A note on the value and methods of correcting milk records for calving interval or days dry

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Abstract
In formulating a genetic index for use in cow and sire evaluation, there is a need to account for all environmental factors which influence an animal's yield. To this end, milk production records are currently adjusted for, amongst other things, age at calving and month of calving. In Norway, Sweden and West Germany, records are corrected for calving interval, i.e. the number of days between subsequent calvings (Philipsson, Dommerholt, Fimland, Gaillard, Gjøl-Christensen, Lederer, McClintock and Mocquot, 1978), but in Britain no account is taken of calving interval or days dry. Analysis has shown (McClintock, 1982) that both these factors have a significant effect on yield, and hence further investigation into the value and methods of adjusting for these factors was required.