Why classify? The Holstein Association USA’s classification program may have its roots in the tiestall barns of breeder herds, but dairymen still find value in these third-party evaluations on commercial dairies today. In fact, more Holstein cows received official scores last year compared to the previous year. At the 2013 annual meeting, Holstein Association USA, Inc. reported evaluating 190,339 cows through the regular classification program, representing a 2 percent increase.

Genetics matter. And they are one of the cheapest investments you can make to improve the profitability and efficiency of your herd. While the numbers on a proof sheet may sometimes seem unrealistic or unclear, once you break it down to see how they translate on a herd-level basis, it becomes very real. Using herd management software programs, we can create a genetic assessment of any given herd to see if their animals truly live up to their genetic potential.

Previously, we established that defining dairy cow health status is not always a black and white issue. That’s because while the vast majority of cows on dairies are healthy and a few are easily identified as sick, a certain percentage of cows don’t fit in either category. These are the cows that fall into the “gray area.” These animals do not stand out. They don’t show visual signs of illness or underperformance, but neither are they functioning at full capacity.

The dairy world, both the production industry and the commodity market sides, is at a pivotal moment. No longer is fluid milk the leading driver of milk prices; now, the solids within milk have the power. Sure, a producer can make a little more money by shipping more hundredweights, but at the cost of the efficiency of the dairy. The good news for the dairy producer is that boosting the premium dollars on their milk check can be as simple as choosing the right bulls.

Although milk production has almost doubled during the last 50 years, conception rate did not improve and stayed low. The average conception rate in North America is at 39 percent with pregnancy rate being as low as 15 percent. Reproduction problems represent 18 percent of the culling rate and are stated to be the main reasons for involuntary culling in dairy herds.

When dairy industry consultants recommend facility or management improvements, more often than not, it’s assumed these types of cow comfort investments are automatically justified. What lenders need to understand, however, is how the investments will provide the returns to justify the expense.