Jeff Smith has been testing cows with Dairy One for over 30 years. He started his career as a DHI technician and today manages the north country region of New York as a Dairy Records Service Manager. Jeff manages a team of 6 DHI technicians that provide DHI and records services to farms in Clinton…(Read More)
Kim Gregory joined the Dairy One team in 2007 as a DHI technician. Today, Kim is a Dairy Records Service Manager and oversees our DHI field staff in the Mountain Region. Her territory includes the entire state of Vermont; western New Hampshire; and Essex, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties in New York. In addition…(Read More)
The VAS Platform App is a great tool to use while in the barn for quick cow side decisions. Depending on the access granted, individuals can look up animals, complete worklists, record pen changes, breedings, and more. When you look up an animal you will see PEN, LACT, RPRO, AGEDY, DSLH, DCC, DUE, Milk and…(Read More)
All herds on test with Dairy One are enrolled in our free MUN alert program. When more than 50% of a group, pen, or lactation stage is outside the desirable MUN range of 8-14, the farm will be directly emailed a Feed Management Diagnostic report. Farms may also choose to enroll in the Feed…(Read More)
The VAS Platform mobile app allows you to enter events while out in the barn that will sync back to DairyComp. This is particularly useful for entering breedings, fresh events, moves, open and preg checks, and more. Here are a couple tips to ensure your information will be sent back to DairyComp. To enter an…(Read More)
Many management decisions on dairy farms are made standing out in the barn with the animals. Having complete information cowside can help you make more informed and timely decisions that can increase the profitability of your farm. Pocket Cow Card (PCC) and VAS PULSE Platform are two commonly used tools on dairies that manage their…(Read More)
The dashboard on your VAS PULSE Platform is a visual snapshot of your herd’s data. All graphs are derived from DairyComp commands and formulas and some graphs will have the option to see more detailed data. Your dashboard shows a specific accumulation of key performance indicators, without having to type in commands and pull…(Read More)
VAS PULSE Platform brings data from all facets of your business to one central platform, making it a valuable tool for any dairy. However, where there is technology, there is the possibility things can and will go wrong. Luckily, there are easy fixes for some of the more common issues you may come across. One…(Read More)
There are many moving parts when it comes to operating a successful dairy farm. Your team members, consultants, and other service providers all play important, yet different roles. As some may say, it takes a village. Platform has many uses and different features to take advantage of on your farm. In order to do so…(Read More)
The data available on a dairy farm is limitless, as cows are constantly giving us new information to measure. To better use this data for daily management decisions, you need a tool to consolidate and evaluate your records. You may already be using herd management software, feed management software, or another type of tracking system…(Read More)
Postal service mail delays are becoming increasingly common. In fact, the USPS is currently experiencing unprecedented nationwide slow downs. These delays are affecting all mailed reports, particularly those from processing centers. If you are experiencing a delay in receiving your DHI reports, there are other options for receiving test day data: Web ReportsIf your records…(Read More)
For most herds, individual cow data is the foundation of cow management. DHI testing has been around for a long time. Like many service providers it has evolved to accommodate the changing needs of customers. If one of the following obstacles have kept you from testing, call us. It may be time to revisit Dairy…(Read More)
Congratulations to our outstanding Quality Milk Award recipients! Each year, we are pleased to recognize those members whose herds have maintained a rolling herd average somatic cell count of 175,000 or less in the previous calendar year. See the full list of winners here…(Read More)
While we have begun to see some improvement in milk prices, there are still some farms that are being asked to maintain a lower level of production than they are used to. Many industry leaders have cautioned the importance of balanced production when it comes to sustaining an ideal milk price. Some are choosing…(Read More)
Dr. Chris Dutton, VMD, discusses the benefits of milk pregnancy testing vs vet checks and the role both can play on your farm. For additional assistance in using data to make decisions on your farm, email datadriven@dairyone.com. https://youtu.be/dyjsO2AOzu4…(Read More)
Carol Benway, Director of Dairy One DHI & Field Services, discusses which cows are eligible for milk pregnancy testing, how your DHI technician can help identify those cows, and what you can expect from results. For further assistance using data to make decisions on your farm, email datadriven@dairyone.com. https://youtu.be/x5nwzGp-wzk…(Read More)
MUN is another component (like protein and butter fat) that can be measured in milk. It is an important measurement because it indicates how effectively the cow is using the protein in her diet. MUN values that are higher than the recommended range generally mean the cows have too much protein in the diet or…(Read More)
Hear from Dairy One DHI and Field Services Consultant George Cudoc about the 5 things you should consider before drying off a cow early and how milk pregnancy can help. For assistance interpreting your data and using it to make decisions on your farm, email datadriven@dairyone.com. https://youtu.be/YD-cKjf5VtM…(Read More)
In these challenging times, many farms are being asked to reduce their production. A complete picture of production helps you make informed decisions about feeding, breeding, early dry off, and culling. When adjusting to meet new market conditions, consider the following goals:• Maximize components while lowering milk volume• Improve milk quality by monitoring individual cow…(Read More)
Most of you are familiar with the Farm Service Technician, or DHI Field Technician label. Some of you may even remember a time when we referred to the person who showed up at the farm, collected milk samples, recorded important data, tagged the calves, and left reports for them to use as a “tester”. The…(Read More)
At the beginning of September, Dairy One employees from our laboratories and Ithaca office visited Sunnyside Farms in Scipio Center, NY to see Dairy One services in action. Sunnyside is a customer of Dairy One on many levels, using our cameras, networks, software support, and DHI testing services. They are also a customer of our…(Read More)
By John Tauzel, Director of Business Development Last fall Dairy One launched a project to screen DHIA cow samples for Milk Urea Nitrogen (MUN). We then alerted farms that had over 50% of the cows in the herd outside of the normal recommended range (8-14mg/dl). We identified over 1,100 farms that had…(Read More)
The transportation and courier system covers about 14 states and is comprised of 25-30 couriers who drive more than 160,000 miles per month. This is the method by which the majority of Dairy One DHIA samples and bulk tank producer payment samples end up at the Dairy One Milk Laboratory every day. Rain…(Read More)
One of the best parts of my role at Dairy One is having the opportunity to work with a variety of different business units. This requires committing a large amount of time to gaining a better understanding of how all the different pieces of the Dairy One puzzle fit together. The first puzzle piece I…(Read More)
Increased Somatic Cell count (SCC) can be costly. Not only can these elevated counts decrease milk yield, they can also lower your milk premium. Working with a Dairy One Farm Service Technician can help you track individual SCC and tank contributions as well as identify the financial costs and opportunities surrounding SCC. These financial opportunities…(Read More)
by Chris Dutton, VDM Recent trends in weather and milk prices have lead many farms to increase focus on their heifer-raising enterprises. Forage shortages due to drought in parts of the Northeast will mean higher purchased feed costs, and current milk prices have diminished margins at the farm, leaving no room in the…(Read More)
Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA) is a national association that helps dairy producers create and manage records and data about their cows for use in making management decisions. The associations were originally organized by state, and as with many services, have consolidated into regional services. The services that DHIA programs offer have also grown over…(Read More)