United Launches Innovative New Milk Recording Service

United Dairy Farmers has teamed up with the Cattle Information Service (CIS) to develop an innovative new internet-based milk recording service that, for the first time, will enable farmers to record and obtain herd registration information as well as traditional milk records from a single point of access.

Launched at today’s Winter Fair (15 December), United’s new service recognises the growing role that information technology is playing in modern farm business management and also the increasing time pressures on farmers. Supported by DARD through its Information and Communication Technology Grant Scheme, the service offers a complete practical management information package available via United’s website, in turn enabling interactive participation and utilisation by the herd owner.

“Profitable farm and herd management relies on efficient and meaningful data capture as well as faster information flow,” explains Brian Hunter, United’s Producer Services Manager. “With almost 1000 farmers now using our milk recording services, we saw a real need to create a service that would deliver greater efficiencies and also reflect the realities of farming life, primarily the considerable time pressures that farmers are under.

“A computer and internet-based system was the natural solution, particularly as so many farmers are now ‘IT active’. Our starting point was to develop a system that would help avoid duplication and reduce the amount of paperwork farmers have to complete. Going further, we wanted to add extra value to the process so that, in addition to traditional milk recording information, farmers would have finger-tip access to other vital herd data. Partnering with the Centre for Dairy Information, we are now able to offer farmers a more ‘joined up’ system, whereby they can access herd registration and performance details, for almost all dairy breeds, as well as more usual milk recording information - from United as a single point of contact.”

Also at the Winter Fair launch, David Hewitt from Holstein UK, said

“We welcome this important partnership with United Dairy Farmers. Essentially, together we are facilitating one central point of data flow for farmers on areas such as milk recording, pedigree registrations, animal classifications and movements. This will eliminate the duplication of data input that currently exists by having two separate milk recording and herd registration organisations and free farmers to put that information to good use in the management of their herds.”

United's target is to have 600 farmers receiving their milk recording data over the internet within the next two years. DARD's assistance will help facilitate this by supporting electronic data capture at farm, internet data access as well as training in the use and interpretation of the milk recording data.

Welcoming the launch, Pat Toal, DARD Permanent Secretary, said "This is an exciting new package for progressive milk producers and one that will provide much benefit to dairy farmers and the industry as a whole. To meet the challenges ahead, farmers need appropriate information on which to base management decisions that will improve the quality of their milk supplies and the efficiency of production. This is an ideal opportunity for milk producers to join the service, and to make more use of modern technology in the management of their herds. Funding of £91k for this project was provided through DARD's ICT Grant Scheme."

Producers availing of the new service will be able to receive their milk recording results by post but the information will also be made available through United’s website, using a secure PIN number access. The internet access has an interactive capability that allows the farmer to use standard reports or to design his own custom-built model, for example, the farmer will be able to rank animals by lactation number or sire and create various day to day management action lists.

The rollout of the new service has now commenced and by April 2006, all producers across Northern Ireland will have access to it. As part of this process, United Dairy Farmers will host a series of producer meetings to explain the new service and its benefits and demonstrate the types of data that can be accessed via the internet.