Dairy Herd Model 3
Overview
Dairy herd model v3 has been designed to assist advisers and/or farmers who wish to expand the size of a dairy herd. It is a tool to assist the process of phasing and sizing the dairy herd. Starting with an initial herd, the model uses 20 different death, culling and reproduction factors to estimate future numbers of animals in different age classes in monthly increments.
There is a document under “Help" in the program that explains how to enter details of the initial herd and to work through the factors that are required to be entered.
The model uses a monthly time interval to track the number of animals in different classes, i.e. calves, heifers or cows and pools of animals i.e. empty cows, mated cows and pregnant cows.
As animals move through the months and pools a range of numerical factors and eligible time periods are applied to represent deaths, culling and breeding.
The model will determine the effect of different factors on herd size and structure each year. Some classes of animals can be bought into the herd and also removed from the herd at different times.
There are a number of ways results from the model can be viewed, these include simple or complex tables and graphs. Different modelled herds can be compared. Data can be exported to Excel and Word.
How to get a copy of Dairy Herd Model v3
Click the link below:
Download for DHM3Install.zip 971 kb 
- Download the installation file DHM3Install.zip
- Unzip this file, a new directory will be DHM3Install
- Double click on the file DHM3Install.exe and follow the prompts to install
A CD copy is available on request, please contact:
Gordon Simpson
Dairy Systems Modeller
Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation
Email gordon.simpson@deedi.qld.gov.au
For technical enquiries please contact:
David Barber
Senior Research Scientist - Dairy Nutrition
Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation
Email david.barber@deedi.qld.gov.au