Estimations of Certain Environmental Influences on Milk Production Based upon Dairy Herd Improvement Association Data

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Preliminary studies indicated that influences other than maximum daily temperature account for most of the variation in milk production among cows. Herd data on 305 herds and 19,636 cows were analyzed using multiple covariance and regression techniques to determine the effects of 13 management variables upon FCM [fat corrected milk] production. Statistically significant regres sions and constants were obtained for FCM on; per cent of cows sired artificially, number of milking machines used, management of the breeding program, grain feeding program, milking facilities, and pipeline vs. bucket milking. Regressions obtained for per cent management by family, average number of months on DHIA, milking program, number of men using machines, size of herd, total number of men in milking operation, and time spent for one milking were not significant. The variables studied accounted for 31% of the total variation.