Table 1 Independent variables of ‘HerdAhead’ farms per category, with independent variables used in the multivariate model

% (n)

Region

Region 1

21.7 (60)

Region 1 vs. Region 2 vs. Region 3

Region 2

30.3 (84)

Region 3

48.0 (133)

Herd size

≤50

9.4 (26)

<50 cows vs. 50–100 cows vs. >100 cows

50-100

50.4 (139)

≥100

40.2 (111)

Herd enterprise

Dairy only

47.5 (131)

Dairy only vs. Mixed enterprise

Mixed

52.5 (145)

Calving period

Spring

85.5 (236)

Spring-calving vs. Mixed-calving

Mixed

14.5 (40)

Number of 1st lactation heifers

<25

60.7 (168)

<25 heifers vs. 25–50 heifers vs. >50 heifers

25-50

32.9 (91)

>50

6.5 (18)

Age heifers 1st calving

<24 months

10.2 (27)

<24 months vs. 24–30 months vs. >30 months

24-30 months

82.6 (219)

>30 months

7.2 (19)

Flukicide treatment cows

Not treated

34.3 (95)

Not treated vs. Treated

Treatment for flukicides

65.7 (182)

Flukicide treatment heifers

Not treated

31.8 (88)

Not treated vs. Treated

Treatment for flukicides

68.2 (189)

Turnout cows

Jan/Feb

83.6 (230)

January/February vs.

Mar/Apr

16.36 (45)

March/April

Other

-

Excluded

Housing cows

Sep/Oct

28.1 (75)

September/October vs. November/December

Nov/Dec

71.9 (192)

Other

Excluded

Stocking rate cows

<5 cows

87.7 (236)

Less than 5 cows vs. 5-10/ >10 cows

5-10 cows />10 cows

12.3 (33)

Grazing length cows

<7 months

32.2 (86)

<7 months grazing vs. >7 months grazing

>7 months

67.8 (181)