To help dairy producers stay competitive, boost your herd’s performance, and compare year-over-year numbers, the Center has created this interactive tool to help you calculate your pounds of components and energy corrected milk (ECM).
Why is calculating ECM important? Instead of simply observing that butterfat percentage increased or decreased while milk weights went up or down, for example, calculating ECM can help dairy farmers equalize production values across multiple months and years so you can truly evaluate performance – especially if you made changes in feeding, cow environment or management during the months you’re comparing.
How can you use the calculations to improve efficiency and profitability? Dairies are typically paid for component yield. This means you want to be seeking solutions that impact your pounds of ECM production.
Use the calculator below to find your ECM values over time, and compare them on a year-by-year basis. You can use this data to analyze your feed ingredients and rations, and consider which management strategies you can tweak to better enhance ECM such as transition cow health, cow comfort, genetics and more. If you have questions about this tool, please email Valerie Mason-Faith or call her at (717) 550-8720.
Note: For consistent year-over-year comparison or herd performance, the ECM formula adjusts milk to 3.5% butterfat and 3.2% protein. The formula also assumes an average of 88% of a farm’s cow numbers are in lactation/in the tank at a given time.