How can producers effectively track fresh cow performance?
HAMMON: Where available, the Transition Cow Index (developed by veterinarians at the University of Wisconsin) is a valuable way to evaluate transition cow performance and compare management herd to herd. Transition Cow Index is the deviation of actual milk yield compared to calculated expected milk yield and 305-day projection at the first test date. It can be estimated for each cow of second or greater lactation. Other measurements include percent of cows removed from the herd by 30 or 60 days in milk (DIM) and fresh cow disease incidence rates, if they are well- defined and accurately identified and recorded. MEYERS: Producers can use first-test milk, first-test butterfat, first-test linear somatic cell score (LS), first-test 305-day Mature Equivalent (M.E.), and week four milk production based on calving date and lactation group cohorts to provide an overview of how fresh cows are doing. If management changes were made to improve fresh cow health, over time, we want to see upward tr
