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AIPL RESEARCH REPORT
K2-03 (2-05)		 State and National Standardized Lactation Averages by Breed for Cows Calving in 2003

A.H. Sanders and R.L. Powell
Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory, ARS-USDA, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350
301-504-8334 (voice) ~ 301-504-8092 (fax) ~ inquiry@aipl.arsusda.gov ~ http://aipl.arsusda.gov

Data for 2005 State and national lactation averages report were from calvings in 2003. Yield data used in national genetic evaluations of dairy cattle and in other U.S. Department of Agriculture research originate from herds enrolled in the Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) program. The test-day data, used by the Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory to determine lactation records, are processed and provided through dairy records processing centers (DRPC). DHI participation and DRPC activity have also been summarized.

Lactation records were calculated using the best prediction method and were standardized for age-parity, calving month, previous days open, and times milked per day. Records in progress and other records shorter than 305 days were extended to 305 days as part of the best prediction process. Component percentages were computed from average standardized yields for milk and components. Protein testing for records contributing to genetic evaluations is at or near 100% except in California (89% for Guernseys, and 87% for Holsteins and Red and Whites) and Nevada (91% for Holsteins).

Only data used in calculation of national genetic evaluations are included in State and national averages. Thus, records beyond fifth lactation or by cows that lacked a first lactation record or valid sire identification were excluded. For other editing requirements, see complete evaluation documentation.

Numbers of records and averages for yields and component percentages are in Tables 1 through 7 by State for Ayrshires, Brown Swiss, Guernseys, Holsteins, Jerseys, Milking Shorthorns, and Red and Whites. Numbers of records and national averages are in Tables 8A-8F by breed for selected years.

Breed yields are different between this report and the herd-average report because this report uses standardized data, whereas herd averages are based on actual yields. Also, data for many cows that contribute to herd averages for 2004 actually calved in 2004. Finally, records contributing to herd-averages are not restricted to those usable for national genetic evaluations. Relative yields among breeds will differ between the two reports because of breed differences in percentage of usable records and differences in age-parity factors.

Both Ayrshire and Holstein calvings for 2003 were down from last year's slight increases (3% and 2%, respectively), falling almost to or below numbers from 2001. Calvings for Guernsey, and Red and White continue to decline, dropping by 5% and 10%, repectively since the previous year. After record setting growth last year, the Jersey breed still had a slight increase (0.4%) in calvings in 2003. Number of Milking Shorthorn calvings was at a eight-year high, increasing by 3% over the previous year.

For the second year, milk yield was essentially unchanged. Fat and protein production were also generally unchanged from the previous year. For all breeds, yields were within 1% of last year's values. While feed availability and operating costs, milk and beef prices, Government programs, and characteristics of herds entering and leaving eligible testing programs can affect production averages in either direction, genetic change is expected to have a positive effect on yield. The leveling off of average yields may reflect changes in management strategies and increased genetic emphasis on other traits such as health and longevity. For instance, average somatic cell count during 2004 was below 300,000 cells/ml for the first time in 10 years (Herd somatic cell count report). Interpretation of trends in lactation averages should be made in view of other changes affecting profitability.

DHI Lactation Averages for Ayrshire  
Table 1. Ayrshire State and National Standardized Lactation Averages for Cows Calving in 2003 With Records
Used in National Genetic Evaluations.

  Records Milk Fat Protein
State (no.) (lb) (%) (lb) (%) (lb) Reporting
Alabama 3 16,413 3.15 518 3.04 499 100
Arkansas 32 17,932 3.57 640 3.18 570 100
California 47 19,849 3.71 736 3.17 629 100
Colorado 6 19,468 3.37 657 2.94 572 100
Connecticut 109 19,776 4.03 797 3.21 635 100
Delaware 3 15,883 4.28 680 3.32 528 100
Florida 3 16,384 3.36 550 3.01 494 100
Idaho 1 14,818 4.10 607 3.31 491 100
Illinois 223 18,372 3.73 686 3.14 576 100
Indiana 89 16,640 3.76 625 3.18 529 100
Iowa 555 19,629 3.81 747 3.16 620 100
Kansas 82 16,678 3.68 614 3.18 531 100
Kentucky 68 15,129 3.64 551 3.17 479 100
Louisiana 17 15,602 3.44 537 2.88 450 100
Maine 124 17,237 3.80 654 3.02 521 100
Maryland 334 19,619 4.06 797 3.15 618 100
Massachusetts 14 18,327 3.74 685 3.12 573 100
Michigan 45 20,688 3.76 778 3.10 641 100
Minnesota 206 16,523 3.81 630 3.10 511 100
Mississippi 1 20,195 3.39 685 2.88 581 100
Missouri 99 14,928 3.78 565 3.14 468 100
Nebraska 70 16,848 3.84 647 3.13 527 100
New Hampshire 132 19,403 3.79 736 3.12 606 100
New Jersey 8 17,374 4.23 735 3.04 528 100
New Mexico 313 14,800 3.67 543 3.17 469 100
New York 1,173 17,389 3.87 673 3.10 538 100
North Carolina 77 14,202 4.01 569 3.01 428 100
North Dakota 9 18,166 3.82 695 3.15 572 100
Ohio 424 17,783 3.80 675 3.14 559 100
Oklahoma 91 20,459 3.53 722 3.08 630 100
Oregon 45 18,147 3.83 695 3.13 568 100
Pennsylvania 919 17,889 3.85 689 3.13 561 100
Rhode Island 20 14,098 4.01 566 3.10 437 100
South Carolina 8 17,985 3.88 698 3.09 556 100
Tennessee 36 15,224 3.75 571 3.13 476 100
Texas 73 17,626 4.13 728 3.35 591 100
Utah 23 14,360 4.47 642 3.36 483 100
Vermont 414 17,818 3.87 690 3.13 557 100
Virginia 61 14,207 3.66 520 3.14 446 100
Washington 13 18,232 3.80 693 3.20 584 100
West Virginia 55 15,758 3.79 598 3.11 490 100
Wisconsin 531 18,226 3.84 701 3.11 567 100
US 6,556 17,738 3.84 681 3.13 555 100 

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DHI Lactation Averages for Brown Swiss  
Table 2. Brown Swiss State and National Standardized Lactation Averages for Cows Calving in 2003 With Records
Used in National Genetic Evaluations.

  Records Milk Fat Protein
State (no.) (lb) (%) (lb) (%) (lb) Reporting
Alabama 5 22,443 3.61 811 3.03 679 100
Arizona 205 21,934 3.96 868 3.24 709 >99
Arkansas 134 17,734 3.67 650 3.31 588 100
California 462 21,296 3.89 829 3.36 714 99
Colorado 36 23,302 4.05 945 3.16 736 100
Connecticut 45 19,341 3.94 763 3.27 632 100
Delaware 25 16,414 4.28 703 3.20 525 100
Florida 12 17,290 4.08 706 3.45 596 100
Georgia 61 18,530 3.89 720 3.26 603 100
Idaho 204 22,556 3.94 888 3.38 762 100
Illinois 557 21,061 4.01 844 3.31 697 100
Indiana 473 22,724 4.07 926 3.33 758 100
Iowa 1,447 21,775 4.04 880 3.31 722 100
Kansas 221 21,555 3.84 829 3.40 734 100
Kentucky 124 19,408 3.63 705 3.26 632 100
Louisiana 33 16,167 3.72 601 3.20 518 100
Maine 35 16,581 3.79 628 3.29 546 100
Maryland 355 20,723 3.98 825 3.28 679 100
Massachusetts 69 19,394 4.13 801 3.36 652 100
Michigan 271 23,949 3.99 956 3.32 795 100
Minnesota 1,243 20,276 4.06 822 3.30 669 100
Mississippi 8 18,286 3.66 670 3.16 579 100
Missouri 401 20,133 3.90 786 3.36 677 100
Montana 21 14,786 3.87 573 3.35 496 100
Nebraska 206 21,379 3.88 829 3.25 694 100
New Hampshire 116 18,409 3.89 717 3.29 605 100
New Jersey 9 18,708 4.25 796 3.30 617 100
New Mexico 17 21,443 3.82 819 3.42 734 100
New York 933 19,820 3.99 790 3.26 646 100
North Carolina 59 21,373 3.95 844 3.20 684 100
North Dakota 71 17,705 3.93 696 3.34 592 100
Ohio 1,444 20,545 4.05 831 3.34 687 100
Oklahoma 112 17,553 3.77 662 3.32 583 100
Oregon 247 21,423 4.10 878 3.32 712 100
Pennsylvania 1,212 20,364 3.95 804 3.27 665 100
Puerto Rico 160 13,987 3.15 440 3.28 458 100
South Carolina 11 19,037 3.83 729 3.23 614 100
South Dakota 226 19,242 4.15 799 3.34 643 100
Tennessee 269 16,947 4.22 716 3.34 566 100
Texas 510 20,325 3.96 806 3.34 680 100
Utah 73 16,581 4.43 735 3.40 564 100
Vermont 327 20,179 4.16 840 3.32 669 100
Virginia 137 22,344 3.68 822 3.24 725 100
Washington 239 21,547 3.81 821 3.37 726 100
West Virginia 8 18,030 3.98 718 3.33 600 100
Wisconsin 2,946 21,459 4.03 864 3.29 706 100
US 15,779 20,715 3.99 827 3.31 685 >99 

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DHI Lactation Averages for Guernsey  
Table 3. Guernsey State and National Standardized Lactation Averages for Cows Calving in 2003 With Records
Used in National Genetic Evaluations.

  Records Milk Fat Protein
State (no.) (lb) (%) (lb) (%) (lb) Reporting
Alabama 1 19,860 3.62 719 3.21 638 100
Arizona 23 18,193 3.96 720 3.12 568 100
Arkansas 45 13,857 4.44 615 3.37 467 100
California 414 18,011 4.31 777 3.37 616 89
Colorado 2 16,453 4.40 725 3.17 522 100
Connecticut 49 16,434 4.48 737 3.32 546 100
Delaware 2 17,651 4.24 749 3.14 554 100
Florida 37 15,852 4.37 693 3.21 508 100
Georgia 10 15,086 3.36 507 3.23 488 100
Idaho 19 16,341 4.31 705 3.37 550 100
Illinois 188 17,430 4.48 781 3.23 563 100
Indiana 328 16,573 4.41 731 3.32 550 100
Iowa 547 17,873 4.47 799 3.27 585 100
Kansas 55 16,037 4.45 714 3.40 545 100
Kentucky 32 16,579 4.00 663 3.22 534 100
Louisiana 47 15,008 4.48 672 3.29 494 100
Maine 30 15,359 4.67 718 3.38 519 100
Maryland 353 16,215 4.67 758 3.34 542 100
Massachusetts 4 15,998 4.24 679 3.26 521 100
Michigan 24 16,651 4.17 695 3.21 534 100
Minnesota 400 14,890 4.42 658 3.26 486 100
Missouri 329 14,965 4.37 654 3.38 506 100
Montana 1 17,878 4.31 771 3.26 583 100
Nebraska 74 18,503 4.40 815 3.22 597 100
New Hampshire 21 16,890 4.49 758 3.32 561 100
New Jersey 2 20,157 4.92 992 3.25 656 100
New York 545 15,780 4.49 709 3.26 515 100
North Carolina 74 16,155 4.35 702 3.25 525 100
Ohio 329 16,489 4.41 728 3.30 543 100
Oklahoma 77 15,644 4.01 628 3.25 509 100
Oregon 365 17,954 4.42 794 3.27 586 100
Pennsylvania 895 15,970 4.41 704 3.25 518 100
South Carolina 43 15,486 4.41 682 3.26 504 100
South Dakota 59 14,127 4.25 600 3.22 456 100
Tennessee 82 17,361 4.30 747 3.24 563 100
Texas 72 16,042 4.20 674 3.22 517 100
Utah 11 17,774 4.31 767 3.50 623 100
Vermont 154 15,822 4.41 698 3.26 516 100
Virginia 123 15,075 4.57 689 3.25 490 100
Washington 142 16,767 4.51 756 3.36 563 100
West Virginia 28 15,158 4.51 683 3.47 526 100
Wisconsin 1,844 16,689 4.48 747 3.28 548 >99
US 7,880 16,469 4.44 731 3.29 541 99 

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DHI Lactation Averages for Holstein  
Table 4. Holstein State and National Standardized Lactation Averages for Cows Calving in 2003 With Records
Used in National Genetic Evaluations.

  Records Milk Fat Protein
State (no.) (lb) (%) (lb) (%) (lb) Reporting
Alabama 1,314 21,400 3.30 706 2.95 631 100
Arizona 17,531 23,682 3.51 831 2.99 707 100
Arkansas 1,635 21,091 3.47 733 3.02 636 100
California 340723 25,928 3.59 931 3.05 791 87
Colorado 11,345 25,482