Cow herd optimization method and system based on dairy cow production performance determination (DHI) data

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of cow herd optimization, and particularly relates to a cow herd optimization method and system based on cow production performance determination (DHI) data. According to the method, production performance, health, reproduction and other indexes influencing the benefits of the dairy cows are integrated, different weights are given according to the importance of each index, first-birth cows and multiparous cows are evaluated and scored respectively, ranking is performed according to scores, the dairy cows with higher scores are reserved preferentially, and individuals with lower scores are eliminated according to a plan. The method solves the problem of single and inaccurate evaluation basis of the cow individuals, can comprehensively and accurately evaluate the cow individuals, and completes high-efficiency cow herd optimization.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of dairy cow herd optimization, and in particular relates to a dairy cow herd optimization method and system based on dairy cow production performance measurement (DHI) data. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, the level of domestic dairy farming has been significantly improved, the yield of dairy cows has steadily increased, and the health and reproduction levels have also made great progress. The number of dairy cows has gradually transitioned from a few or dozens of them to hundreds or thousands of them. As the herd expands, the differences between individual dairy cows are gradually increasing. Due to genetic, nutritional and environmental factors, some individual dairy cows have low production, health, reproduction and other performance, which cannot bring benefits to the farm. They need to be screened and eliminated from the herd to ensure the performance of the entire herd. At present, there are two main ways for cattle farms to optimize their herds. One is passive elimination, that is, eliminating dairy cows that have no breeding value due to diseases, accidental injuries or repeated infertility; the other is active elimination, that is, eliminating cows with low production performance to improve the quality of the herd.

[0003] At present, the main basis for small and medium-sized dairy farms to actively eliminate their herds is milk production, that is, the cows with lower milk production are eliminated and the herds with higher milk production are retained. Although this method is simple and easy to implement, it has a single basis and cannot accurately evaluate dairy cows, so the optimization efficiency is low. Therefore, there is an urgent need for an evaluation standard that can comprehensively and correctly evaluate dairy cows in order to optimize the herd, thereby achieving the goal of selecting the best and eliminating the worst and improving the overall level of the herd. Summary of the invention

[0004] In order to solve the deficiencies of the prior art, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a herd optimization method and system based on dairy cow production performance measurement (DHI) data, which integrates the production performance, health, reproduction and other indicators that affect the benefits of dairy cows, gives different weights according to the importance of each indicator, evaluates and scores single-calf cows and multiparous cows respectively, and ranks them according to the scores, giving priority to retaining dairy cows with higher scores, and eliminating individuals with lower scores according to the plan. The problem of single and inaccurate basis for individual evaluation of dairy cows is solved, and individual dairy cows can be comprehensively and accurately evaluated to achieve efficient herd optimization.

[0005] To achieve the above object, the technical solution of the present invention is:

[0006] A first aspect of the present invention provides a herd optimization method based on dairy cow production performance measurement data, comprising the following steps:

[0007] Step 1: Data collection, collect the production performance measurement data of the herd to be evaluated;

[0008] Step 2: Based on the production performance measurement data results, calculate the average production performance index values ​​of individual dairy cows and groups;

[0009] Step 3: Calculate the deduction value of individual dairy cows based on the disease diagnosis records of the dairy farm;

[0010] Step 4: Calculate the individual score of the dairy cow using the average index value of the individual and group production performance of the dairy cow and the individual deduction value of the dairy cow;

[0011] Step 5: Sort the individual cows based on their individual scores to optimize the cow population.

[0012] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, in step 1, the performance measurement data collected include performance measurement data of a single-calf and a multiparous cow, wherein the age of first calving is related to the growth and reproductive capacity of a single-calf cow, and the calving interval is related to the reproduction of a multiparous cow;

[0013] Specifically, the 305 milk yield, milk protein rate and somatic cell content and age of first calving of a first-calving cow; the 305 milk yield, milk protein rate, somatic cell content and the most recent calving interval of a multiparous cow.

[0014] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, in step 3, the cattle farm disease diagnosis record includes but is not limited to mastitis, abortion, hoof disease, metritis, and retained placenta; among which, 2 points will be deducted for each mastitis or abortion, and 1 point will be deducted for each other disease such as hoof disease, metritis, retained placenta, etc.

[0015] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, in step 4, the individual cow score is calculated using the average index value of individual and group production performance of the dairy cow and the individual cow deduction value, wherein:

[0016] Score of a litter = (individual 305 milk volume / average 305 milk volume of a litter)*50+(individual milk protein rate / average milk protein of a litter)*20+(1-(individual somatic cell score-average somatic cell score of a litter) / average somatic cell score of a litter)*20+(1-(individual calving age in months and average calving age in months) / average calving age in months)*10-deduction value;

[0017] The score of multiparous cows = (individual 305 milk volume / average 305 milk volume per parity)*50+(individual milk protein rate / average milk protein per parity)*20+(1-(individual somatic cell score-average somatic cell score of multiparous cows) / average somatic cell score of multiparous cows)*20+(1-(individual fetal spacing-average fetal spacing of multiparous cows) / average fetal spacing of multiparous cows)*10-deduction value.

[0018] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, in step 5, single-calf cows and multiparous cows are sorted from high to low according to their scores, and a cow elimination ratio is formulated according to the actual situation of the cattle farm. Single-calf cows and multiparous cows are eliminated in a ratio of (1-3):(7-10). Preferably, single-calf cows and multiparous cows are eliminated in a ratio of 3:7.

[0019] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, herd optimization is performed on a dairy farm that has measured dairy cow production performance for more than one year and has complete herd production and disease diagnosis and treatment records.

[0020] A second aspect of the present invention provides a herd optimization system based on dairy cow production performance measurement data, comprising:

[0021] A statistical module, which is used to collect statistical data on the production performance of dairy cows;

[0022] The production performance calculation module calculates the average production performance index values ​​of individual and group dairy cows based on the production performance data measurement results;

[0023] The individual deduction score calculation module for dairy cows calculates the individual deduction score value for dairy cows based on the disease diagnosis records of the dairy farm;

[0024] The cow individual score calculation module calculates the cow individual score based on the average index value of the cow individual and group production performance and the cow individual deduction value;

[0025] The optimization module sorts individual cows based on their individual scores and optimizes the cow population.

[0026] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the statistical module collects performance measurement data including performance measurement data of a fetus and a multiparous cow, and the collected performance measurement data includes performance measurement data of a fetus and a multiparous cow;

[0027] Among them, the 305 milk yield, milk protein rate and somatic cell count of single-calf cows and the age of first calving; the 305 milk yield, milk protein rate, somatic cell count and the most recent calving interval of multiparous cows.

[0028] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the production performance calculation module specifically retrieves the DHI records of the cattle farm in the past year, sorts them by cattle number, and calculates the average 305 milk yield, milk protein rate, somatic cell content, birth age of first-parity cows, and calving interval of multiparous cows for each cow. Sort by parity, calculate the average 305 milk yield, milk protein rate, somatic cell content, and first-parity age of first-parity cows; calculate the average 305 milk yield, milk protein rate, somatic cell content, and most recent calving interval of cows with two or more parities.

[0029] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the individual deduction score calculation module for dairy cows is specifically as follows: based on the disease diagnosis and treatment records of the cattle farm in the past year, the individual treatment deduction score of dairy cows is calculated according to the cow number. Mastitis or abortion will be deducted 2 points each time, and other diseases such as hoof disease, metritis, retained placenta, etc. will be deducted 1 point each time.

[0030] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the cow individual score calculation module calculates the cow individual score using the average index value of the cow individual and group production performance and the cow individual deduction value, wherein:

[0031] Score of a litter = (individual 305 milk volume / average 305 milk volume of a litter)*50+(individual milk protein rate / average milk protein of a litter)*20+(1-(individual somatic cell score-average somatic cell score of a litter) / average somatic cell score of a litter)*20+(1-(individual calving age in months and average calving age in months) / average calving age in months)*10-deduction value;

[0032] The score of multiparous cows = (individual 305 milk volume / average 305 milk volume per parity)*50+(individual milk protein rate / average milk protein per parity)*20+(1-(individual somatic cell score-average somatic cell score of multiparous cows) / average somatic cell score of multiparous cows)*20+(1-(individual fetal spacing-average fetal spacing of multiparous cows) / average fetal spacing of multiparous cows)*10-deduction value.

[0033] Specifically, a first-calf cow is about 2 years old when giving birth. It is still in the growth and development stage and has not reached full maturity. Its milk production is also about 80% of that of a multiparous cow. Therefore, the evaluation results of first-calf cows and multiparous cows separately will be more accurate and reliable.

[0034] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the optimization module is specifically as follows: single-parity cows and multiparous cows are sorted from high to low according to their scores, and a cow elimination ratio is formulated according to the actual situation of the farm. For a lactating herd of cows, the normal parity ratio is: single parity: second parity: third parity and above = 3:2:5, so a ratio of 3:7 is adopted for elimination.

[0035] Compared with the active elimination method based mainly on milk production, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0036] In production, it is possible to accurately evaluate adult cows in the herd, provide basic data for the formation of the core group, efficiently optimize the herd, eliminate cows with low efficiency, speed up the genetic improvement of the herd, and achieve the purpose of saving costs and increasing efficiency. The evaluation content of the present invention includes milk production, milk composition, mammary gland health, reproduction, health and longevity, etc., and can comprehensively evaluate individual dairy cows. The method of the present invention can complete the optimization of the herd using existing DHI data and cattle farm record data, and no other investment is required. The method of the present invention is simple and easy to implement, without complex calculations, and can be completed by general cattle farm technicians. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The accompanying drawings in the specification, which constitute a part of the present invention, are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions are used to explain the present invention and do not constitute improper limitations on the present invention.

[0038] Figure 1 This is a flow chart of the herd optimization method based on dairy cow production performance measurement data in Example 1 of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 2 It is the comprehensive score of the herd in the herd optimization method based on the production performance measurement data of dairy cows in Example 1 of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 3 The scores of the culled cattle in Example 1 of the present invention and Comparative Example 1 are shown.

[0041] Figure 4 The reproduction conditions of the eliminated cattle in Example 1 of the present invention and Comparative Example 1 are shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with examples. It should be understood that the following examples are provided only for the purpose of illustration and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the art may make various modifications and substitutions to the present invention without departing from the purpose and spirit of the present invention.

[0043] Example 1

[0044] A herd optimization method based on dairy cow production performance measurement data comprises the following steps:

[0045] 1. The DHI measurement reports of the herd in the past 12 months were sorted out, and the average 305 milk yield, milk protein rate, somatic cell count, first calving age of one-parity cows, calving interval of two-parity cows and above, and other indicators were calculated. The average production performance of 425 cows was obtained, including 159 one-parity cows and 266 two-parity cows and above.

[0046] 2. Arrange the disease diagnosis and treatment records of 425 cows in the past 12 months, add the number of treatments for diseases such as mastitis, abortion, metritis, hoof disease, and retained placenta to the cattle production performance table, and complete it with the basic information of the cattle.

[0047] 3. Use the individual score formula to calculate the individual scores of one-parity cows and cows with more than two parities, and obtain the individual scores of one-parity cows and multiple-parity cows ( Figure 2 ).

[0048] 4. According to the ratio of 20% of the herd to be eliminated, 32 first-parity cows will be eliminated, and 53 cows with two or more parities will be eliminated. The elimination will be carried out according to the individual scores of the cows. The elimination of first-parity cows is shown in Table 1, and the elimination of multiparity (multiparous) cows is shown in Table 2.

[0049]

[0050]

[0051]

[0052]

[0053] Comparative Example 1

[0054] According to the conventional method of culling cattle, that is, culling based on milk production, the culling of single-parity cows is shown in Table 3, and the culling of multiparous (multiparous) cows is shown in Table 4.

[0055]

[0056]

[0057]

[0058]

[0059] Compared with Example 1, only 49 identical cattle were eliminated in Comparative Example 1, with a similarity of about 58%. Figure 3 , 4 The results show that among the culled cattle in Comparative Example 1, 55% are single-calf cows, which is a relatively high culling ratio. Single-calf cows are about 2 years old when giving birth and are still in the growth and development stage, and have not reached full maturity. Their milk production is also about 80% of that of multiparous cows. Therefore, it is impossible to accurately evaluate dairy cows, and the optimization efficiency is low. Example 1 designs different scoring methods based on the differences in growth, development and production between single-calf cows and multiparous cows, adds the evaluation of functional traits such as reproduction, health, and longevity, can improve the accuracy of individual dairy cow evaluation, can more comprehensively evaluate individual dairy cows, and thus improve the efficiency of the cattle farm.

[0060] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. For those skilled in the art, the present invention may have various modifications and variations. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A herd optimization method based on dairy cow production performance measurement data, characterized in that: The steps include: Step 1: Collect the production performance data of the herd to be evaluated; Step 2: Based on the production performance measurement data results, calculate the average production performance index values ​​of individual dairy cows and groups; Step 3: Calculate the deduction value of individual dairy cows based on the disease diagnosis records of the dairy farm; Step 4: Calculate the individual score of the dairy cow using the average index value of the individual and group production performance of the dairy cow and the individual deduction value of the dairy cow; Step 5: Sort the individual cows based on their individual scores to optimize the cow population.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The performance measurement data include performance measurement data of single-calf and multiparous cows; Among them, the 305 milk yield, milk protein rate and somatic cell count of single-calf cows and the age of first calving; the 305 milk yield, milk protein rate, somatic cell count and the most recent calving interval of multiparous cows.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that In step 3, the cattle farm disease diagnosis records include but are not limited to mastitis, abortion, hoof disease, metritis, and retained placenta.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that In step 3, the deduction value of the individual dairy cow is specifically as follows: 2 points are deducted for mastitis or abortion, and 1 point is deducted for other diseases such as hoof disease, metritis, retained placenta, etc.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that In step 4, the individual scores of dairy cows are calculated using the average index values ​​of individual and group production performance of dairy cows and the individual deduction values ​​of dairy cows. The score of a fetus = (individual 305 milk volume / average 305 milk volume of a fetus) * 50 + (individual milk protein rate / average milk protein of a fetus) * 20 + (1-(individual somatic cell score-average somatic cell score of a fetus) / average somatic cell score of a fetus) * 20 + (1-(individual calving age-average calving age of a fetus) / average calving age of a fetus) * 10-deduction value.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that In step 4, the individual score of the dairy cow is calculated using the average index values ​​of individual and group production performance of dairy cows and the individual deduction values ​​of dairy cows. The score of multiparous cows = (individual 305 milk volume / average 305 milk volume of multiparous cows)*50+(individual milk protein rate / average milk protein of multiparous cows)*20+(1-(individual somatic cell score-average somatic cell score of multiparous cows) / average somatic cell score of multiparous cows)*20+(1-(individual fetal spacing-average fetal spacing of multiparous cows) / average fetal spacing of multiparous cows)*10-deduction value.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that In step 5, the cow culling ratio is determined based on the actual situation of the farm. For a lactating herd, the normal parity ratio is: first parity: second parity: third parity and above = 3:2:

5.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that Single-parous cows and multiparous cows are culled in a ratio of 3:

7.

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Herd optimization is carried out based on dairy farms that have measured dairy cow production performance for more than one year and have complete records of herd production and disease diagnosis and treatment.

10. A herd optimization system based on dairy cow production performance measurement data, characterized in that: include: A statistical module, which is used to collect statistical data on the production performance of dairy cows; The production performance calculation module calculates the average production performance index values ​​of individual and group dairy cows based on the production performance data measurement results; The individual deduction score calculation module for dairy cows calculates the individual deduction score value for dairy cows based on the disease diagnosis records of the dairy farm; The cow individual score calculation module calculates the cow individual score based on the average index value of the cow individual and group production performance and the cow individual deduction value; The optimization module sorts individual cows based on their individual scores and optimizes the cow population.

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