TCRA

Functionality & Mechanism

This veterinary assessment platform, developed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, provides a structured framework for evaluating a dairy herd's transition program. The app guides users through a multi-page assessment, collecting data via manager interviews and on-farm observations of facilities and animal condition. It then compares these inputs against industry benchmarks, utilizing a color-coded system to visualize performance outcomes and highlight key non-dietary risk factors, generating a final PDF report for record-keeping.

Development & Context

• The tool was designed to systematically assess non-dietary risk factors impacting dairy cows during the critical transition period before and after calving.
• Its assessment metrics are derived from a 2016 network analysis published in the Journal of Dairy Science.
• The news coverage notes the app's performance benchmarks are based on 2018 data from Dairy Herd Information Association (DHIA) herds in the Upper Midwest.
• It functions as part of a suite of agricultural tools, directing users to other specialized UW apps for more detailed freestall and body condition assessments.

Intended Use & Scope

This tool is designed for dairy herd managers, veterinarians, and agricultural consultants conducting on-farm evaluations. Its scope is focused on assessing non-dietary risk factors related to facilities, management, and animal condition. The app is intended as a structured assessment and record-keeping resource; it does not evaluate nutritional programs.