Section 02 – Cattle Milk Recording

Introduction

Information about milk production traits is very important for managing and breeding dairy herds. The milk recording process starts with the collection of animal identification, a calving date of milking cows, the amount of milk given and the date with time or time frame of a day. A milk sample may be taken. The obtained milk sample is analysed for milk constituents. The results of the analysis plus the data about milk yield and time of milking are stored in a database. Subsequently a number of parameters, cumulative yields and indices are calculated and stored in the database and, finally, reported to the farmer

This section (2) of the ICAR Guidelines focuses on the milk recording process for dairy cattle.

Definition and terminology

A list of important definitions for terms and abbreviations used in these guidelines is provided by Cattle Milk Recording#Definition and terminology

Table 1. Definitions of Terms used in these guidelines.

Term	Definition
24-hour yield	The amounts of milk, fat and protein produced by the individual cow over 24 hours.
Accumulated yield	The amounts of milk, fat and protein produced by the individual cow during an appointed period of time, e.g. a calendar year.
Average yield	The amounts of milk, fat and protein produced by all cows in the herd in average during the appointed time period.
Lactation	The period from an individual cow’s calving to her dry off or culling (lactation can be incomplete)
Milk recording	The system that contains the whole process described in paragraph 1 of this guideline. This is also known as Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI).
Recorded cow	Any cow in a recorded herd.
Recorded herd	Any herd that is enrolled in milk recording.
Recording	The action of measuring a cow’s milk yield by collecting the data and processing it (e. g. by use of a database). This is also known as testing or test day.
Sampling	The action of taking a representative sample of a cow’s milk. Sampling is generally attached to a recording.
Standard lactation	The period from an individual cow’s calving until her dry off or 305th day since her calving.
Vial	The vessel containing a milk sample, also known as bottle etc.

Test for numbered list.

1. One
2. Two
3. Three

Scope

Figure 1 gives a pictorial summary of the main elements of this guideline.

In summary, this section of the ICAR Guidelines covers the milk recording process from the enrolment of a herd for milk recording, through to the delivery of information which a herd owner can use to assist in a range of decisions.

Figure 1. Scope of Section 2 -Dairy cattle milk recording.

Not covered in this section are:

1. Standards and guidelines for ICAR approval of milk recording devices. Please consult Section 11 for this subject.
2. Standards and guidelines for ICAR approval of ID devices. Please consult Section 10 for this subject.
3. Standards and guidelines for preparation of milk samples and for quality assurance of milk analysis. Please consult Section 12 for this subject.
4. Standards and guidelines for in-line milk analysis on the farm. Please consult Section 13 for this subject.