MDGS Supports: Michigan Dairy Herd Improvement (MI-DHIA)

Michigan Dairy Herd Improvement (MI-DHIA)

MI-DHIA Dedicated to the promotion and improvement of the dairy goat
	DHIR Guidelines	Contact MI-DHIA	DHIR Glossary
	DHIR Requirements	Contact MI-DHIA	MI-DHIR Honor Roll
Production testing through the Dairy Herd Improvement Association is the most valuable management and record-keeping system available to the dairy goat owner. Milk & butterfat production, herd and individual lactation information, plus, feeding data, combine to make this a comprehensive management program for the improvement of dairy goat herds. . Utilizing the information provided in these records, the herd owner may make informed decisions about feed, production culling, and the use of herd sires. The information is also used for breed & pedigree records, sire summaries, genetic evaluations, education, and research. . Lactation records made in the DHIR plan are sent to the herd owner and to the Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory (AIPL) of the USDA for research and genetic evaluations. Results are also sent to the American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA) for recognition and awards programs, as well as for the ADGA Sire Development Program. . Another plan is called DHIA, which is identical to the DHIR program, except that the records are not sent to ADGA, and therefore are not eligible for ADGA recognition and awards. . There are two acceptable testing methods for weighing the milk, collecting samples, an documentation: Standard and Group. Animals meeting production requirements through the DHIR program will be entered into the ADGA Advanced Registry, based on their production records of their progeny.

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MI-DHIA Production Testing Guidelines
Testing requires preparation well in advance of the kidding season.
You first must decide on a testing method, either Individual, Group, or Owner/Sampler Plans

NOTE: The Owner/Sampler Plan is relatively new....click here to read what it is all about.
DHIA Dairy Scale Certification is available @ MDGS Goat Day! Test herds are encouraged to bring their scales for certification each year.

Testing Methods

Join or form a test group. A test group, or ring, consists of a minimum of three herds. They agree to test each other on a monthly rotation.
Owner Sampler Plan. The Owner assumes all responsibility to send in completed lactation record. Herd verification testing between 60 & 150 days in milk.
Sign up for individual testing. To be on individual testing, you will need to locate an individual to test your herd.

They must be trained for DHIA, and must not be related to you, nor have any financial interest in your herd.

Sample Processing Lab

Choose a testing lab. All animals in the herd that have ever freshened* must be listed as milkers, whether or not they are in milk.

They may be grouped into separate herds by breed.

*Animals 8yrs or older, are considered retired & not required to be listed.

Michigan Lab:

800-292-4523

Monthly Fee: $18.00, for first 10 milkers; & $1.00 for each additional milker

They supply sample vials & monthly report

Langston Lab:

877-344-4628

Monthly Fee: $0.08 per milker, or, $6.00 per herd size 1-20 milkers, with a charge of $1.15 per milk sample; and a $2.00 per month affiliate fee.

They supply sample vials, the shipping box, & monthly report

Other Labs:

You can also use any other lab in the country that processes milk samples

Contact a lab for details & fees

Official Records

The American Dairy Goat Association charges $35.00 to register in their DHIR program the first year, plus $1.00 per milker; and is required to have the production records appear on the pedigrees.

Renewal Fees are $25.00 per year, plus $1.00 per milker. ADGA will send you and your selected lab, a Test Permission Notice, whereby your selected processing lab will report the results directly to ADGA..

Training Options

Required DHIA Testing must be completed in order to participate. Langston University provides training materials, and MDGS-DHIA Committee conducts an information & training session each spring at the Annual MDGS GoatDay.

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DHIR Minimum REQUIREMENTs CHART weights in pounds age in months The chart below lists the minimum milk, butterfat, and protein required for a doe to be eligible for entry into the Advanced Registry of ADGA. A doe may meet these requirements on either milk, butterfat, or protein.
Age at Freshening	Milk #	Butterfat #	Protein #
2-00 or younger	1500	52.50	45.00
2-01	1506	52.71	45.18
2-02	1512	52.92	45.36
2-03	1518	53.13	45.54
2-04	1524	53.34	45.72
2-05	1530	53.55	45.90
2-06	1536	53.76	46.08
2-07	1542	53.97	46.26
2-08	1548	54.18	46.44
2-09	1554	54.39	46.62
2-10	1560	54.60	46.80
2-11	1566	54.81	46.98
3-00	1572	55.02	47.16
3-01	1578	55.23	47.34
3-02	1584	55.44	47.52
3-03	1590	55.65	47.70
3-04	1596	55.86	47.88
3-05	1602	56.07	48.06
3-06	1608	56.28	48.24
3-07	1614	56.49	48.42
3-08	1620	56.70	48.60
3-09	1626	56.91	48.78
3-10	1632	57.12	48.96
3-11	1638	57.33	49.14
4-00	1644	57.54	49.32
4-01	1650	57.75	49.50
4-02	1656	57.96	49.68
4-03	1662	58.17	49.86
4-04	1668	58.38	50.04
4.05	1674	58.59	50.22
4.06	1680	58.80	50.40
4.07	1686	59.01	50.58
4.08	1692	59.22	50.76
4.09	1698	59.43	50.94
4-10	1704	59.64	51.12
4-11	1710	59.85	51.30
5-00 or older	1716	60.06	51.48
source: ADGA Guidebook 2002 BACK TO TOP

Michigan DHIA Glossary of Terms
Here are just few of the basic terms used within the DHIA Program. Contact MI-DHIA for more information regarding this evaluation & management program.
DHIA	Identical to DHIR testing, except that the records are not sent to ADGA, and therefore uneligible for recognition or awards.
DHIR	Official testing plan in which the milk weights & samples are taken by a licensed DHI supervisor. Lactation records made in this plan are sent to the herd owner, the testing lab, and to ADGA for recognition and awards programs
Group Test	A group of 3 (or more) persons, who can test each other's herd. Every member in the group is required to take training from a Certified Supervisor and the group must follow the rules for Standard Testing.
One-Day Milking Competition	This is an ADGA program that has it's own rules and procedures. The one-day test is usually held during local fairs or goat shows, and arrangements for such competitions must be made in advance with both ADGA, and with the local DHIA. The test is conducted by a local DHIA Supervisor, and there is a special charge. Stars can be earned, but the does are not eligible for other ADGA recognition awards.
Standard Test	A Licensed DHI Supervisor comes to the farm for two consecutive milkings (three times for those herds that milk 3x per day) each month to record milk weights, take samples of each doe's milk. There is usually an additional charge for the Supervisors work, over and above the regular costs for lab and data processing.

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