The NRS Information System

Introduction

Signals from actual practice indicate that there is a growing need for information and a greater flexibility in the provision of data. Increasing differences in farm management and conditions are the main reason for this greater need. This prompted the NRS to make a more detailed study of the need of information for the 1990s. In 1987 a study was commenced to find the ideal structure for a new information database.

Since then the NRS is working on a complete new system with a intergrated database for all performance and pedigree data based on such activities as milk-recording, type-classifications, AI, ect. This is called NRS Information System (NIS). With the assistance of the NIS database we are able to anticipate new techniques in computer processing (e.g. farm management systems). NIS will guarantee a high degree of flexibility in maintainig the quality and opportunities in the processing of data, aimed at achieving outstanding services in breeding and management for the cattle breeding industry.

NRS Information system

The central database for NIS is located in Arnhem. The relationship of NIS with other systems is schematically shown in figure 1. All relationships shown may be terminal connections and/or connections for data file transfer.

For example: the PC at the dairy farm can be connected with NIS for data file transfer. The local offices responsible for data collection of milk-recording and registration, have terminals which are connected to the system, giving access to the performance or pedigree records of cattle. AI and other organisations have terminal connection with NIS as well. The database for the Identification and Registration system (I&R) is directly connected with NIS. The basic registration data concering animals and herds are the same for NIS and I&R. Milk analysing laboratories provide NIS data on percentages of fat and protein and on cell counts in milk samples.

The use of the database is controlled by autorization rules based on the responsabilities and the working area of the organisation involved. In NIS the data of all herds with cattle and about 8 million dairy cows (living and pedigree animals) are stored. The data stored for these cows concern calving dates, registration, parents, test-day milk production, lactation and 305-day production, inseminations, implantations, breeding values for different traits, type classification, calving problems, cell counts, ect.

As these data are stored in one data base, all data concerning performance and ancestors of each dairy cow are easily accesible. Moreover, the data of all calves, maiden heifers of a certain dairy herd and AI sires can be found in NIS.

NIS gives access not only to animal data, but also to all relevant data of a dairy herd, such as production averages, herd index, ect. These data are valuable for efficient support of farm management with information products and for high quality breeding values estimation. Presently farmers can get information on: management of milk production, concentrate feeding, level of cell counts, quotum plan, management of fertility, management of breeding, sire appraisal program, a general report, ect.

Milk-recording

Processing milk-recording data

The current processing of milk-recording data with the new NRS information system is of a more advanced nature and has greater flexibility for the farmers. At the moment the Dutch dairy farmer can choose from three different systems for milk-recording: every three weeks, every four weeks or every six weeks. Milk-recording at the dairy farm is performed by an official sampler. Only data on milk yield per milking is key-punched directly in NIS, where use is made of the electronic version of forms to be filled in by the sampler. Bottles with milk samplers are send to milk-laboratories, from where the results concerning fat, protein composition and, if the farmer wants, cell counts are send to Arnhem by data line. In NIS, the results of milk laboratories are connected with the information about daily milk yields. If no errors are detected in data input, further processing is continued. After processing of milk-recording data, reports are send directly to the dairy farmer.

Farmers' choise

In addition to choosing the frequence of milk-recording, the farmer can choose three products: cell count recording, concentrate feeding advice and a breeding action list (cow agenda) to support short-term management. Milk-recording is the basic product; the other three productcs can be added optionally in any combination. The cell count per cow as well as the cell count value are shown, whereby the cell count is adjusted for number of lactation and lactation stage. A cell count value of 1 is considered good, when it is 4 or higher, the cow is suspected to have subclinical mastitis. The concentrate feeding advice, based on the porduction figures of each cow and her feeding regime, indicates how much concentrates each cow must be fed. The cow agenda provides the farmers a list of points of attention during a cow's reproduction cycle for the coming weeks. It covers points of attention in regard to drying off, calving, mating and pregnancy control.

Milk-recording report

The reports with the milk-recording results are sent directly to the farmers and others on request (veterinarian, farm advisors). The milk-recording report is split up into herd and cow survey.

Herd survey

Farmers receive reports on milk production of dairy cows, such as current lactation production, 305-day production (realized or predicted) and latest test-day production. The above results can be presented per group of cows. The farmer can choose from five possibilities, based on:

Cow survey

The cow survey contains all information about each individual cow. For each cow all important figures are presented (see figure 3), such as current lactation production, 305-day production (realised and predicted) and lactation value. The lactation value reflects the relative net economical production of a cow within a herd, presented as a percentage figure with 100 as the herd mean. As soon as possible at the beginning of the lactation the cow can be compared through their lactation value and/or predicted 305-day production. The sequence of the cows on the survey is determined by the farmer on the basis of: cow number, name of cow, age, data of calving, milk production per day or lactation value.

Costs

Despite the additional milk-recording information available to the dairy farmer, the NRS information does not entail any changes in the milk recording tariffs.

More

The NRS has developed more management tools for the dairy farmer. All these tools are available to every dairy farmer.