Purina Animal Nutrition conducted an informal survey at World Dairy Expo to discover the management areas dairy farmers are focusing on to maximize milk production.

Dairy farmers voted by placing a ping-pong ball in the management area which best represents their herd’s greatest opportunity to increase milk production. Votes were collected in person at the Purina Animal Nutrition booth and online.

More than 1,000 dairy farmers voted, and three management areas quickly rose to the top:

1. Facilities and cow comfort
2. Feeding and nutrition
3. Calf and heifer raising

Tim Servais, a dairy farmer from Studdard, Wis., who milks 380-cows, cast his vote for feeding and nutrition.

Purina Animal Nutrition conducted an informal survey at World Dairy Expo to discover the management areas dairy farmers are focusing on to maximize milk production. (Photo: Jevtic/Thinkstock)

“We recently updated our facilities, and I’ve been pleased with the resulting increase in cow comfort and milk production," Servais said. "Now, I see room for improvement in feeding and nutrition. I’m working closely with my nutritionist to continue my herd’s progress.”

The results:
-29.1% voted for facilities and cow comfort.
-20.3% felt calf and heifer raising was their next opportunity.
-20% wanted to focus on feeding and nutrition.
-13.5% voted for herd health and reproduction
-13.5% voted for labor and management.
-3.3% felt another factor was their next step to higher milk production.

Source: Purina Animal Nutrition LLC