A massive dairy research effort in Israel shows that daily in-line milk analysis predicts future lactation more accurately than monthly DHIA testing.
A recently published study, selected for "Editor's Choice" in the December 2016 issue of the Journal of Dairy Science, looked at more than 37,000 cows and compared Afimilk's AfiLab milk analyzer to monthly DHIA tests.
Members of the Agricultural Research Organization compared daily records of milk production, protein and fat concentration and concluded that the daily real-time recording may be preferable to the testings.
They say the main difference was at 30 days in milk, when higher genetic correlations were observed by in-line analysis for predicted versus actual lactations.
Afimilk's says its In-line Milk Lab measures milk yield and other components to help manage cow selection, and can also alert when cows are at risk for things like mastitis and ketosis.
The farm management company now operates in more than 50 countries.
