Education and Research

The ability of InterHerd+ to manipulate and analyse data from individual or multiple herds, makes it ideally suited for both teaching and research. In addition to the analyses possible within InterHerd+, the user can generate grids of key information from very specific populations and time periods. The contents of any grid can be exported for further manipulation and analysis, for example in Excel, Access or a specialist statistical packages.

Examples of research undertaken using InterHerd+ include:

Analysis of performance in 500 commercial dairy herds in the UK:
  • Annual KPI studies for benchmarking performance: Since 2010 the University of Reading has conducted annual analyses of over 60 key performance indicators (KPI) in a sample of 500 commercial dairy herds, selected as representative of all that milk record with National Milk Records(NMR). The data from all 500 herds are maintained and analysed in a single InterHerd+ database. These studies provide InterHerd+ with realistic and up to date target values for farmers. The studies are also documenting trends in the performance of UK dairy herds since 2010. To view/download any of these reports see the KPI studies
  • Benchmarking vet practice impact: Comparison of performance of client herds for a business with the national standard (500 herds) provides a mechanism to benchmark performance of a client base and demonstrate progress over time Show poster
Trial studies:

 Trial studies: InterHerd+ has provided data for comparative performance of animals in a number of on-farm trials looking to measure the impact of management and/or nutritional interventions on the subsequent fertility and production of animals

  • Can first milk recording parameters be used to warn of metabolic stress? Show poster
  • An analysis of recovery probability from high SCC in UK dairy herds   Show poster
  • Investigating Europe’s largest milk recording database: Combining research and practical application  Show poster
Correlation between levels of chronic high SCC milk recordings and herd/bulk tank SCC:

A database of milk recordings from over 4,000 herds showed a clear link between the percentage of chronic high SCC recordings in a herd and the herd’s bulk tank SCC. Show poster

The correlation between Johne’s disease infection and animal performance:

A study of 68,000 animals in 385 herds identified correlations between the disease and a range of factors including lactation number, current SCC, SCC history and individual milk yield when compared to a predicted herd average yield. The findings were used as the basis for animal selection in a targeted testing programme. Show poster