🟢 User Guide – Drying Indicators Monitor

Path

Reports > Animals > Drying > Indicators Monitor

This dashboard organizes the information of cow dry-offs on the farm. Proper management of drying ensures good mammary gland recovery, reduces the risk of mastitis, and prepares the cow for the next lactation.

1. Average Days of Lactation at Dry-off

Definition: Average number of lactation days elapsed when cows are dried off.

Formula: (Σ lactation days of dried-off cows ÷ Number of dried-off cows)

Target: 305 days.

Usefulness

• If lower → short lactations, lower total production.
• If higher → risk of overexploited cows and health problems in the next calving.

2. Average Duration of the Dry Period

Definition: Average time between dry-off and the next calving.

Target: 45–60 days.

Usefulness

• Short dry-off (<40 days) → low production in the next lactation.
• Long dry-off (>70 days) → overconditioning and metabolic problems.

3. Average Production at Dry-off (kg milk)

Definition: Average milk production at the time of dry-off.

Target: < 12 liters/day.

Usefulness

• Drying cows with high production increases mastitis risk.
• Ideally, dry when production is already declining.

4. Cows Dried Off This Month

Definition: Total number of cows dried off in the month.

Usefulness

Allows organizing batch rotation and anticipating animal load in pastures and the milking parlor.

5. Average Cows Dried Off per Month

Definition: Monthly average of cows dried off during the analyzed period.

Usefulness

Helps evaluate whether drying planning is consistent or irregular.

6. Drying Projection by Gestation

Definition: Estimate of how many cows should be dried in a future month according to pregnancy date and reproductive calendar.

Usefulness

• Allows anticipating workload and planning feeding (dry cows vs. milking cows).
• Ensures all cows have an adequate dry period.

7. Dryings Over Time (Timeline Chart)

Definition: Evolution of dry-offs over time (e.g., month by month).

Usefulness

Helps analyze whether dry-offs are concentrated in certain months or well distributed.

8. Reproductive Status at Dry-off

Definition: % of dried-off cows that were pregnant vs. empty.

Target: 100% pregnant.

Usefulness

• Drying non-pregnant cows indicates reproductive efficiency problems.
• Affects calving planning and future production.

9. Production Before Dry-off

Definition: Individual production in the days prior to dry-off.

Usefulness

• Evaluates if dry-off was done at the right time.
• Very high production before dry-off → need to adjust protocols (reduce concentrates, adjust rations).

📘 Quick Glossary

• Dry-off: Period when the cow stops being milked before calving.
• Dry period duration: Days between the last milking and calving.
• Production at dry-off: Milk produced at the time of dry-off.
• Drying projection: Calculation of how many cows will be dried in the upcoming months.

🚀 How to Use This Dashboard in Practice

1. Check average days at dry-off → complete lactations (~305 days).
2. Control dry period duration → between 45 and 60 days.
3. Evaluate production at dry-off → <12 liters to reduce mastitis risk.
4. Check drying projection → organize work, pastures, and feeding.
5. Verify reproductive status → all dried-off cows should be pregnant.
6. Analyze production before dry-off → confirm suitable conditions for the next calving.