Calculating returns
In August this year, we wrote about Cargill’s new dairy calculator, which assesses feed intake and dairy cow milk component production and may give producers a way to improve their financial returns by highlighting high or poor herd performance.
The component efficiency calculation system is one the company has been using for some time, said Mike Messman, Cargill dairy strategic technology leader. Done by hand, the calculation requires several mathematical steps but the calculator tool simplifies that process.
“It takes time to collect enough data and review the information across a wide range of herds to establish a performance metric that is meaningful and relevant across the board,” he told FeedNavigator. “We believe strongly that this is something every herd can benefit from measuring and managing, and we want to provide it to the industry in a way that is easy to use and understand, which was why we decided to put it online.”
The free, online calculator can help producers see how efficiently their cows convert feed and forage into “pounds of milkfat and protein,” he said.
“The calculator will give them their efficiency percentage and let them know how their current level performs against other herds,” Messman said. “Do they have a herd of all-stars or a group of underdogs that need some help?”