Small steps can lead to a big payoff with your dairy data
There was an old lady who swallowed a fly. While no one knows why she swallowed the fly, it started a chain reaction, eventually leading to her swallowing a rhinoceros.
Like the fly, failing to record accurate data about an event on your dairy is a small error. However, this small act can have a significant impact and lead to something bigger.
Consider this scenario – the breeder arrives on the farm in the morning to breed animals and records data as they work. Later in the day, the herd manager uses that data to generate a list of cows for dry-off. These cows are moved to the dry cow pen and the herd manager records those changes. The feeder then uses the updated pen counts to formulate each pen’s specific ration.
All these data points are interconnected. Like the fly, one missed entry or inaccurate data point can have a greater impact across the farm, affecting how efficiently and accurately every person does their job.
The first step to avoid swallowing the fly of inaccurate data is diving into each area of your farm and identifying gaps in your current data management practices.
Data accuracy and standardization are key
Herd management tools help you create reports, discover trends, analyze benchmarks and evaluate costs to make better, profitable decisions for your dairy. However, these tools are only as helpful as the accuracy of the data within them.
By recording accurate data, you gain access to timely insights for your herd and farm. For example, setting key performance indicators and alerts within DairyComp enables early intervention when certain cows exceed custom, predetermined thresholds for health events. For instance, if a cow experiences more than two retained placentas in her lifetime, the system alerts you promptly, facilitating timely action. With accurate, timely insights, you and your team can improve your bottom line and make your goals a reality.
From a herd health perspective, standardization is key. Setting up protocols within your herd management solution helps all employees correctly enter and administer treatments. Accurately identifying and entering health events and treatments creates the opportunity to track and assess your herd’s health from a broader view. You can use this information to see your herd’s health trends and compare it to industry benchmarks. Ask yourself what influences those trends and have a discussion with your team about any changes you can make to meet your herd health goals.
Capture everything in the moment
Mobile apps for your herd management system can save time in data entry – capture and access data from the parlor, barn and even offsite. Herd management tools with mobile capabilities increase efficiency by limiting the need to return to the office to enter events or putting off entering information.
For example, during a veterinarian visit, you can quickly access a cow’s information and records on the spot and update any treatments in the system. Mobile apps can also take tasks requiring two to three passes down to one while eliminating flipping through papers and the risk of writing down cow IDs wrong.
The right data for the right people
Your herd management system must be easily accessible by all internal and external team members. By adjusting and taking advantage of user access levels, you ensure the right people on your team have the data they need to do their job.
When the breeder arrives at the barn, they want to know which cows need to be bred and what bulls to use. And they want to be able to record the breedings easily. By granting them access to your herd data, your breeder can prepare for future breedings while looking back and analyzing how the current reproduction system is performing.
Similarly, your nutritionist likely pulls feed and herd management information and reports, like dry matter intakes and milk production, to gain a better understanding of your cows’ performance. Access to accurate and up-to-date data is imperative to assess the current feed program and whether it works for your dairy.
By managing user access within your herd management solution, you provide a simple way for team members and trusted advisors to access and analyze the data they need.
Start from day 1
Every event in the early life stages of a calf impacts how she will perform as a cow. By entering each calf data point in your herd management tool, you can use it to build reports, identify calf health trends and assess cow performance later.
For example, your calf manager notices a calf is experiencing scours. From the calf barn, they enter the event and treat the calf. A few hours later, the calf feeder enters the barn and sees the calf is sick. After looking up the calf on their phone, they now know it has already been treated. When that calf becomes a cow, any treatment events can be referenced to analyze her performance in her first lactation and beyond.
Digitally capturing data calf-side standardizes the information while improving accuracy. Data management tools enhance data entry with protocols. Instead of entering each piece of information, like the specific illness and the treatment, those entering calf data select the calf and click the health event, and they are done. No matter who is in the calf barn, they enter the data the same every time. Recording the technician applying treatment also helps check compliance with protocols. This standard protocol system helps minimize error and ensures it is done correctly and timely.
Train anyone doing data entry, whether on the farm or with external team members like your veterinarian, nutritionist and semen sales representative. This training sets the stage for accurate data entry across your farm team, ensuring each team member understands the ripple effect their role has on others within the dairy.
Keep an eye on who has access to your data and at what level. Use these observations to gauge who may need more training and who is excelling and could take on more responsibilities.
Make it easy
The best way to unlock the potential of your data is to ask questions and educate yourself and your team on your systems.
Continue learning about what your herd management solutions can do and how to run more in-depth reports or lists. Work with your herd management partners and support teams to move your data management to the next level.
Taking small steps with your data can greatly impact your herd’s health, efficiency and profitability. Arm yourself with the right herd management solutions and fully utilize its tools.
To learn more about the features and tools included in your DairyComp or MyDC on PULSE subscription, connect with your local VAS farm performance consultant or get in touch below.
