View Energy Corrected Milk (ECM) Values

Question: What is Energy Corrected Milk and how can I view it in DairyComp?

Answer: Energy Corrected Milk (ECM) is a calculation that factors in three different variables—pounds of milk, fat, and protein—allowing producers to better evaluate their herd's productivity and efficiency. By adding an ECM item to DairyComp, you can view this calculation in lists and reports.

ECM is calculated based on test day information, which is loaded into DairyComp through the RECEIVE command (see Add Test Day Data to learn more). ECM combines the three variables mentioned above and then uses a formula to account for a 3.5% fat basis and a 3.2% protein basis.

To include this calculation in your reports, you'll need to add the ECM item to your DairyComp installation. You can then use the ECM item in your DairyComp reports. See the topics below to learn more:

If your DairyComp installation does not yet have the ECM item configured, follow these steps to do so:

  1. In the command line, enter ALTER\2 to open the Item definitions window.

    If you don't see the ECM item listed in the window, proceed to the next step. But if the ECM item is already configured for your system, you can start using it in reports! See View ECM in Reports to learn more.

  2. Click Add [Ins] to create a new item, then enter the parameters for the ECM item according to the values below. At the end of each sub-step listed below, you'll need to click Next at the bottom of the window to advance to the next sub-step:
    1. Item Name: Enter ECM in this field.
    2. Item Type: Select 85 Test Day FCM or ECM or MLM from the drop-down.
    3. Value: Enter -1 in this field to use data from the last test day for the calculation.
    4. Value: Enter 2 in this field for ECM.
    5. Description: Enter a description such as ECM test days.
  3. Click OK, then click Yes to confirm the item you just created.

The ECM item is used in DairyComp reports in the same manner as other items; all you need to do is add it to your commands, as in the following example:

LIST ID PEN LACT ECM DIM

The system will return results that include the ECM value.

See Reports to learn more about using items in DairyComp reports.

NOTE: For additional information about ECM and how it works, click here to view an on-demand webinar on the subject!
< Return to Managing Data and Animal Records Overview