M.L. Khaitsa*, K.H.
Hoblet*1, K. L. Smith# , T.E.
Wittum*, and J.L.Henderson**
* Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine,
#Department of Animal Sciences
**Department of Human and Resource Development, The Ohio State University
Abstract
A cross-sectional study of 479 official DHIA herds in nine Ohio counties was conducted: 1) to describe and analyze the characteristics /management practices that were most related to milk production, and (2) to determine dairy herd characteristics/management practices that were most related to milk production Data was obtained using a questionnaire administered by DHIA supervisors. Herd participation was 39% (186/479). Among the herds that responded to our survey, the predominant breed was Holsteins (158/186; 85%); the mean number of "cows in milk" was 97 + 66; the mean RHA milk production was 19,221 + 2,741 lb and mean somatic cell count was 319,000 + 159,000 cells/ml. Herd characteristics/management practices that were most related to milk production included Number of cows in Milk, % Detected Estrus, Approximate % death loss in a year of calves born alive but dying before 8 weeks of age, % Days In Milk, Use of BST in the past 2 years, and the gender of the person answering the questionnaire.
Introduction
Nine of the counties in Ohio are located in two major milk shed regions (Northeastern and Western Ohio). The objectives of the study were: 1) To describe and analyze the characteristics/management practices of herds enrolled on Official DHIA programs in nine counties in Ohio, and 2) to determine dairy herd characteristics/management practices that were most related to milk production in order to plan extension education programming for dairy farmers and others associated with the dairy industry.