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Title: LET'S LOOK AGAIN AT EVALUATING DRY PERIOD LENGTH

Author
item Kuhn, Melvin
item Hutchison, Jana
item Norman, H

Submitted to: Hoard's Dairyman
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/12/2006
Publication Date: 6/1/2006
Citation: Kuhn, M.T., Hutchison, J.L., Norman, H.D. 2006. Let's look again at evaluating dry period length. Hoard's Dairyman. 151(11):434-435.

Interpretive Summary: A considerable advantage of estimates from field data (on-farm data), compared to designed trials, is that they have the potential for much higher precision due to large sample sizes. However, recent criticism of dry period research based on field data has led many farmers to not believe their own records. The objective of this article is to address those criticisms and provide farmers with confidence in using their own farm records for management decisions. This article is intended to be the first out of a three part series for a national dairy publication, and is, therefore, important to dairy producers and their understanding of the recent speculation that farm records cannot be used to look at different management techniques.

Technical Abstract: A considerable advantage of estimates from field data (on-farm data), compared to designed trials, is that they have the potential for much higher precision due to large sample sizes. However, recent criticism of dry period research based on field data has led many farmers to not believe their own records. The objective of this article is to address those criticisms and provide farmers with confidence in using their own farm records for management decisions. This article is intended to be the first out of a three part series for a national dairy publication, and is, therefore, important to dairy producers and their understanding of the recent speculation that farm records cannot be used to look at different management techniques.