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A Refresher Course on DCRs

August 2004

When you read articles and advertisements in the Jersey Journal or study a pedigree in a sale catalog, you’ll find the acronym “DCR” published beside a cow’s lactation record. A number of common questions have been asked about Data Collection Ratings, or DCRs for short. Why are they important? How are they calculated? What is a credible DCR?

DCRs are published alongside a lactation record on American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) official performance pedigrees and progeny performance reports and in Jersey Journal editorial and advertisements.

A DCR is a numerical value that indicates the record’s relative accuracy. The values range from a high 104 DCR to a low 0 DCR. DCR is determined by the number of milk weights and component samples that were conducted during the lactation, the frequency of testing and the amount of supervision.

In September 1999, the term DCR replaced the labels DHIR and DHIA. As well, for the first time, a provision was created for the AJCA to utilize Owner Sampler records, provided at least 10 test days were recorded during the lactation. Lactations completed since September 1999 carry the DCR label.

The 100 DCR base is the traditional, monthly testing plan in which a supervisor weighs and samples milk during all milkings (two or three times daily), for each animal, each month. Testing plans with more monthly milk weights and component samples will have DCRs greater than 100. Testing plans with fewer milk weights and component samples will have DCRs less than 100.

Unsupervised test plans are weighted 75 percent as much as supervised test plans in the calculations and receive a DCR value no higher than 75.

Table 1 gives further details on testing plans and their accompanying DCR values. Lactation records are published with just one DCR that combines milk and components. If a herd tests milk and components on a different basis, the two will be combined into one DCR. For example, a herd that is milked twice daily and records milk weights for each milking each month and component samples one milking each month will have a DCR of 100 for milk and 95 for components. The combined DCR will be 97.

DCRs and the AJCA

Data Collection Ratings have been in AJCA news recently because their minimums have been changed for records to be included in lactation averages and recognition programs.

“Because DHIA (Dairy Herd Improvement Association) testing options continue to evolve, Jersey breeders requested us to consider changes in the existing production records programs,” explained Erick Metzger, General Manager National All-Jersey Inc. and Herd Services Coordinator for the AJCA. “Specifically, they asked the AJCA to review the DCR minimums that lactations had to meet in order to be considered for awards and recognitions.”

In keeping with this request, the AJCA Board of Directors approved changing the DCR requirement from 90 (DCR) to 85 (DCR) for records to be included in the lactation average of herds enrolled in Production Records Plus, TPE and REAP and the overall breed average.

Not only will changes impact which lactation records are included in herd and breed averages, but also which cows are eligible for individual performance awards from the AJCA.

Specifically, more cows will be eligible for the Hall of Fame, Honor Roll, National Class Leader List, Leading Living Lifetime Production Contest, President’s Trophy and Hilmar Cheese Yield Award. As well, entries in the National Youth Production Contest and the Pot O’Gold Production Contest will be eligible at the lower DCR level.

As well, more cows with lactations under 305 days will be included in production performance programs. In the past, some of the industry’s most efficient cows, those that bred back quickly, were not included because they calved back in fewer than 365 days and had lower DCRs.

“The DCR changes will allow Jersey breeders to get the full benefit of enrollment in AJCA programs,” remarks Metzger.

Jersey breeders should work with their DHIA supervisors to set up testing schedules that will allow their records to meet the DCR minimums they desire.

For more information on DCRs, contact the AJCA at 614/861-3636, extension 339. Or, visit www.USJersey.com and type “DCR” in the Google Search box on the site.