Dr Craig Wood, from Terang and Mortlake Vet Clinic, has been analysing the data from dairy herd records for years, to help his clients make informed decisions about mastitis management, selective dry cow treatments and culling.
Until now, accessing herd data has been challenging and varied with different on-farm software systems.
Craig said he either had to visit the farm to manually download the data himself or get the farmer to create and email him a file or get a back-up file from on-farm software.
This process had to be repeated regularly to ensure his analysis was based on current herd data.
“It was a time-consuming but worthwhile exercise because making decisions based on actual herd data directly affects the farm’s financial performance, as well as animal health and welfare,” Craig said.
He is excited about the DataConnect project which enables dairy farmers to set up a daily, automatic transfer of herd data from the farm to the industry’s central data repository.
This means farmers and their trusted advisers can log into DataVat.com.au to access reports based on actual herd records to gain insights into mastitis management, selective dry cow therapy, improving herd fertility and genetic progress.
“The recent automations enable my clients to give me permission to access their herd data and reports anytime, anywhere. I can give better advice, faster, especially in the herd health space,” Craig said.
“This really is a game-changer. Instead of spending half of my time on-farm downloading data, I can do the analysis before I get there and the visit becomes a discussion about how the herd is doing, intervention options and a plan of action.”
DataGene is rolling out connections with a variety of systems progressively over time, with DeLaval and GEA systems already up and running and others in progress.
“I’ve got a lot of clients with DeLaval systems so I’m keen to get them connected in the coming months,” Craig said.
“At this stage, each herd needs to set up the connection. The process is quick, easy and secure. It’s a once-off task that involves a 10-minute online session with DataGene’s IT staff, who set up the connection process.”
Once connected, data is updated to the central data repository every night. Herd owners control who they give access to their records via the DataVat website portal.
The DataConnect project is a step towards DataGene’s vision of a system that enables data to be entered once and then accessed in many different ways to eliminate double entry of the same information and to enable data-driven decisions through reports and tools that analyse the data.
Additional benefits of connecting include less double entry of data when it comes to genotyping and improved accuracy of breeding values — both for animals in the herd and the genetic evaluation of bulls.
DataGene is inviting dairy farmers with any system to express their interest now and they will be contacted when their system can connect.
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