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In
response to Industry demand, Rod and Maxine Brasher
of WESTSIDE AB, Bunbury have arranged for the provision
of an alternative recording service for WA dairy farmers
through Australian Herd Recording Services (AHRS).
AHRS has specially tailored flexible services to integrate
the changing and varied needs of WA farm managers
needs as well as the Progeny Testing and "Industry
Good" obtained from herd recording.
TRADITIONAL SYSTEM
The
traditional method involving two milking samplings
with milk production measurements is available, but
systems have also been designed to take advantage
of new electronic data collection technology which
makes recording simpler and easier while maintaining
a high degree of accuracy.
To quote the Conclusion of a 1997 research paper written
by Tim Clarke of Ellinbank Research Centre in which
the accuracy of various different types of herd recording
systems were compared,
"The
use of testing regimes that involve ......... testing
a sample at only one milking per month ............were
all only slightly less accurate than our traditional
regime (of taking a composite sample from both milkings)..............they
also provide the opportunity for a cell count sample
each month. (so the)....CHOICE OF TESTING FREQUENCY
WOULD THEN APPEAR TO BE DICTATED BY THE FREQUENCY
WITH WHICH A FARMER NEEDS TO MONITOR SOMATIC CELL
COUNT". (emphasis
added)
COMBINES HERD MANAGEMENT NEEDS
WITH INDUSTRY NEEDS
As
AHRS policy is not governed by capital investment
made in a testing laboratory expecting production
measurements and samples to be tested for the traditional
three components at each recording, we have developed
services geared to maximise farmer benefit rather
than optimising a service provider's return on capital
invested.
By using modern milk meters and electronic data capture
on farm we are able to integrate the more frequent
farm management need for cell count tests as a milk
quality monitor with Progeny Testing and "Industry
Good" of full production recording as well as
reduce the hassle of herd recording.
REGULAR RECORDINGS
This
service option entails monthly testing with full production
recording including protein, fat and cell count tests
every second month and cell count tests only each
alternate month. Samples are taken at one milking
only but production measured at both to enable accurate
fat% adjustment. No adjustment is needed for protein%
and cell count testing enables accurate ranking of
the high and low cell count cows.
SUITABLE
FOR PROGENY TESTING
This
testing regime also supplies accurate information
for Progeny Testing with research showing it to be
approximately 90% as accurate in calculating an ABV.
ACCURATE LACTATION YIELD CALCULATIONS
Lactation
yields are almost as accurate as ten recordings. Detailed
information on the comparison of different testing
regimes is available through the National Herd Improvement
Scheme website www.nhia.org
ECONOMICAL
For
those farmers requiring the added stringency of full
production recording every month, with protein, fat
and cell count tests and Production Reports provided
at every recording this service is also available
at no extra charge.
RELEVANT PRODUCTION INDEX
In
line with changing payment systems a Solids Production
Index is provided as a single index with a 70% weighting
on protein to simplify the selection process.
HOW IT IS DONE
Each
cow's milk production is measured during milking using
specially designed ICAR approved milk meters, recorded
electronically and samples taken into easy to use
25 mL screw cap bottles pre-prepared with preservative.
No flasks to number or change and no searching through
sheets of paper for flask numbers or having to find
the correct positions in crates AND no labels to print
as bar codes are provided for sticking on the bottles.
No paperwork with electronic recording.
Preserved, chilled samples in bar coded bottles are
placed into specially designed insulated transporters,
delivered to the local courier and air freighted overnight
to Melbourne for testing at Dairy Technical Services
(DTS) herd recording laboratory*.
*(DTS
has been operating a sophisticated dairy product analysis
laboratory for the Victorian dairy industry for over
30 years and has been providing a national herd recording
milk analysis service for the past six years. They
are NATA registered, use Foss Electric testing machines
and have a high level of Quality Assurance.)
PROVEN SYSTEM
Samples
are transported by Australian Air Express (AaE) -
owned by Qantas and Australia Post - system has been
well proven over past five years with nearly a million
samples having being sent from as far north as Cairns
in North Queensland by Atherton Tableland dairy farmers.
AaE also has excellent local infrastructure in WA.
Information processed and returned by email day after
recording.
HIGHLY ACCURATE
Bar
coding of sample bottles ensures absolute integrity
in assignment of test results to individual cows and
electronic transfer of production figures and event
dates ensures the highest possible accuracy.
ADHIS COMPATIBLE
Data
supplied to Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme
(ADHIS) for calculation of Cow and Bull ABV's as approved
by farmer. Cow ABV's supplied free of charge to farmer.
Service suitable for progeny test schemes conducted
by all AB companies. Data supplied to Breed Societies
or other organisations in ADHIS Standard Format on
request by farmer free of charge. All data confidential.
LOW PRICES
Pricing
most competitive @ $9.70 per cow per lactation plus
normal herd fee only payable when herd is recorded.
Only pay for fresh cows when transferring from other
services.
PCFARM
HERD MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Windows based PCFarm herd management program also
available as an integrated part of the herd recording
data collection system and also as a a complete herd
management tool.
SEAMLESS DATA COMMUNICATIONS
Hand held computer with special data collection and
data retrieval program plus seamless data communication
to farm PC and herd recording computer and return
eliminates hand writing of data and means it is only
entered once.
ELECTRONIC COW ID
Electronic ID systems also available as complete systems
or modular units starting with cow ID and progressing
to feeding systems, electronic meters and drafting
as required.
Can also be integrated with herd recording data collection
system.
Further information and free
confidential quote contact:
WESTSIDE AB
PO BOX 1314
BUNBURY, 6231
phone 9725 2855
fax 9725 2859
email westsideab@bigpond.com
AHRS
freecall 1800 241 669
freefax 1800 623 631
email office@dairyconsult.com
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