**These pages are made only for our farm use so it will be easy for us to go and remind ourselves what we need to do.
We collected those files over the years. We are always learning new information. We add and edit these files almost daily.
We collected those files over the years. We are always learning new information. We add and edit these files almost daily.
DHI - it's good for the herd
https://fiddlersridgedairy.wordpress.com/2010/10/20/dhi-its-good-for-the-herd/
How to do DHI milk testing
There are mainly 2 different milk testing styles.
One is a whole herd going though the maximum of 305 days milk testing with about
The other one is One day test for each separate goat.
It was very confusing for me when I started DHI milk testing. I did not understand why "305 days" specifically, for example...
I will try to go through what I finally understood in this page.
Starting with 305-day milk test.
One is a whole herd going though the maximum of 305 days milk testing with about
The other one is One day test for each separate goat.
It was very confusing for me when I started DHI milk testing. I did not understand why "305 days" specifically, for example...
I will try to go through what I finally understood in this page.
Starting with 305-day milk test.
305-day Milk Test
The basic knowledge
First, we, Mini breeders need to understand is DHI milk test was established for big commercial cows and goats dairy industry to gather informations about milk production and condition from all over the country in US.
This means it's not made for small farms or backyard mini goat farmers.
But we are allowed to participate this program to get some information about "our" herd and keep more official records. "305 days" came from the big dairy ranches way of keeping the dairy animals. They will milk for 305 days then they will let dairy animals to have a break from milking in order to prepare their bodies for kidding season. So 305 days is about 10 months of the year. It makes sense that 2 moths prior to kidding, we usually stop milking our does.
Another thing that we need to understand is these big dairy ranches do not dam raise. They immediately separate kids from dams and get into the milking business. That means when they do "Milk Out" the day before the actually testing day, the milk out is almost the same amount of the milk that actual milk test day that you are perform. This way, they can follow that you have done the correct procedure.
But with Minis, lots of breeders enjoy dam raising or half dam raising. Without understanding the original purpose of DHI milk test will make us pretty confusing.
DHI milk testing is not for obtaining milk stars. It's for the herd record to be gathered ion one national place. While we are getting information about our herd, we are also helping to let DHI to gather national dairy information.
This is why all the scales and testing routine need to be exactly the same even we use different labs.
Important things to know for 305-day Milk Test
1: We are supposed to start milk testing a doe's first test at least 5 days after freshening but before 90 days after freshening.
2: The interval between the tests must be 15 days to 45 days. Around 30 days is a norm.
3:
How to read the test result
example
http://www.puddlehaven.com/milktestdata.html
example
http://www.puddlehaven.com/milktestdata.html
One Day Milk Test
The basic knowledge
Did you know that One day milk testing is not actually DHI official milk testing? One day milk test results do not go to the same place to be recorded like 305 day milk testing.
It is basically between you as a herd owner and the registries. We can keep some records by doing One day milk testing for milk production, Butterfat, protein content, and SCC. While doing it, if the points get to above certain level, your goat gets a milk star. At MDGA, you will need 70 points to receive *P and at TMGR, you will need 60 points to receive *D.
How to start
1) You will need to have a lab that could do milk testing for butter fat, protein, and SCC for you. With One day test, it does. not have to be actual DHIA labs.
2) Contact the lab and ask if they can do the test and provide the vials for you. Also ask if they can send the results to you as well as the registries.
3) Once you were able to set up the lab, you also need a certified milk tester to do your test. To be certified milk tester, she / he needs to go through the DHIA labs' official milk tester test. You could find a person who is already a milk tester OR you could ask your friend who lives close by and nothing to do with your goat herd. (The tester cannot be your goat buyers nor share customers)
4) Once you get the tester lined up, you can now apply for One day milk testing to
MDGA &, or TMGR.
You will need to also write Doe Data Sheet for TMGR
5) When you receive the paperwork from the registries, you are ready to do the One day milk test.
One Day Milk Test point calculator
This is the same formula that is used to calculate at MDGA & TMGR.
This is the same formula that is used to calculate at MDGA & TMGR.
1) Multiply pounds of milk by 5.55
2) Multiply pounds of milk by butterfat, times 1.11
3) Multiply days since freshening by 0.0555.
4) Add totals for final score.
Example:
a doe at 43 days fresh with 5.6 pounds of milk at 4.5% fat:
1) 5.6 x 5.55 = 31.08
2) 5.6 x 4.5 x 1.11 = 27.9720 (rounded to 27.97)
3) 43 x .0555 = 2.3865 (rounded to 2.387)
4) 31.080 + 27.97 + 2.387 = 61.437 (rounded to 61)
This Mini doe does not receive a Star; however, a Nigerian doe would earn a star with this score.
from MDGA
2) Multiply pounds of milk by butterfat, times 1.11
3) Multiply days since freshening by 0.0555.
4) Add totals for final score.
Example:
a doe at 43 days fresh with 5.6 pounds of milk at 4.5% fat:
1) 5.6 x 5.55 = 31.08
2) 5.6 x 4.5 x 1.11 = 27.9720 (rounded to 27.97)
3) 43 x .0555 = 2.3865 (rounded to 2.387)
4) 31.080 + 27.97 + 2.387 = 61.437 (rounded to 61)
This Mini doe does not receive a Star; however, a Nigerian doe would earn a star with this score.
from MDGA