Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) Record Plans are structured programs that allow dairy goat owners to track and evaluate milk production and herd performance. Each plan has different requirements and levels of involvement, depending on what data you want to collect and how official you want your records to be.
Common DHI Record Plans & Their Meanings
1. Standard DHI Test Plans (305-Day or Continuous Testing)
These plans track an animal’s entire lactation period and are used for official milk records in breed associations like ADGA.
Supervised Test (Standard 305-Day)
A DHI Supervisor visits the farm once a month to collect official milk weights and samples.
Samples are sent to an approved lab for testing of butterfat, protein, somatic cell count (SCC), and other components.
Data is verified for official performance programs (e.g., ADGA, AGS).
Owner-Sampler Test
The owner is responsible for collecting their own milk weights and samples.
Must be enrolled in an official DHI program but does not require a supervisor to visit.
Less official than supervised tests, but still provides useful data for herd improvement.
Not eligible for Advanced Registry (AR) recognition in ADGA.
Group Testing (Association Testing)
A group of certified testers work together, rotating farms for milk collection.
This reduces costs while still maintaining supervised testing standards.
2. One-Day Milk Test
A single 24-hour test conducted by a licensed tester to evaluate milk production on that day.
Used for breed association programs like ADGA’s One-Day Milk Test for Star Milker designation.
A doe producing enough milk and butterfat in a single test can earn a ★M (Star Milker) title.
3. Owner-Recorded Test (Unofficial)
The owner tracks their herd’s milk production for personal use.
No outside verification; not eligible for official records or awards.
Still useful for tracking herd performance and feeding decisions.
Why Choose a DHI Plan?
Helps identify high-producing and efficient animals.
Can qualify does for ADGA’s Advanced Registry (AR) or Star Milker (★M) program.
Assists in selective breeding by evaluating genetic performance.
Useful for managing nutrition, health, and overall herd improvement.
Click on link to see more about individual plans
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