General standards for DHIA milk testing with MDGA

1.  Fees and forms must be sent to MDGA prior to beginning DHIA testing. Application must be made at least two weeks prior to beginning test.  Does with official DHIA milk test results completed prior to 2003 may fill out the application paperwork and send it in with the appropriate fees and the does individual test sheets for a star. 
2.  All National DHIA regulations will be followed.
3.  Scales must be certified yearly by an appropriate organization.  Contact MDGA for more information.
4.  Final production data must be sent to MDGA.  Sheets do not need to be sent each month, except the monthly sheet prior to a verification test.
5.  No products or devices designed to enhance production or butterfat may be used, except those that are a part of normal daily care. (Example: adding sunflower seeds to the diet on a regular basis is normal daily care, adding a hormone before the test is not normal daily care).
6.  A Production Certificate will be issued to any doe qualifying for a production award.
7.  A test year is 305 days or less.
8.  A Production Star (*P) will be earned according to the Chart below.
9.  MDGA will recognize the Top 10 production records each year, provided minimum production is met.  All breeds will be combined unless there are more than 20 does of a breed on test.  If more than 20 does of a single Mini breed are on test, the Top 5 of that breed will be recognized separately.
 10.  All Top 10 does (or Top 5) will have a verification test conducted by a different supervisor.  The rules for a verification test will be the same as for a one-day test.
11.  All does will need to be measured by your tester; the measurement will be included on the form sent to MDGA.
12.  Cost is $15.00 for a herd application plus $1.00 per doe for a new herd going on test.  Or $10.00 plus $1.00 for each doe for a renewing herd.
13.  Types of Testing
    1.  The following testing types are approved by MDGA:
         a. Standard test - A certified Supervisor tests herd each month, taking AM and PM weights and samples.
         b. Group test - Conducted like a Standard test except the Supervisors one of a group of at least 3 people who test each other's herd.  All Supervisors must be certified testers.
         c. EOM - Owner tests and samples one month, Supervisor test and samples on alternating months.  Samples are taken as in Standard Test.    
        d. AMPM - Owner and Supervisor share testing and sampling, alternating AM and PM each month.
         e. Owner - Owner weighs and samples milk each testing. Owner must be certified as a tester.
    2.  All plans except Standard and Group require a verification test.  All verification testing is done at owners expense.
    3.  If verification test results deviate more than 5% from the previous month, a 2nd verification may be required.

Click here for the MDGA Standard DHIA Test form.

One day milk testing

1.  Only certified testers may preside over a one-day test. (Check with your local DHIA organization for a list of testers in your area)
2.  The doe must be on the premises where the test is held during the entire period of the test.
3.  Three milk outs will be conducted.  The first is a check with no samples taken.  Weight will be recorded, but not used to figure final score.
4.  Samples and weights will be taken from the second and third milk outs.  These will be used to figure final score.
5.  Weights and samples must be sent to High Desert Dairy Lab for butterfat testing.
6.  The original result sheet from the lab will be sent directly to MDGA after the butterfat has been added. 
7.  Each milk out will be 12 hours apart.
8.  Each doe will be officially measured by the tester. 
9.  A score of 45 points (figured to the thousandth place, rounded to the nearest whole number) will be required to receive a Production Star.(*P)
10.  Scores will be figured on the following formula:
   a.  Multiply pounds of milk by 5.55
   b.  Multiply pounds of milk by butterfat, times 1.11
   c.  Multiply days since freshening by .0555.
   d.  Add totals for final score.
   Example:  a doe fresh 43 days with 5.6 pounds of milk at 4% fat:
       a.  5.6 x 5.55 = 31.080
       b.  5.6 x 4.0 x 1.11 =  24.864
       c.  43 x .0555 =  2.3865 (rounded to 2.387)
       d.  31.080 + 24.864 + 2.387 = 58.332 (rounded to 58); Doe receives a Star.
11.  Fill out the One Day Test application and send with $10.00 herd fee to the coordinator prior to test date.
12. A certificate will be sent for any doe earning a Star after all fees and reports have been received.