During 2003, 72 of the 260 dairy cattle herds in Arkansas were enrolled in the Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) program and completed at least four DHI tests. These herds averaged 9.3 tests with rolling herd averages of 16,536 Ib of milk, 620 Ib of fat, and 526 Ib of protein; mature equivalent averages were 18,470 Ib of milk containing 3.6% fat and 3.2% protein. Average milk per cow was 13,008 Ib/year on all cows in Arkansas during 2003. This indicates that non-DHI herds averaged less than 12,000 Ib percow since 30% of the cows participated in the DHI A program, compared to the 16,536 Ib per cow for herds on DHI. This difference in milk yield of over 4,500 Ib per cow affected annual income per cow by almost 550 dollar or approximately 70,000 dollar per herd. The quartile data of milk production for the Holsteins with DHI records also reinforced that income over feed costs was about 900 dollar per cow greater for the highest producing quartile of herds compared to the lowest producing quartile of herds. Average income over feed costs were l,139 dollar /cow, 95 dollar/cow greater than in 2002, and due primarily to improved milk prices. Improved udder health and reproduction were also associated with higher producing herds and contributed to this difference in income per cow. Opportunities exist for increasing the level of milk production and profitability in the state by encouraging more producers to use DHI records.
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