As outside pressures continue to limit production and cow numbers, dairies across the country are striving for maximum efficiency across their organizations. When we're limited by these factors, we must attempt to put the most profitable cows in every slot we have available. With component-based pricing, profitable cows are the ones with the highest levels of component efficiency (CE) and not necessarily the ones producing the most pounds of milk.

As an industry there has rightly been a tremendous focus on the pre-fresh, post-fresh and on the first 90 days of lactation. This critical time period sets the pace for the whole lactation, and as a result, we’ve made significant improvements in fresh cow management, welfare, nutrition and performance, all of which combined have pushed peak milk to new heights.