The Rural Voice, 1998-12, Page 56l
Paul Bonwick, M.P.
Simcoe-Grey
extends
Season's Greetings
and Best Wishes
for a Happy and
Prosperous New
Year to all!
1+1
WE WANT
YOUR GRAIN!
Elevator - Seaforth
519-527-1241
• Corn • Soys • Oats
• Western Grains
CASH & FORWARD CONTRACTS
Call us today for Quotes
Dave Gordon
Elizabeth Armstrong
Richard Smibert
Ian Carter
UCX
london agricultural commodities, inc.
1900 HYDE PARK ROAD
HYDE PARK, ONTARIO, N6H 5L9
519-473-9333
Toll -Free 1-800-265-1885
52 THE RURAL VOICE
Ag riTec h
Dairy Comp 305 creates service loop
By Janice Becker
As we speed through ever -
updating technology, with more
programs and equipment marketed to
simplify our lives, there are occasions
when the true benefits of the
information age shines through.
Such is Dairy Comp 305, a dairy
herd management
program available in
Canada for a year.
Though dairy
farmers have been
using a variety of stand-
alone, farm- specific
computer programs to
inventory their herd,
record production data
and track reproduction,
the compilation or manipulation of
those numbers was not always the
most convenient, according to some
vets. Paper records provided by DHI
had to be taken to the vet or feed mill
for input into improving herd
production.
With Dairy Comp 305 from DHI,
herd management can be a team
effort between all parties involved in
achieving herd success.
One version of the program is
SCOUT, the on-farm package for
recording daily outputs and retrieving
DHI results. Ownership is not
necessary as DHI reps enter test
results directly into their lap top
computer for their records.
The local feed mill may own the
analyzer version, allowing access,
with the owner's permission and PIN
number, to production records. The
mill operator is then able to help the
farmer adjust nutritional needs for the
herd. The most valuable aspect is the
MUN numbers which enable the
operator to determine nitrogen level
leakage and take appropriate action.
Also tied into the loop, by farmer -
permission, is the vet, who has the
full package of options.
By watching factors such as
production numbers, disease
occurrences and SCC (somatic cell
count), vets can alert the farmer to
potential problems more quickly.
This loop management is one of
the beneficial trends in technology.
No longer are farmers left to identify
herd problems or ascertain each
Program
connects
producer,
vet, mill,
consultant
cow's approaching optimum breeding
time on their own. The utilization of
Comp 305 allows teamwork to kick
in, for the vet to more easily monitor
the herd, in partnership with the
farmer.
In talking with two local vets, I
discovered that even for those not
well versed in the intricacies of the
dairy industry, a brief overview of the
program allowed rapid understanding
of the advantages. Graphs give a
visual display of herd production for
instant understanding. In an example,
I was shown SCC counts over time.
By determining the acceptable level,
problem cows were soon identified.
In the same manner, if total SCC
counts near unacceptable limits, a
problem cow can be taken out of herd
numbers, recalculations made, and
the benefits quickly seen. With the
manipulation of numbers, farmers are
able to determine if they would rather
be below quota because of removing
a few cows from the production line
or risk undesirable SCC numbers.
It is this ability in the program
which vets see as a "teachable
moment" for farmers as they are
better able to manage the herd for
desired results. Though admittedly,
each producer may have different
goals for their herd, whether it be
total production, profit margin,
exceptional quality or a combination,
vets say Comp 305 allows the farmer
and the professionals behind him to
set and reach goals as a team.
By tying together herd
management, the monitoring of
inventory, production, reproduction
and disease awareness as well as
motivational goal setting, it appears
the dairy industry has acquired one
more tool to facilitate production of a
top quality product.
Further information on Dairy
Comp 305 can be found through
DHI's website at www.ontdhi.com or
by contacting your local vet.
/ welcome feedback on this column as
well as suggestions on interesting
web sites, useful CD ROMS or
helpful programming. Contact me at
becker@wcl.on.ca.
Janice Becker is a computer
enthusiast and journalist living near
Walton, ON.