Reporting a six per cent annual increase in the number of cows in Australia’s Central Data Repository was a highlight of DataGene’s Annual General Meeting in Melbourne on November 21.

In addition, close to a million further records for health and fertility were added thanks to farmers with a passion for connecting their data.

The number of records is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years as more data flows in from on-farm software including in line meters.

DataGene chief executive officer Matt Shaffer told members there are many projects under way that are contributing to improvements in genetic gain at the farm gate.

“DataGene’s value is in its data, that’s how we deliver to the industry,” he said.

“The quality and quantity of our data enables, for example, the development of better and new Australian Breeding Values, so it’s vital we expand data sources beyond information from herd test centres with projects such as DataConnect.”

DataConnect is a multi-year project that explores ways the industry can work, pre-competitively and collaboratively, to tackle the challenges farmers experience when exchanging and integrating data.

DataGene has been working with a variety of milk equipment manufacturers, on-farm software providers and farmers to identify the best mechanisms to connect their data to the CDR and provide customised solutions as needed.

Proof-of-concept data connections were made last year and this year DataGene has continued to add connections from various businesses and farms.

“A significant amount of work has been completed to automate connections and work through the variety of challenges encountered when merging various data sets,” Matt said.

“In parallel, DataGene continues to progress its work with the International Dairy Data Exchange Network which is building better pipelines with overseas equipment manufacturers.”

This comes as DataGene reported a 10-year trend, 2013-23, rate of genetic gain for Holstein Balanced Performance Index of $29.18/cow/year, with this rising to $31.24/cow/year more recently.

The 10-year trend of Jersey genetic gain is $16.59/cow/year.

DataGene also welcomed two new directors to its board, Queensland dairy farmer and nutrition consultant David Barber and Gippsland beef producer and agribusiness banker Josie Zilm.

The two new directors are replacing retiring directors, outgoing chair Graeme Gillan and western Victorian farmer Daniel Meade.

Graeme has served on the board of DataGene since its inception in 2017 and has dedicated 50 years to the Australian dairy industry.

Gippsland dairy and beef producer Tim Jelbart was elected to the role of DataGene chair following the AGM. Tim is the Jelbart Dairy general manager and director.