Determining farm effects attributable to the introduction and use of a dairy management information system in The Netherlands

Yearly production and reproduction data on dairy farms in The Netherlands w ere obtained to determine whether management information systems significan tly improved herd performance variables (management information systems (MI S) effects). The analysis included 357 adopters of a management information system and 357 herds were used as controls. The data comprised yeats 1987 through 1996, and included for the adopters both the 'before' and 'after' p eriod. Panel data analysis enabled to estimate MIS effects both within and between farms, allowing fur a separation of farm-specific effects and commo n (trend) effects. Adoption and use of a management information system resu lted in a significant annual increase in rolling herd average milk (carrier ) and protein production of 62 and 2.36 kg per cow, respectively. Calving i nterval was shortened by 5 days. The pay-back period was approximately 5 ye ars of the system (including the hardware), and therefore, MIS appears to b e economically profitable. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserv ed.