By: Cassie Yost, Penn State Extension Dairy Educator
On any dairy operation, maintaining good records is critical for the success of the business. Tax season may be the first thing that comes to mind when we think of records for the farm. However, the day-to-day activities are also important to keep a good grasp on for the success of the farm.
Good records should be kept in all areas of the dairy, starting with the youngstock and going all the way to when cows leave the herd. Records can help determine how animals are performing, disease frequency, financial performance, reproductive success, milk production, and more. Whether they are handwritten or kept on hand-held devices, as long as there is a system in place to keep up-to-date, accurate records, this will be very beneficial to the business.
Record keeping with youngstock should include birth data, colostrum information, grain intake, health events, vaccination schedules, and average daily gains. Calf records can help to identify weaknesses in the program, poor-performing calves, and potential areas for improvement in raising replacement animals.
Good calf records can also help in the breeding program. Having a good understanding of how heifers are growing helps to determine when heifers are ready for breeding. Keeping detailed breeding information helps with culling decisions, mating decisions, and genetic improvements within the herd.
As cows enter the milking string, record keeping becomes very important to track production, SCC, mastitis infections, and more. This is where regular testing with Dairy One or DHIA can be very beneficial in tracking the health and performance of your herd. Monthly reports can help us with production trends, health events, and mastitis infections. Monthly records are extremely helpful when troubleshooting problems that can arise within the milking herd. These reports give us a snapshot of monthly trends and activity of the herd. Without these records, it can be very challenging to get an accurate picture of how the herd is performing.
As tax season approaches, keeping good financial records in all areas of the farm is a must. Whether you are tracking income and expenses in a farm account book, available at your local Extension Office, or a software program, the more details the better. Penn State Extension can help with completing a year-end cash flow for your operation to help determine key financial metrics. Detailed records in finances and animal performance are all crucial for the success of your business operation. Call Penn State Extension-Franklin County at 717-263-9226 to request assistance with completing a cash flow analysis or for more information.
