At Bloggs’ the low readings are less well clustered to the underside of the 3% line, and there are more low readings at the higher yields.  At Bloggs’ as yield goes up, the milk protein % drops, so that higher yielding cows are more likely to be protein deficient, which may adversely affect conception rates.  This may not be protein content of the ration per se, just a reflection of limited intake for the higher yielding cows at Bloggs’ affecting their total protein intake.

Interherd Milk Protein % Graphs for Selected Months

The following graphs are derived from the Interherd data above, but are displaying far fewer months of calving than the previous graphs.  The obvious place to start is the milk protein percentages for cows calving in April 2006 at Bloggs’, because the Herd Companion feed monitor indicates Bloggs’ went into overall energy deficit in the May.

Bloggs’ April 2006 Calvers – Milk Protein % vs. Days In Milk

This is Bloggs’ Mean Protein % against DIM for the cows calved April 06.  You can see that about half of the May samples, and most of the samples made from June, July and early August are well below 3%, but in late August and October almost all are above 3%.   This indicates that the April calvers were in marked energy deficit over the summer months.