Dairy Herd Size and Income Over Feed Cost

Abstract

Dairy herd size was examined for possible direct or indirect influence on Income Over Feed Cost per cow. Monthly Dairy Herd Improvement Association records were used to predict daily Income Over Feed Cost by herd size categories. The monetary impact of 146 factors recorded monthly per herd are examined by multiple regression and the findings are presented for the 19 most significant factors. The most important positive contributors to Income Over Feed Cost are the percent of cows in milk, energy value of concentrates fed, mean cow weight, days in milk, and Persistency Index. The most significant negative factors are the days open, percent of herd milking over 305 days, somatic cell count, and mixed herds. Herd size, age, first breeding conception rate, and the percent of possible breedings actually serviced were not significant predictors.