What DHI Milk Data Makes Possible

How does the standard DHI milk sample provide valuable research data?

DHI milk analysis not only provides information for genetic evaluations and valuable real-time information for the producer to make decisions on-farm, but it also contributes to research for the development of new traits and tools. DHI labs have new capabilities to generate additional milk component information, including fatty acids and beta casein, which are related to various economically important outcomes such as cow health and cheese making ability. Research has linked milk fatty acids with cow nutrition, allowing producers to use milk fatty acid data as an early indicator of potential poor rumen health and milk fat depression. Ultimately, the outputs of milk samples provide, and will continue to provide, additional information to the producer to better inform management, culling, and breeding decisions on farm.

What new data types are you starting to collect and what impact do they have for producers and the industry?

Traditional DHI milk analysis contributes important information regarding milk composition, including milk fat, protein, and somatic cell score. The instruments used to generate this information utilize infrared spectrometry, which generates milk spectral data. Milk spectral data can provide additional component measurements such as lactose, milk urea nitrogen (MUN), beta casein, and fatty acids from the same DHI milk sample. These components not only provide more detail to the producer on each cow’s potential profitability but can also provide insight related to cow health, nutrition, and management. Fatty acid analysis can be used to estimate methane production, providing a valuable metric for sustainability efforts.

What role does milk spectra data play in the research you are doing?

Since milk spectra data is generated as part of routine DHI procedures, it can provide additional insights without significant additional sample collection cost or labor in most cases. Facilitating the collection and reporting of this information from DHI labs is allowing the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding to build a database to explore a number of research questions. This research includes the development of new component traits, better understanding of how milk fatty acids are related to overall lactation performance, and prediction of indirect measures like methane production. Guided by the wants and needs of the industry, the milk spectra database will hold answers to real-life challenges, providing producers and their consultants with additional management tools to make more informed and timely decisions regarding the management of their animals.

 

“ Milk spectra data is an untapped wealth of information that can provide additional insights without significant additional sample collection cost or labor in most cases.”