Relationship of Management and Financial Measures Among Dairy Herds in Virginia

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Abstract
Owners of 74 dairy herds (58 DH) chosen randomly from nine percentiles of size and production per cow were surveyed personally for management characteristics not available in DHI records, including financial including financial information. Management variables were related to production and financial measures on a per cow basis. Variables contributing to production per cow were parlor milking (+680 kg), regular herd health care (+448 kg), and corn silage as primary forage (+480 kg). Contributing to net cash income per cow were estrus detection aids (+$147), silages (-$470), high moisture corn (+$64), and feed analysis (+$227). Herringbone parlors were associated with 7% more frequent severe mastitis, which was reduced by .9% for each milking recommendation practiced. Estrus detection aids reduced days open by 11 d. Lowest calf mortality to freshening was 8.4% for calves housed individually in cold housing and weaned before 7 wk of age. Income minus feed cost from survey and DHI were similar but lowly correlated (.35). Net cash income per cow was largest in large herds ($951) and smallest in medium-sized high producing herds ($308). Purchased feed accounted for 42% of expenses and 46% of variation in expenses. The DHI herds had $644/cow more debt than non-DHI herds but $991/cow more 5-yr debt capacity.