Annual Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) reports
The following Annual Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) reports released by CDCB reports are available here.
DHI Participation Report, January 1st of Year Published (DHI Report, K-1 Series)
This DHI report provides an overview of the relative value of various alternatives (testing plans, etc.) that are offered by DHI management organizations as represented by the dairy producers’ choice of the various alternatives. These participation counts are used in the assessment of fees to the various organizations for financing the national DHI program. The counts are useful also to the breed associations in planning genetic promotion programs within their individual breed.
These annual reports are available each year from 1997 to present here.
State and National Standardized Lactation Averages for Cows Calving in 2nd Year Prior to Publication by Breed (DHI Report, K-2 Series)
This DHI report shows the number of lactations and standardized 305 day averages for five milk traits by breed and State subsets, thus providing a summary of the regional changes that are taking place across the United States. By showing breed information from 1980 to present, it gives a clear picture of the growth or decline in number of milking cows by breed, as well as how successful producers were in increasing milk, fat, and protein yields and the smaller changes that have occurred in fat and protein composition. This report is used by breeds to encourage more producers to participate in DHI and to accelerate improvement in milk trait yields. Some state organizations use the numbers in setting goals to maintain or expand a viable dairy program within their states.
These annual reports are available each year from 1996 to present here
Summary of DHI Herd Averages, December 31st of Year Prior to Publication (DHI Report, K-3 Series)
This DHI report shows the number of herd, number of cows, and rolling herd averages for five milk traits by herd size, by breed and test plan categories, by State and breed subsets. It shows the activity for both the official and management test plans by State, thus providing a summary of the regional changes that are taking place across the United States. By showing breed information from 1980 to present, it gives a clear picture of the growth or decline in number of milking cows by breed, as well as how successful producers were in increasing milk, fat, and protein yields and shows the smaller changes that have occurred in fat and protein composition. This report is used by breeds to encourage more producers to participate in DHI and to accelerate improvement in milk trait yields. Some state organizations use the numbers in setting goals to maintain or expand a viable dairy program within their states. DHI activities are shown for goats by State and by breed.
These annual reports are available each year from 1996 to present here.
Dairy Records Processing Center’s Activity Summary, January 1st of Year Published (DHI Report, K-6 Series)
This report provides an overview of the activity within individual dairy records processing center (DRPC), specifically participation in the various testing plans for both cows and goats. It shows the producers’ participation in testing for protein and milk quality (somatic cell count) as well by DRPC. NDHIA uses this report in fee assessment.
These annual reports are available each year from 1997 to present here.
Somatic Cell Counts (SCC) of Milk from DHI Herds, during Year Prior to Publication (DHI Report, SCC Series)
This DHI report provides a comprehensive examination of milk quality in tested herds in the United States. Before this report was first published, there was little comprehensive information concerning milk quality as much of the information was buried in the files of the milk cooperative. Information from this report quickly appeared in numerous national dairy publications. The results have been used by those who are responsible for setting the federal standards for somatic cell count (SCC) in the country as the report gives percentages of herds that would meet the minimum standards under alternative levels. It gives average SCC and milk yield by State, herd size, and month. It shows SCC across time, showing milk quality has improved dramatically over the last 15 years.
These annual reports are available each year from 1998 to present here.
Reasons that Cows in DHI programs Exited the Milking Herd during Year Prior to Publication
This DHI report provides information on the reasons that cows of all breeds exit the herd, plus also gives the same data within the Holstein, Jersey, and the remaining breeds (combined). This data is provided for the crossbreds as well. The reasons for exiting are furnished by dairy producers and passed on through the dairy record processing centers using 10 termination codes. The report shows the frequencies of cow survival across parities, and reasons for termination for all these same breed groups within individual parities. Having information on reason for exiting is valuable for the producers and is of especially high interest to dairy consultants as they provide advice to individual producers concerning financial decision making.
These annual reports are available each year from 2007 to present here.
Reproductive Status of Cows in DHI Programs for Cows First Bred during 2nd Year Prior to Publication
This DHI report is the only source of comprehensive information for reproductive performance on a national basis. It provides the mean performance for seven reproductive traits across the last decade, and illustrates that improvement has being made in all seven, following several years of well-known decline. Reproductive performance is a trait of extremely high economic value to dairy producers, so these metrics are of interest to individuals providing or overseeing herd management as well as to any industry personnel providing advice to the same.
These annual reports are available each year from 2011 to present here.