Dairy cattle performance recording in the context of integrated farming

The complementary collection of data in parallel with milk recording, within a framework of an animal breeding scheme is described. Within the framework of a milk recording scheme, complementary data are collected regularly and stored in the SQL-server database of the Holstein Association of Greece (HAGR). The animal breeding data are later processed in order to provide genetic evaluations for the members of associations and for the future selection of young bulls for progeny testing. However, within a context of the milk recording scheme, HAGR is promoting data recording in other areas of dairy farming (i.e. reproduction, nutrition, milk quality etc.). Moreover, HAGR is providing guidelines and specially designed questionnaires to monitor the production conditions and inputs. Such questionnaires are used to detect points of the production process for possible changes towards an integrated and quality assurance procedure. All the data are stored in the same database and are regularly processed, in order to assist its members in the area of integrated fanning. The processed information is disseminated to the members of the Association either electronically or in printed forms using the network of HAGR's trained staff, which are providing technical support and assistance to the responsible bodies and individual farmers. The project presents a viable platform for the future of the dairy cattle production in Greece and may set the precedent for the development and application in all the regions of the country as well as in other Mediterranean regions.