DAIRY CATTLE IMPROVEMENT THROUGH DHI - LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY

Goals / Objectives
To provide support for a DHI program that will 1) provide Louisiana producers with data for improving efficiency of operations and 2) provide data for use in research and educational programs.

Project Methods
The DHI program in Louisiana is run as a cooperative effort between the Department of Dairy Science, Dairy Extension, and the Louisiana DHIA. The state program is part of a national program involving the National DHIA and the USDA. A certified DHIA supervisor obtains individual cow milk samples and appropriate management data on a regular basis from participating herds. Results from milk analysis are compiled with farm data through a centralized computer system. A complete set of records is returned to the producer for use in decision making. Records are also made available to the Department of Dairy Science, Dairy Extension and the USDA for use in research and educational programs.

Progress 01/01/98 to 12/31/03

Outputs
Over the six year duration of this project the number of herds participating in the DHIA program have declined from 165 in 1998 to 105 in 2003. During the same time period the total number of herds in Louisiana declined from 506 to 334. Economic conditions over the past years have had a negative impact on the number of herds in Louisiana. The 105 herds participating in the DHIA program represent about 32% of the herds and 37% of the dairy cows in Louisiana. Herds in the DHIA program average about 4000 pounds more milk per cow per year than non DHIA herds. At a milk price of $13.00 per cwt, this represents an increase in income of more than $500 per cow per year for herds participating in the DHIA program compared to non DHIA herds. Cost of the program is approximately $18 per cow per year. All information from cows in the Louisiana DHIA program is electronically transmitted to the Dairy Records Management System in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Impacts
The DHIA program provides an accurate records program, at a reasonable cost, on both an individual cow and herd basis. A dairy enterprise, like any other business, must have accurate records for making general management and other business decisions.

Publications

No publications reported this period

Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02

Outputs
The primary objective of the DHI program is to provide Louisiana producers with accurate records for improved decision making and efficiency of operation. Louisiana had 113 herds with 15,569 total cows participating in the DHI program at the end of 2002 giving an average herd size of 139 cows/herd. Although the number of herds participating in the DHI program declined by 23, herd size increased slightly for the year. Thirty-two producers are utilizing the pcdart program and five producers are using the newer pocket dairy program. Herds enrolled in the DHI program continue to produce over 4000 pounds more milk per cow per year than non-DHI herds.

Impacts
The DHI program provides an accurate records program on both individual cow and herd bases. A dairy enterprise, like any other business, must have accurate records if it is to be managed in an efficient, business-like manner.

Publications

No publications reported this period

Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01

Outputs
The primary objective of the DHI program is to provide Louisiana producers with accurate records for improved decision making and efficiency of operation. Louisiana had 135 herds with 18,495 total cows participating in the DHI program at the end of 2001 giving an average herd size of 137 cows/herd. Although the total number of herds participating in the DHI program declined by 11 compared to 2000, herd size remained constant for the year. Thirty-four producers are utilizing the pcdart program and three producers are using the new pocket dairy program. A new billing and accounting system was introduced that provides producers with an up-to-date itemized bill on test day. Herds enrolled in the DHI program produce over 4000 pounds more milk per cow than non DHI herds. The increased revenue from the added milk produced more than justifies the cost of the program which is about $23 per cow per year.

Impacts
The DHI program provides an accurate records program on both and individual cow and herd bases. A dairy enterprise, like any other business, must have accurate records if it is to be managed in an efficient business like manner.

Publications

No publications reported this period

Progress 01/01/00 to 12/31/00

Outputs
The primary objective of the DHI program is to provide Louisiana producers with accurate records for improved decision making and efficiency of operation. Louisiana had 146 herds with 19,632 total cows participating in the DHI program at the end of 2000 giving an average herd size of 138 cows/herd. Although total herds decreased by 8 during 2000, herd size remained relatively constant for the year. Thirty-two producers are utilizing the pcdart program and one producer is using the new pocket dairy program. Three consultants have started to utilize pcdart. Herds enrolled in the DHI program produce over 4000 pounds more milk per cow per year than non DHI herds. The increased revenue from the added milk produced more than justifies the cost of the program which is about $22 per cow per year.

Impacts
The DHI program provides an accurate records program on both individual cow and herd bases. A dairy enterprise, like any other business, must have accurate records if it is to be managed in an efficient business like manner.

Publications

No publications reported this period

Progress 01/01/99 to 12/31/99

Outputs
The primary objective of the DHI program is to provide Louisiana dairy producers with accurate data for improving their efficiency of operation. Louisiana had 157 herds with 21,300 total cows participating in the DHI program at the end of 1999 giving an average size of 136 cows/herd. Although total herds decreased by 8 during 1999, herd size remained constant. Approximately 24% or 37 herds have installed pcdart on farm to assist in herd managment. This represents an increase over 1998. Herds enrolled in the DHI program average about 4725 pounds more milk per cow than non DHI herds. This represents over $700 added value per cow per year for herds enrolled in the DHI program. Cost of the program is about $20 per cow per year.

Impacts
The DHI program provides an accurate records program on both an individual cow and herd basis. A dairy enterprise, like any other business, must have accurate records if it is to be managed in an efficient business like manner.

Publications

No publications reported this period

Progress 01/01/98 to 12/31/98

Outputs
Louisiana had 165 herds with 22,275 total cows participating in the DHI program at the end of 1998. Although this represented a loss of two herds from 1997, total cow numbers on test increased in 1998 giving an average size of 138 cows/herd. All data collected from the 165 herds enrolled in the DHI program is transfered to the Dairy Records Management System in Raleigh, North Carolina using pcdart. Approximately 20% or 32 herds have installed pcdart on farm to assist in herd management. Herds enrolled in the DHI program average 4725 pounds more milk per cow per year than non DHI herds. This represents over $800 added value per cow per year for herds enrolled in the DHI program. Cost of the program is $18 per cow per year.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

No publications reported this period