The Future of Milk Recording

Introduction - Cattle Information Services (UK) Ltd.
Dairy farming has undergone many significant changes over the last fifty years. The introduction of new technology and husbandry techniques has resulted in an extremely modern and efficient industry. Milk Recording has had an important role to play in the efficiency gained over the years, by providing dairy farmers with the information they require to assist them in the management of their business. In fact, at this moment in time, with the squeeze on farm incomes, it is more vital than ever to ensure that the animals in your herd are producing milk profitably. However, the steep reduction in the milk price has left the production industry demoralised and uncertain of what the future holds. As a consequence, Milk Recording will have to evolve in order to meet with the changing demands of the industry.

The Future
The service options will have to be flexible and variable, but this need not mean that the standard of service is reduced- it will put the control firmly in the hands of the Producer so that they can choose the level of service to suit their business and use Recording when they need it most.

The service will be dictated by the Farmer as will the level of service required. The choice made will depend on many reasons. For example:- Those farmers who rely on the monthly recording to adjust feed rations will still require a regular visit, particularly during the winter months, but during the summer when cows are out at grass, they may require less frequent visits which of course will be reflected in the charge.

Another scenario may be where a Producer uses the service purely on which to base breeding and selection decisions. It could be feasible to gain all the decisions he needs with less frequent visits as the ability to use computer models to calculate accurate lactation yields will be available which can then be used for genetic evaluations and other indexes.

The end market for each Producersí milk will also determine the level of service. One instance of this likelihood would be if using a more grass based production system along with batch calving. In certain areas this will result in a milk recording service tailored to suit.

The range of milk constituents analysed will also increase from the butterfat, protein and cell count currently available. Testing for urea and acetone has already arrived on the scene and testing for specific proteins such as casein, particularly important in cheese production, will be available in the near future. As bio sensor technology develops there may even be the possibility of routine pregnancy diagnosis and fertility management via milk samples. Monitoring for disease is also possible and could save the industry millions of pounds each year if early detection of problems such as; BVD ad IBR could be incorporated.

Milk Recording, as it stands, will undergo such radical changes that the term "Milk Recording" will not accurately reflect the completeness of the information available. One aim will be for data to be collected only ONCE, eg. by Inseminator, Vet, Farm Staff etc. Information would be entered into the database and using internet and other available technologies, a number of databases could be linked together with resultant data being accessible to consultants, vets, advisors and others without the need for on-farm visits saving both time and money.

New technology will also provide the means to reduce the work involved in recording, particularly in simplifying the process of taking samples and the subsequent transfer of information. The development of voice recognition software could also have a significant role in the information gathering process as farmers could simply tell the appropriate device the details which could then be transferred to the database.

In New Zealand, where there is no Government requirement to do so, it is reported that 95% of Producers record in one form or another, compared with 50% of UK farmers, which tells its own tale as many see the New Zealand industry as being amongst the most competitive in the World. To take Milk Recording into the future, service providers must offer Producers flexible quality choices for Milk Recording which will meet and surpass farm requirements.