Dollars and Cents

Feed Conversion Efficiency

A herd’s overall reproductive performance can be quickly monitored by evaluating service rate, conception rate, and pregnancy rate. However, when monitoring bottomline profitability of the dairy business average days in milk (ADIM) and its relationship to dry matter efficiency (DME) must not be ignored.

Focusing attention on creating pregnancies in a timely manner reduces average days open.

A reduction in days open will over time reduce the rolling 12-month ADIM. Analysis of DHIA records tells us that a cow will produce 0.17 pounds of additional milk per day for every single day reduction in ADIM. Reducing ADIM from 220 to 200 on a 500 cow dairy will have significant economic impact:

In addition to generating a considerable amount of additional revenue, reducing ADIM also has a positive direct correlation to dry matter efficiency (DME).
Simply defined as pounds of milk produced from one pound of dry matter, DME is influenced by stage of lactation, composition of the ration, and environmental conditions. As much as 50% of the influence of DME comes from stage of lactation – ADIM. If we know the direct impact that reducing ADIM has on DME, we can calculate some interesting savings in feed costs:

The most efficient way to reduce ADIM is to focus on reducing the number and length of extended lactations. This is accomplished by improving reproductive performance with target levels of 50% of the milking herd made pregnant by around 100 days in milk and 90% pregnant by 300 days in milk. Consistently executing a reproductive plan developed with the strengths of the management team in mind is key to achieving these targets.

“We monitor feed refusals by pen on a daily basis hereat the dairy. Using this information in combination with cumulative production data from each pen, we can more closely monitor the impact specific diet changes have on feed efficiency and our bottomline.” Dan Monson, Manager of Spring Grove Dairy; Brodhead, Wisconsin.

The plan should be based on healthy cows, excellent people skills and practices, sound estrus detection and synchronization schemes. A healthy herd with excellent people executing the plan are essential to success.

In summary, while calving interval and days open have been substituted by service rate, conception rate, and pregnancy rate as the benchmarks for reproductive performance; do not ignore the impact these measures have on ADIM, DME and the overall profitability of any dairy business. With a determined focus on creating pregnancies in a timely manner, your profit objectives are within reach.

Article by Dr. Chet Rawson
AltaPreg Field Fertility Specialist

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Posted Oct 6th

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