The latest annual KPI report, published in March 2026 by PAN Livestock Services and NMR, highlights changes in dairy performance, including increased milk yield and constituents, alongside notable gains in cow health and fertility.
The annual report measures a wide range of parameters in a cross-section of 500 NMR milk-recorded Holstein herds to the year ending August 2025. It also shows year-on-year trends since its first publication in 2010, highlighting the progress made in areas affecting dairy herd productivity.
This latest report shows that after a slight decline in milk yields between 2022 and 2024, the median (mid-point) value for 305-day milk production was 9,136kg, while milk yield per cow per year was 8,962kg.
Somatic cell count (SCC) values show a median of 160,000 cells/ml, with the top 25% of herds at or below 128,000 cells/ml. The median age at first calving was 26.5 months, with the top 25% of herds achieving 25 months.
For the first time this latest report includes a breakdown of milk production by lactation. It shows that fewer first-lactation cows are achieving at least 75% of the herd’s mature 305-day milk yield. In the median herd, 33% of first-lactation cows recorded below 75% of the mature-cow 305-day yield, up from 27% of first-lactation l cows in 2020.
This latest report also shows that calving interval has reduced by 33 days since 2010, to 391 days, and the productive life within the herd, measured as the days between first calving and exit, has reduced over time with cows either sold to another herd or culled.
Since 2021, improvements in some fertility parameters have paused, but the median heat detection and conception rates have increased consistently from 35% to 43% and 34% to 40%, respectively.
Significant improvements have been made in SCCs. Cows completing lactations with no high SCC samples (at or above 200,000 cells/ml) has increased from 41% in 2016 to 53% in 2025.
“It is encouraging to see improvements in health and fertility of our herds, as well as the production,” says NMR director Ben Bartlett. “It’s important that herds use the data and avoid chasing one goal at the expensive of other vital performance parameters that contribute to sustainable herd performance.”
The report includes the performance of the top 25% and bottom 25% and the median for each parameter for the year ending August 2025.
The top 25% performance data for each parameter are set as the target, are easily accessible in the main dairy management software, Uniform Agri, Herd Companion, and the vet practice system InterHerd Plus
“This is a useful guide for producers and their advisers to compare with their own herd performance in each area and set targets,” adds Mr Bartlett.
Also included in the report is a chart showing trends for each key parameter in an example herd. “This snapshot shows the overall direction of travel and the areas making good progress and those needing attention. It is a particualrly important reference and one we include for each herd on Herd Companion.”
The NMR 500-Herd report was produced by Dr James Hanks, Dr Emma Holt, and Dr Mohamad Kossaibati from PAN Livestock Services, University of Reading and can be found on NMR’s web site at https://bit.ly/NMR500Herd2025KPI
