Dairy Management Teams
Transcript of Select Sires' Reproductive Moment Program
on DairyLine Radio, Which Aired Oct. 3, 2002
with Mel DeJarnette, reproductive specialist,
Select Sires Inc.
Mel, why is it these days everyone seems to be talking
about dairy management teams?
Well, there are many reasons for the shift to a team approach
in dairy management. Probably the major one is herd size. Grandpa
never needed any help, but grandpa never milked more than about 60
cows at once. Today, herd managers are routinely making four- and five-digit
dollar value decisions in areas ranging from milking management to
reproduction, to cow health, financial issues, to environmental impact.
No one can be expected to know it all, and that is why a team approach,
or "two heads is better than one" approach, is growing.
What is the best way to create a management team?
Before assembling your team, it is important to know what you want and
expect from the team. One of the common pitfalls of not having a team
is what Dr. Phil Senger of Washington State University would call
the "blame game." In the blame game, it is where everyone blames someone
else for the problem. Veterinarian blames the nutritionist, who blames
the A.I. representative, and so on. The herd owner, confused and not
knowing whom to believe, pretty much blames everybody. The team approach
will help to eliminate the blame game. But if participants don’t show
up with the right attitude, the meeting simply becomes the place to
play the blame game face-to-face. If you need bouncers at your team
meetings, then your team members probably haven’t quite figured out what
it is all about. Now, in everyone’s defense, teamwork isn’t easy. To be
successful, members need to put aside personal agendas and focus on
solving problems. Good team members can diplomatically suggest changes
without pointing fingers. They also must have thick enough skin to accept
criticism where warranted. What each member must keep in mind is that it
is all-or-none for everyone. Either everybody wins or no one wins.
So, what is the herd owner’s role in all this?
Well, the herd owner must remember that, like it or not, he must shoulder
the responsibility of being team captain. One of the most important
responsibilities of the team captain is to put all the other members of
the team at ease. Secondly, at times there will be conflicting opinions
about problem identification or course of action. As captain, you must be
prepared to step to the plate, call the shots and accept the consequences.
Finally, more so than any other member, the captain must be prepared to
accept criticism. It would certainly be nice if others would accept full
responsibility for your problems and agree to solve them for you. But we
all know that apples usually don’t fall very far from the tree.
What is the best way for a herd owner to direct the team?
Managing action is the responsibility of the team captain and, unfortunately,
often the most challenging part of the solution. An advantage of a team
effort is that once all members agree on the problem and the appropriate course
of action, each member can independently check on the progress of implementation
during routine visits. Through repetition of the same message coming from
multiple sources, the value of action is eventually driven home to all employees.
Once a herd owner knows what role he wants a reproductive management team
to play in his dairy, whom should he include on the team?
Well, obviously the veterinarian is a critical member, as is the nutritionist.
Since team recommendations will require implementation, the employees and
the herd manager should have representation. If a sizable financial investment
is to be considered, you definitely want your accountant or your banker to be
invited to the table. Local extension and university personnel can also be
valuable assets, and don’t forget your local Select Sires Reproductive Solutions™
specialist; there is one in your area no matter where you are.
™Reproductive Solutions is a trademark of Select Sires Inc.
Copyright 1996-2002 Select Sires Inc. Last updated 10-Oct-2002.
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