THE dairy herd improvement sector wants its many databases amalgamated.
National Herd Improvement Association general manager Carol Millar said data from such sources as herd test centres, breed societies and milk factories was inconsistent.
"Data dumped with ADHIS (Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme) has errors that are impossible to fix," Ms Millar said.
"It ends up not being used and the errors compound.
"A cow can be on two databases with different birth dates so her information can't be used. Her progeny can't be brought in and the information on her family is lost."
Ms Millar said 25 per cent of the latest herd-recording data was wrong and went to waste.
She said a super database would benefit 12 organisations.
"We need to change to make data more accurate and provide better sire evaluation," she said.
"The problem is everyone is so busy with their own jobs it is hard to look up and look out.
"We are canvassing people's views at to create awareness of the need for this.
The idea has worked in Ireland where they amalgamated 35 databases and received more data."
If enough people favour the idea, meetings will be organised next year.
A super database would initially cover data from herd test centres and breed societies, providing calving dates, drying-off dates and production figures.
"How the database will be paid for and its structure will be looked at later," Ms Millar said.
Holstein Australia chief executive officer Matthew Shaffer said entering data in several places and several times, was a real issue.
"Farmers really don't have the time for it," he said.
"It means they tend not to do it and that means we are not getting the information we need.
"In turn, farmers aren't getting the information they need.
It will be a big benefit to the whole industry if it is made easier and more streamlined.
