Stepping Back But Staying Interested

Wanstead Sandstorm Fernleaf (photo: Andrew Cullen)

The fourth generation Bookaar farmer, whose family has been on the land for 95 years, has high hopes for WANSTEAD SANDSTORM FERNLEAF.

“We certainly hope she makes plenty of money and goes to a good home because she’s pretty special,” Roger said. “She has good breeding behind her and she’s a good heifer in her own right with a lovely nature.

“It will be sad to see her go but I’ve always been of the motto that if you’re going to sell something, you might as well sell something at the top end of your herd.

“She’s the best we’ve got to sell at the moment. I have no trouble saying this is the best animal we’ve ever put on open auction.”

The Fernleaf family dates back to the Bushlea Jersey Stud, which has a 75-year history and recently set an Australasian record price for a Jersey cow.

Roger describes her dam, WANSTEAD VALENTINO FERNLEAF, as the best cow he’s had on the farm. She’s classified Excellent 93, while the grand dam BUSHLEAF ACTION T FERNLEAF 5 is classified Excellent 92. “She’s a cow we purchased at Bushlea several years ago and she has been breeding quite nicely for us,” Roger said.

WANSTEAD SANDSTORM FERNLEAF won the S.T. Genetics youth show champion Jersey and was recently fourth in a big class at the Warragul Fair.

“She has very good confirmation. We breed for production and the good type hopefully comes along and that’s happened here.”

Roger is a big supporter of the Jersey Australia sale and has contributed in the past.

“We don’t sell animals of this calibre very often – actually we haven’t sold one this good before. It was a hard decision to put her in the sale … she’s very special but we’ve been strong supporters of the Jersey Australia sales and will continue to be.”

AT his first meeting of the former Victorian Jersey Society committee back in 2004, Chris MacKenzie was asked “what do you think we need to do?”

His answer was “research and development” and he’s pleased to report as he prepares to leave the Jersey Australia presidency that there has been great progress in that time – even though there’s still a lot to do.

“That question bowled me over a bit but I came home and thought about it and there was very little in the area of research and development,” he said.

“I thought we needed to be out there trying to get as much as we can through industry research areas and so I said that at the next meeting and they said you do it.

“The board was very encouraging and we’ve gone a long way but I think we’re just starting. Research and development need to continue as a priority. There’s still more that we can gain and I hope we can get more research stations to take on Jersey cows.”

Chris has no doubt that the Jersey cow has a bright future.

“Scientists are trying to develop a black and white cow that’s like a Jersey and is as efficient as a Jersey but we need to keep pushing for our efficiencies and for products that can be developed from the Jersey cow to add value from the manufacturing perspective and the nutritional side of things.”

Chris progressed from the Victorian committee to the newly formed Jersey Australia Board when it was formed in 2008 and has been president for the past four years.

Now, as the last remaining inaugural JA Board member, he has decided to call time. At the AGM in May, he will be standing down as president and as Board member.

“I’ve had a fair stint and I think it’s time to step back and let others have an opportunity to step up,” he said.

“When I was re-elected last time, I said it would be my last term. I think it’s best to be a clean break and allow the others to grow and develop their leadership and not have to worry about a past president sitting on the Board.”

Jersey Australia reduced the Board from 10 to nine last year and this year it goes back to a maximum of eight. “I think it can be just as efficient in the decision making. We’ve made improvements in governance and efficiencies and how we operate as a Board,” Chris said.