A total of 18.2 million dairy cow records are now contributing to genetic improvement in Australia’s industry.

And thanks to a new DataGene initiative called DataConnect – there will be even larger volumes of historical and daily data as well as fresh information – to improve the breeding objectives of dairy farmers in future years.

Reporting a 6% annual increase in the number of cows in Australia’s Central Data Repository (CDR) was a highlight of DataGene’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Melbourne, Victoria yesterday.

In addition, close to a million further records for health and fertility were added thanks to farmers with a passion for connecting their data.  The number of records is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years as more data flows in from on-farm software including in line meters.

DataGene Chief Executive Officer Matt Shaffer told members there are many projects underway that are contributing to improvements in genetic gain at the farmgate.

“DataGene’s value is in its data, that’s how we deliver to the industry,” he said.

“The quality and quantity of our data enables, for example, the development of better and new Australian Breeding Values, so it’s vital we expand data sources beyond information from herd test centres with projects such as DataConnect.”

DataConnect is a multi-year project that explores ways the industry can work, pre-competitively and collaboratively, to tackle the challenges farmers experience when exchanging and integrating data.

DataGene has been working with a variety of milk equipment manufacturers, on-farm software providers and farmers to identify the best mechanisms to connect their data to the CDR and provide customised solutions as needed.

Proof-of-concept data connections were made last year and this year DataGene has continued to add connections from various businesses and farms.

“A significant amount of work has been completed to automate connections and work through the variety of challenges encountered when merging various data sets,” Dr Shaffer said.

“In parallel, DataGene continues to progress its work with the International Dairy Data Exchange Network (iDDEN) which is building better pipelines with overseas equipment manufacturers.”

This comes as DataGene reported a 10-year trend – 2013-2023 – rate of genetic gain for Holstein Balanced Performance Index (BPI) of $29.18/cow/year, with this rising to $31.24/cow/year more recently. The 10-year trend of Jersey genetic gain is $16.59/cow/year.

Josie Zilm

Gippsland dairy and beef producer – Jelbart Dairy General Manager and Director – Tim Jelbart was elected to the role of DataGene Chair following the AGM.

For more information contact: DataGene 1800 841 848 or enquiries@datagene.com.au or www.datagene.com.au.

DataGene is an initiative of Dairy Australia and the herd improvement industry.