MANAGEMENT RECORD SYSTEMS (MRS) FOR DAIRIES
Management Record Systems For Dairies
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Management Record System (MRS) provide dairy producers the
opportunity to minimize costs and me profits through the collection
and analysis of production, feeding, milk quality (SCC) and
management information. Several MRS are available and can be
tailor-made to satisfy the herd's short and long term goals.
Regardless of the MRS selected, the information obtained is exactly
the same. The most economical program is the private or
"do-it-yourself" program. For more information, contact your county
agricultural agent or a nearby producer already using MRS.
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DAIRYING IS COMPETITIVE: Fluctuations in feed cost and milk price
in recent years indicate the competitiveness of the dairy industry.
Even greater competition exists among cows within a herd as
measured by productivity and profitability. Table 1 illustrates
the large differences by comparing the top and bottom 10 cows in
the K-State dairy herd.
Table 2 shows the benefits of a management record system (MRS)
comparing the average yearly production for MRS cows and those cows
not tested. Even though MRS cows have higher feed costs, cows
convert feed into milk more efficiently at higher levels of
production.
Table 1. Variation of production within a Holstein herd.
Top 10 cows Low 10 cows
.........yearly average........
305 day milk 21,903 lb 11,259 lb
Value of milk $2,578 $1,260
Feed cost $ 837 $ 521
Income/feed +$1,741 +$ 739
cost
Wide variation exists within a dairy herd. Continual culling
of low producers increases efficiency and profit.
Individual ID and production records provide the
opportunity to evaluate each cow on a monthly basis in
the MRS program.
The effects of yearly production per cow on profit (Return - Labor
& Management) are readily seen in Table 3 when milk per cow is
compared with all the costs of producing milk.
Table 2. Yearly production-returns per cow in Kansas
dairy herds.
Yearly Income/ Feed cost
GROUP Milk feed cost /cwt milk
MRS cows 17,085 lb $1,109 $5.72
All cows 13,076 737 6.37
Non-tested 11,948 646 7.24
Management record systems (MRS) provide guidelines to
improve production and profit of the dairy herd.
FINANCE COST - GREATEST: Simply maintaining a cow is the largest
single expense on a farm. Maintenance -- the feed required to keep
a cow alive -- is required regardless of how much (or how little)
milk the cow produces. Depending on the cow's body weight, feed
cost for maintenance runs from $1.00 to $1.35 per day, 365 days a
year. Table 4 shows the yearly maintenance costs at four levels of
production in Kansas MRS herds. Table 4 further illustrates
the total feed cost required to produce various levels of yearly
production and the increase in efficiency of production as milk per
cow increases.
Table 3. Effect of yearly milk per cow on return to labor
and management in Kansas Holstein herds.
Yearly Feed Other Return-labor
Milk costs* costs & Management
13,678 lb $1,040 $796 +$119
16,593 1,132 829 + 359
18,030 1,195 867 + 438
20,152 1,258 890 + 617
*Includes feed for replacements.
While costs of production increase with more yearly milk per
cow, profit increases at a more rapid rate since feed is
converted into milk more efficient- as production increases.
Table 4. Yearly feed costs for maintenance and milk for
different levels of yearly milk production per
Holstein cow.
Yearly Yearly feed cost Income/
Milk Maintenance + Milk = Total feedcost
13,678 lb $405 + $452 = $ 857 $ 826
16,593 435 + 499 = 934 1,087
18,030 439 + 572 = 1,011 1,197
20,152 445 + 646 = 1,091 1,384
Feed for maintenance comes first! Maintenance requirement
varies only with body weight. Extra feed is converted into
milk very efficiently.
HERD GOALS: Dairying is a skilled, medium investment, labor
intensive agricultural business. As with any successful business,
a workable records program is necessary to minimize expenses and
maximize profits. Basic dairy records include:
1. Individual cow milk records and ID
2. Somatic cell counts (SCC)
3. Breeding and culling information
4. "When to..." records (breed, dry off, etc.)
5. Feed data (costs, amounts)
PRODUCTION RECORDS: Cows produce milk over long periods of time.
However, as noted in Figure 1;(small version, large version, the amount of
daily production varies considerably. No matter how much milk any cow
produces, by nature, the daily production declines with time. Some cows
are more persistent than others. Also, first calf heifers, while not
reaching a high peak, are more persistent than older cows.
Figure 1. A typical lactation curve for the dairy cow. Profit must
come in the first few months after calving.
ONE MILKING--ONCE A MONTH: Weighing a cow's milk, one milking a
month, month after month, can provide an accurate estimate of her
monthly and yearly production. Since most dairies use pipeline
systems, routinely measuring each cow's production is necessary to
determine which cows are not worthy of being kept. In addition,
season of the year, age at calving and days in milk have an effect
on each cow's production. Adjustments can be made for these
factors which further increases the accuracy of evaluating each
cow's profitability. Maintaining a poor producer is simply a "labor
of love."
FEEDING: Feed cost represents about 50% of the cost of producing
milk. Likewise, the amount and kind of feed, especially in early
lactation, dictates the level of productivity for each cow.
MRS provides guidelines for the amount of grain needed to
supplement the roughage program. Such records are essential to
determine the amount of grain required to support production
regardless of the feeding system.
DIFFERENCE FROM HERDMATES: The best way to evaluate a cow's worth
is to compare her production with other cows in your herd on a
standardized basis (305 day, 2X, ME). MRS provides this kind of
comparison, known as "difference from herdmates." No matter the
stage of lactation, each cow's worth can be determined at any time
under your herd's conditions.
Figure 2;(small version, large version) MRS program sheet
Figure 3;(small version, large version) MRS program sheet
MILK QUALITY: Producing high quality milk is the greatest
challenge facing the dairy industry. Milk quality bonuses (SCC,
PI, etc.) make it possible to increase cash flow and make the
operation even more profitable. MRS provides monthly somatic cell
counts (SCC) and detailed analysis of the herd to assist when
quality problems may arise.
OTHER MANAGEMENT TOOLS: Dates and events are very important in a
successful dairy operation. The so-called, "when to" records
when to: dry off, challenge feed, breed, calve, cull, pregnancy
check, vaccinate, herd health exam. MRS provides these kinds of
information in a workable format.
COWS TO DRY COWS TO PREG. CHECK (HEIFERS)
COWS TO CALVE (HEIFERS) LOW COWS DIFF/HMATES
COWS TO BREED HEIFERS TO BREED
The MRS program provides useful listings of cows (and heifers)
monthly - the so-called "when to" lists.
MANAGEMENT RECORDS SYSTEMS (MRS)
MRS is available to dairy producers through farmer-owned
cooperatives, called Dairy Herd Improvement Associations (DHIA).
High speed computers are employed to condense and analyze
monthly milk, feed and management information.
For producers with home computers, all management records are
available upon command. This program, Electronic Barn Sheet
(EBS),is available for a nominal fee in the MRS program.
WHICH MRS IS BEST? It all depends upon the herd goals! The most
economical MRS is the "do-it-yourself' or private program. The
producer simply weighs each cow's milk, one milking a month, and
obtains a 2 oz sample for components and somatic cells. The DHIA
supervisor assists the producer in data entry making sure that all
the events are properly recorded. Milk samples are sent to the
laboratory in Manhattan. Production and management records are
mailed directly to the producer. If milk weighing devices are not
available at the dairy, they may be rented from the local DHI
cooperative.
Another MRS program is the "supervised" program where the DHIA
supervisor visits the herd and assists the producer in weighing and
sampling each cow during one milking a month. This supervised
program allows the producer to advertise production records, and
such records are used in the national sire summary program.
The "supervised" program requires that an automatic timer be
installed on the milk pump.
Figure 4;(small version, large version): MRS sample form pg. 1.
Figure 5;(small version, large version: MRS sample form pg. 2.
HOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MRS: The MRS program is a part of the
Cooperative Extension Service's educational effort to improve farm
income and the quality of life in Kansas. Your county agricultural
agent can provide you with details and put you in touch with the
nearest DHI cooperative.
James R. Dunham
Edward P. Call
Extension Specialists, Dairy Science
COOPERATIVE Extension SERVICE, MANHATTAN, KANSAS
DyS 90-3
All educational programs and materials are available without
discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex,
age, or handicap.
%f TITLE;MANAGEMENT RECORD SYSTEMS (MRS) FOR DAIRIES
%f COLLECTION;DAIRY HERD IMPROVEMENT
%f ORIGIN;KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
%f DATE_INCLUDED;OCTOBER, 1993
%t MANAGEMENT RECORD SYSTEMS (MRS) FOR DAIRIES