan dairy herds in the Dairy Herd Information (DHI) system. For Table 1, herds were divided into three groups based on rolling herd average for milk (< 22,000 lb, 22,000 - 25,999 lb, and > 26,000 lb). The herds are grouped in Table 2 by herd size (< 100 cows, 100 – 249 cows, and > 250 cows). The items in each table are from the DHI-202 Herd Summary report and include key indicators of overall herd management. Data presented in each table are the averages for each key indicator.
Key Indicator |
All Herds |
RHA Milk < 22,000 lb. |
RHA Milk 22,000 to 25,999 lb. |
RHA Milk > 26,000 lb. |
Pregnancy Rate (yr) |
17 |
13 |
17 |
21 |
Days to First Service |
91 |
105 |
88 |
80 |
Projected Days Open |
153 |
178 |
148 |
132 |
% First Services Successful |
43 |
51 |
41 |
38 |
% Heats Observed (yr) |
45 |
31 |
45 |
57 |
Age at First Calving |
26 |
27 |
25 |
24 |
% Bred to AI Sires |
79 |
66 |
80 |
92 |
Percentile Rank of Proven AI Sires |
54 |
42 |
57 |
64 |
% Cows Dry 40-70 Days |
68 |
55 |
69 |
81 |
% Cows Left Herd |
38 |
39 |
36 |
37 |
Average SCC Score |
2.2 |
2.5 |
2.1 |
1.9 |
Average SCC (1,000) |
187 |
235 |
176 |
144 |
Peak Milk – First Lact. |
81 |
68 |
82 |
92 |
Peak Milk – Second Lact. |
102 |
84 |
104 |
119 |
Peak Milk – Third+ Lact. |
110 |
90 |
112 |
128 |
Rolling Herd Avg. Milk lb. |
23,493 |
18,948 |
23,991 |
27,958 |
Number of Herds |
532 |
176 |
199 |
157 |
Average Herd Size |
317 |
123 |
332 |
51 |
** SCC=Somatic Cell Count
**DairyMetrics summaries based on DRMS data available on June 27, 2012.
Key Indicator |
All Herds |
Herd Size < 100 Cows |
Herd Size 100-249 Cows |
Herd Size > 250 Cows |
Pregnancy Rate (yr) |
17 |
14 |
16 |
20 |
Days to First Service |
91 |
106 |
92 |
77 |
Projected Days Open |
153 |
179 |
151 |
131 |
% First Services Successful |
43 |
47 |
45 |
37 |
% Heats Observed (yr) |
45 |
34 |
42 |
56 |
Age at First Calving |
26 |
27 |
26 |
24 |
% Bred to AI Sires |
79 |
77 |
75 |
86 |
Percentile Rank of Proven AI Sires |
54 |
47 |
54 |
60 |
% Cows Dry 40-70 Days |
68 |
60 |
67 |
76 |
% Cows Left Herd |
38 |
39 |
37 |
36 |
Average SCC Score |
2.2 |
2.5 |
2.1 |
2.0 |
Average SCC (1,000) |
187 |
229 |
180 |
156 |
Peak Milk – First Lact. |
81 |
72 |
82 |
87 |
Peak Milk – Second Lact. |
102 |
90 |
103 |
113 |
Peak Milk – Third+ Lact. |
110 |
97 |
110 |
121 |
Rolling Herd Avg. Milk lb. |
23,493 |
20,650 |
23,794 |
25,810 |
Number of Herds |
532 |
158 |
207 |
167 |
Average Herd Size |
317 |
62 |
163 |
750 |
** SCC=Somatic Cell Count
**DairyMetrics summaries based on DRMS data available on June 27, 2012.
Trends – Production Groups
Several general trends were observed across the production groupings.
- The highest production group has the lowest average days open and the highest pregnancy rate. In addition, this group has the lowest days to first service and the highest percentage of heats observed. However, the highest average for percentage of successful first services was in the lower production group.
- The highest production group has the lowest average somatic cell count (144,000 SCC).
- Higher producing herds use a higher percentage of AI sires with a higher percentile ranking for Net Merit.
- Larger herd size average is associated with the highest production group.
These trends should not be considered a cause-and-effect relationship between milk production and the other key indicators. More likely management factors that positively influence milk production also have a positive impact on other aspects of herd performance.
Trends – Herd Size Groups
Some trends also existed across the groupings based on herd size.
- The larger herds tended to have more desirable reproductive performance. The average days open was lowest in the largest herd category. The largest herd category also had the highest average pregnancy rate, highest percentage heats observed, and lowest days to first service. However the highest percentage of successful first services was in the lowest herd size category.
- Average somatic cell count was lowest in the largest herd size category.
- The larger herds tended to have higher rolling herd averages for milk yield, a trend that has existed for a number of years. It should be noted that there was a significant range in production in each herd size category. In fact, the highest producing herd in each size category had a rolling herd average for milk above 30,000 lbs.
The items in both tables are indicators of herd performance only. Other business management criteria would be considered when evaluating the financial status of the herd.
Using DairyMetrics
DairyMetrics is a benchmarking tool for dairy farm performance evaluation. Herd managers and their herd consultants can compare their own herds to a group of DHI herds that meet the criteria that they select (cohort herds). The cohorts can be selected based on parameters within five categories (general, production, udder health, reproduction and genetic information). Herds from other states that are processed by DRMS also can be included in comparisons.
The reports available through DairyMetrics contain information about the specific herd in addition to the averages, standard deviations, minimums and maximums for the cohort herds. They also give the percentile ranking for each herd performance parameter in comparison to the cohort group.
More information about the DairyMetrics program is available from DRMS or your DHI service affiliate.