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The DAT People's Choice Question of the Week: Measure of Success
Everyone is aware that for a dairy operation to stay in business it must generate enough net revenue to stay viable. But for many there are also other measures of success after net revenue, examples are high classifications, show winners, marketing genetics, etc.

What other measures of success do you work toward?
Reader Comments
Comments posted do not express the viewpoint of Dairy Agenda Today or its staff members.
Tony Whitehead
January, 25 2020
If you are reading this and still in business, that is a measure of success. I think all the responses were on point.
Balance Sheet Guy
January, 24 2020
For me it is easy- I look at my balance sheet.
Bob
January, 20 2020
Well said" Just thinking".
Just thinking harder
January, 19 2020
Have you ever thought that another advantage large herds have over small herds is that they don't milk there own cows!? Big herd managers don't need to have any non-financial reasons as to how they manage and breed their cows. I know most people reading this will think this is crazy, but is it!?
Just thinking
January, 16 2020
Agree with satisfaction nothing like breeding great cows that produce and make going to the barn enjoyable and glad tired vet confirms those fancy cows have value
Tony Whitehead
January, 15 2020
Lots of ways to measure success. Mine would be when over 500 people came to my dispersal on short notice. I've been fortunate with some achievements in the past. However I think that might be the best one. Thanks everyone!!
OLDSTER,
January, 15 2020
Breaking even on a bad year. A bad year can have many definitions, but low milk prices combined with high grain prices are the toughies. High interest rates that I couldn't avoid would make me NEVER want to borrow again.
Tired Vet
January, 15 2020
Went to sale yesterday fancy cows sold for large money. Profitable good uddered cows sold for what they were worth. Sale price does NOT indicate business value. Classification=Type does not tell us what makes money, the cow does we have been doing it backward for years. Now its just like a going to a dog show not a hunting field trial
Satisfaction
January, 15 2020
Everyone has different goals. For me when you can walked to the barn and have a barn full of high scoring cows that consistently make those 30,000 pound records year after year and most of them carry your own prefix - cant help but give you a pretty nice feeling. You get to think maybe you not as dumb as a lot of these "experts" think you were.
Ronald L Flatness
January, 14 2020
Maybe the quality of milk we produce has become most important. One of my customers has the lowest somatic cell scores in the state. Also by now we know A2 milk is the most digestible milk, similar to goat or human breast milk. Maybe these traits are more important than the EX show winning cow with high SCS, lousy fertility and slow milking speed.
fill the jar
January, 13 2020
I've milked cows for decades, never registered, all grade. Used high production bulls with acceptable type, mostly udders and feet & legs. I've made some money over the years, but always bred and fed for PRODUCTION! Nothing better than the sight of Delaval jars full of milk, my measure of success.
High Scores
January, 13 2020
I have always liked to work with high scoring cows and worked at breeding cows that I thought would have an opportunity to become high VG or EX cows. I was moderately successful.