The Elite Dairy Farmer Awards are presented by SA Stamboek to identify the top dairy herds in South Africa. All dairy herds that utilize SA Stamboek's Logix Melkdienste are eligible to participate.
The primary benefits of these awards are:
- Objective Evaluation: Herds are assessed based on objective, measurable criteria crucial for efficient and sustainable profitability. This allows participants to evaluate themselves and identify areas for improvement, even if they don't receive a top award.
- Recognition of Excellence: The awards recognize herds that are exceptionally well-managed and make sound genetic decisions.
- Management Improvement: The awards serve as a valuable tool for enhancing management practices and guiding economic decisions within the dairy industry.
Award Categories and Qualification: There are four award categories: Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. The requirements are very strict, ensuring that top awards go to truly outstanding herds.
- Platinum and Gold Awards: These are given to the Top 10% of herds participating in Logix Melkdienste. These herds meet stringent requirements, demonstrating a long-standing presence in the dairy industry and effective use of the best available technology, coupled with excellent animal performance and genetic merit.
◦ Platinum: Awarded to the top six herds nationwide. To qualify for Platinum, a herd must first qualify for a Gold award and meet additional criteria: a minimum herd size of 100 cows in milk, and completion of at least eight official milk tests with analyses per year.
◦ Gold: Requires a score of over 70% on the objective scale. Additional minimum requirements include the herd being in the dairy industry for at least three years, and having achieved at least a Silver or better award in the previous year.
- Silver Award: Achieved by scoring above 60% and represents the top 25% of all dairy herds across all breeds.
- Bronze Award: Achieved by scoring above 40% and is awarded to the top 50% of participating herds.
Evaluation Criteria and Scoring: Herd evaluation covers the entire production cycle, including accurate and timely record-keeping, reproductive efficiency, and the genetic merit of the herd. Points are allocated across three main categories, totaling a maximum of 370 points:
- Accuracy, Timeliness, and Completeness of Record-keeping (80 points total):
◦ Cows in milk (15 points): Reflects the average number of cows in milk, with larger herds earning more points due to management complexity.
◦ Milk recording (30 points): Based on the number of official milk tests completed during the Elite competition year.
◦ Parentage (35 points): Percentage of active animals in the herd with known parents.
- Production Efficiency (145 points total):
◦ Production (35 points): Average milk production, compared within breed and feeding group.
◦ Milk solids (10 points): Average solids recorded in milk tests.
◦ Lactation duration (10 points): Average lactation duration compared to the optimum.
◦ Age at first calving (15 points): Average age of first calving during the Elite year.
◦ Inter-calving period (30 points): Average interval between the last two calvings.
◦ Conception rate (20 points): Average number of straws per conception for all heifers and cows.
◦ Somatic cell count (13 points): Average Somatic Cell Count (x 1000) based on milk tests.
◦ Average days in milk (12 points): Average DIM of measured cows compared to the optimum value.
- Genetic Merit of the Herd (145 points total):
◦ Genetic level (145 points): Average genetic level of all active cows (Genetic Index per breed requirements).
Achieving any of these awards demands significant hard work and dedication, indicating that herds with outstanding scores are well-managed and make appropriate genetic decisions.
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