Australian Jersey Journal July / August 2022

July-August 2022

Sydney Royal Easter Show and Junior Champion

Developing and Promoting the Jersey Breed

JERSEY AUSTRALIA INC

5 Ring Road Bundoora Vic 3083

P: +61 3 9370 9105

E: jersey@jersey.com.au

W: www.jersey.com.au

Regos: rego@jersey.com.au

Class: class@jersey.com.au

Accounts: accounts@jersey.com.au

PRESIDENT

Lisa Broad

E: Lisa.Broad@jersey.com.au

P: 0427 862 624

VICE PRESIDENT

Brian Wilson

E: Brian.Wilson@jersey.com.au

P: 0407 176 425

TREASURER

Jamie Drury

E: Jamie.Drury@jersey.com.au

P 0427 008 088

CHAIR PROMOTIONS SUB-COMMITTEE

Jane Sykes

E: Jane.Sykes@jersey.com.au

P: 0422 640 533

CHAIR OF GENETICS SUB-COMMITTEE

Wayne Kuhne

E: Wayne.Kuhne@jersey.com.au

P: 0438 088 660

BOARD MEMBERS

Robert Anderson

E: Robert.Anderson@jersey.com.au

P: 0400 987 702

Geoff Akers

E: Geoff.Akers@jersey.com.au

P: 0427 298 478

GENERAL MANAGER / SECRETARY

GLEN BARRETT

E: Glen.Barrett@jersey.com.au

P: 0418 466 371

FIELD OFFICER

David Anderson

E: David.Anderson@jersey.com.au

P: 0493 206 748

STATE SECRETARIES

NEW SOUTH WALES

Milton Johnston - (02) 6552 5915 johnston_Jersey@yahoo.com.au

QUEENSLAND

Diane Reeves - 0408 070 921 ajbsqld@bigpond.com

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Amy McDonald - (08) 8562 8113 sa.branch.Jersey.australia@outlook.com

TASMANIA

Shanae Perkins shanae_perkins6211@hotmail.com

VICTORIA

Andrew Younger - 0409 572 484 motor5@bigpond.com

GENETIC RECOVERY OFFICERS

WESTERN DISTRICTS

Chris McKenzie - (03) 5598 7222

NORTHERN VIC

Margaret Cockerell

M: 0407 641 132 Ph: (03)

Barry

Susan

My thanks to our hosts the Tasmanian Jersey Breeders Club for a terrific week in Tasmania for the recent 2022 Jersey Australia AGM and Conference. It was terrific to see members from most regions present and enjoying each others company while taking in local member farms and attractions.

The Dairy’s Finest sale was a great success and has fast established itself as a premier multi-vendor sale. A terrific sale average was recorded of $5462 and even more exciting was sale lots were purchased by several non-members opening new member opportunities for the Association.

There is an exciting year ahead for the Association. We have strong expectations on what we can achieve in growing the Association with the recently appointed Field Officer, David Anderson. David has hit the ground running through Gippsland and Tasmania and is achieving some positive early results and will soon be heading into NSW and West Vic. We continue to encourage members and club leaders to be proactive in letting David or the office know of any Jersey breeders in your region who are not members that you think would be good for David to visit.

Demand for Jersey Milk continues to be well received and we are starting to consider ways we can enhance these opportunities to the betterment of members and with a growing trend to dairy beef and the Association is continuously looking at ways we can support members to have viable options for surplus calves.

It has been an exceptionally busy start to the year with strong registration numbers keeping the office busy. Regos to the end of May are up 73% on last year for the same period and we are a heading to a record month of June as well.

As we have been liaising with several members looking to bring their herd book up to date after several years of limited registrations, it is a good opportunity to remind members there are many ways that you can register your stock.

• Register through Jersey online on the JA Website at https://jersey.com.au/jersey-online/

• Use the registration function on your Easy Dairy of Mistro

• Easy Dairy How to Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRQEbsXNG1o

• If you are herd testing, have your herd test centre send JA a DIF 102 Pedigree file. You can also export a DIF 102 file out of Mistro Farm or Easy Dairy if you’re not herd testing

• If you are predominantly paper based record keeping at home send us a copy of your records and we will take care of it from there for you.

• If you need assistance on farm to work through your data, let us know and we will arrange a visit with the Field Officer who will be more than happy to assist.

JA Staff are there to assist you through whichever way you prefer to get your registrations done.

Glen Barrett General Manager

NOTICE OF JERSEY AUSTRALIA (NSW BRANCH) AGM MEETING

Meeting will be held via ZOOM (online) WEDNESDAY 3rd AUGUST 2022 @ 7.30PM

Links to the meeting will be emailed to all financial NSW members.

Notice of motion from Milton Johnston

1. “That Jersey Australia (NSW) Incorporated, change its financial year to the period beginning on 1 July and ending on the following 30 June.”

This will replace the current period of 1 March to end of February of the following year.

We look forward to your company on the night! JERSEY AUSTRALIA (NSW BRANCH) Committee.

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World Dairy Expo

Jersey Australia is excited to confirm we have secured a trade site at the 2022 World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. This is an exciting development for Australian Jerseys, and we look forward to working with Genetics Australia, Agri Gene and Central Sires to promote Australian Jersey genetics on the global stage.

Welcome New Classifiers

Jersey Australia is excited to welcome Scott Connell and Andrew Marks to the class team. Scott and Andrew have been ongoing training over the last couple of years which has been impacted by COVID somewhat. Both Andrew and Scott are out classifying during the Autumn Class Tour.

We are also pleased to welcome back Roger Heath to the class panel. Roger has held a couple of years of sabbatical and return to the team for the Autumn Class Tour.

Young Breeder School

Jersey Australia is once again supporting a group of young breeders to participate and compete at the Young Breeders School in Belgium with our project Partners Melbourne Royal and Holstein Australia. A Team of 5 will depart late August.

Export Opportunities

Great to see Jersey Heifers in demand for export to Pakistan. This is a burgeoning market for Australian Jerseys for both live heifers and semen. Strong enquiries has also been seen from Oman and Bangladesh.

Great Southern and Great Northern Challenges

Members are reminded that their club challenges need to be completed by October 31st and results submitted to JA by Nov 4th.

Great Southern Challenge Judging is expected to start on Nov 14th with the Great Northern Challenge Judging the following week.

All Entries submitted for the GSC and GNC must be registered to be eligible for entry. The Great Southern Challenge Presentation will be on Friday December 2nd.

Production Awards

JA Annual Production awards for 2021 were recently announced and it was great to see members celebrating their achievements. The full list of production awards can be found at https://jersey.com.au/productionawards/

SYDNEY

PHOTO:

From Truffles To Berries

FROM

truffles to berries and back to dairy farms, the annual conference had a bit of everything.

In Tasmania for the first time since 2015 and with most participants travelling from the mainland, the conference proved to be a resounding success with nearperfect weather, interesting farm visits, spectacular tourist attractions and good food and companionship.

Tasmanian branch president and one of the local organisers, Ken Lawrence, said people attending the May 24-26 conference gave consistently positive feedback.

“We had a very good three days; everyone enjoyed it,” he said.

His thoughts were echoed by fellow organiser Jane Sykes who said the feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive.

While dairying and Jersey cows were at the heart of the conference, there were plenty of other opportunities to appreciate Tasmanian agriculture and scenery.

One of the highlights was a visit to Tasmanian Truffles, Australia’s only growers of French black truffles.

“Everyone was positive about that visit,” Ken said.

Tour members got to find and taste the rare treats. “They’re not particularly appealing when you dig

them out of the ground but we got a tasting at the end and I know a few members took home sample bags and bottles of truffle mustard and oil,” Jane said.

The Tuesday tour also included visits to Dip Falls and Big Tree – which lived up to its name – and either a chair-lift ride or walking tracks at The Nut.

A visit to Tasmanian Berries also drew a positive response, with 46 hectares of the property under tunnels once the latest expansion is completed.

“It’s a huge investment and they have had to deal with bringing in staff and accommodating them, which everyone found fascinating,” Ken said.

“It was amazing to look through their tunnels,” Jane said. “Obviously it was not dairy related, but as farmers we could still appreciate the infrastructure they have to put up, their water, fertiliser and spraying costs and how they have to contract their products.

“There was something we could all relate to.”

Tasmanian Berries was part of a group of employers that chartered a Qantas plane to bring employees to Australia during the pandemic and also had to cover hotel quarantine costs.

But dairy was never far from the agenda, with visits to three farms.

Judy and Brian Johns’ Craiglawn Jerseys stud, started in 1967 by Peter McCulloch, currently milks 180 with split autumn and spring calving, giving visitors the opportunity to see freshly born calves in a lovely setting overlooking the Nut.

Long-time breeder Geoff Heazlewood shared his Jersey herd at Latrobe, with a good mix of younger cows coming through along with older cows that are still looking good and performing well.

The Bennett family’s farm Ashgrove Cheese at Elizabethtown also provided an insight into commercialising milk and Paul Bennett shared his philosophies and attitudes on a wide range of topics.

Most on those on the tour bus were from the mainland and the Wednesday night dinner drew 55 people.

President Lisa Broad praised the Tasmanian branch for hosting such a successful event.

“They embraced the whole agricultural industry and took us to different areas while still focussing on how families run their businesses,” Lisa said.

“There are limited Jersey members in Tasmania so it was good to shift

the focus but remain very centred on family-run businesses. We all have the same principles and goals; we just produce a different product.”

Eye On The Prize

JOHN Sykes admits he has terrorised a few A.I. reps over the years, but he’s a man who knows what he wants.

The Sykes family’s Minstonette stud at Ringarooma in Tasmania received a 50-year award during the recent AGM, and John says there’s plenty more to come.

Most recently he has been looking for outcrosses, but it always comes back to the type of cow that John likes and works well on their farm.

“I use a lot of different bulls and basically I torment the crap out of an A.I reps because I want to breed for different things,” he said.

“We want a commercial cow that can go down the paddock and eat the grass that’s irrigated which is the cheapest tucker, come back and eat some grain and be milked and walk back down the paddock.

“I want to have a bit of grunt about her; I don’t want a frail cow. We like to have a 425-kilogram cow doing 450 milk solids on five kilograms a day of grain with four cows to the hectare on the milking area.”

Minstonette cows have lived up to those expectations in the harsh Tasmanian climate, winning multiple awards over the years and also performing well where it really counts – in the dairy.

The family operation includes John and Katrina along with their children Jason and Jane while youngest son Mark works off farm. They normally milk about 600, with 550 stud Jerseys and about 50 stud Ayrshires, introduced about 10 years ago as a birthday present for Katrina.

John’s interest in cows stretches back to his childhood.

“I was bought up showing calves because my parents Jack and Pam had a stud, Minstone,” he said.

Not even an early disaster where the first heifer he intended to show suddenly died three days before the event could quell his enthusiasm.

Around 1970 John bought a couple of heifers at Viv Percy’s “Glen Inglis” dispersal sale and really got into showing and developing his own stud.

“When I started showing there were 150 Jersey calves at the Scottsdale show – now there aren’t any. “The local show was three-parts Jerseys, now it’s us and a couple of schools. It’s just the way it has gone.”

The change reflects the shifting Tasmanian farming landscape, particularly the introduction of corporate-owned farms opting for larger herds and a preference for crossbreds.

“There are only a few of us registering and doing the whole thing,” John said.

“We want a commercial cow that can go down the paddock and eat the grass that’s irrigated which is the cheapest tucker, come back and eat some grain and be milked and walk back down the paddock.”

John went share farming in 1976 at age 20, and either shared and leased for five years before marrying Katrina in 1981 and buying a farm and seriously developing his stud. They moved to their present farm at Ringarooma in 2001.

Tasmania is known for being wet, and the Sykes farm lives up to that reputation. They have a 186-hectare home farm and similar-sized run-off block, plus Jane has bought a tree block next door and is working on adding that to the overall property.

“It’s a very wet farm,” John said. “A few years ago, they built an irrigation dam on some of our land and measured the rainfall. One at the dam site on our property got 1250mm for the year, the other one at the other farm 10km away by road at Ledgewood got 750mm.

“We’ve got hills and mountains around us and we can get rain that other people don’t get.”

One of the farm’s claims to fame is a 200-acre centre pivot that works off gravity. “We’re at the top end of the valley and the pipes go up above us to the stream coming around the top of the mountain,” John said.

“It’s very good in summer because it’s cost efficient and the pivot is right at the dairy. The only nuisance is in winter when we have plenty of leaking taps and water troughs.”

They are big on irrigation. As well as the centre pivot, they have about 120 acres of solid set irrigation normally used twice a day. For the first few minutes it puts on the dairy effluent and then it follows up with water for 20 minutes.

“It’s efficient because we’re getting the water from upstream and gravitating it down to the effluent dam and then we’re gravitating it from the effluent dam to the pumps to put it on,” John said.

Although there are some Ayrshires in the herd, John describes them as “more of a hobby”.

“We’re passionate Jersey people. Jane doesn’t have her own stud but she owns about 30 in the herd and she’s the future of this stud,” he said. Their biggest cow family is Vickie,

which started when John bought two sisters from Ross and Louise Dalenburg when they dispersed. The Sykes family now estimate they have milked more than 300 from the Vickie family.

One notable cow was Minstonette Blackies Vickie 60 who was Reserve Champion and Best Udder at International Dairy Week in 2011 and returned in 2013 to win her age class.

She was a really good cow, but John reckons he had one that was better but just didn’t make it to IDW. The calf from Barry Monson, Monvale Star Dulcie 3, had always beaten Vickie in Tasmania but she had a touch of mastitis in the front quarter and John wasn’t prepared to send her across to Victoria.

Dulcie won Champion Cow at the State Dairy Fair in Tasmania three times and was twice named Supreme Champion, and resides now in a grave at the family dairy.

In 2004 the Sykes family was joint winner of the State Dairy Business of the Year.

John is impressed with the rise and continued improvement of Jerseys. “They are completely different cows. Today we’ve got a very workable Jersey cow.”

One of the biggest influences on the herd in modern times was Van

Ahlem. “I wasn’t an early user but I ended up having 180 in the milking herd by Van Ahlem,” John said. “That tells you what I thought of him.”

They moved on to Valentino, David, Oliver P, Irwin, Matt but John is now looking for bulls without Valentino blood, such as Bedford, Izuka and Degree Trigger. “I wanted to use something to get away from Valentino because we’d used so much of him,” he said.

They calve in spring, from about August 10 till October 30 and usually raise more than 300 calves. “We rear every female and previously reared a lot of bulls and sold them, though our market there has dwindled due to sexed semen and the beef price.”

Jane has been dabbling with Jersey beef and they will follow that market and they are also keen to dip further into sexed semen.

The years haven’t dimmed the family’s passion. “We show, we classify, we go to Dairy Week every year and Jane is on the Board; you’ve got to have some reason to get up in the morning,” John said.

“We’ve met a lot of good people in the breed and I just bought another heifer at the sale during the conference. We’re as keen as ever and I still believe they are the most economical cow.”

Monvale

Lisa Broad Returns With New

LISA Broad has been re-elected president for a second term, but she feels like it will be a new experience.

“I’m looking forward to a second term because we’re going back into a more normal life post-COVID,” Lisa said.

“I’m hoping we can get back to having face-to-face meetings. We haven’t had a real chance to get stuck into planning for the future.

“It’s hard to do that sort of planning over Zoom. When you get to mix with people with similar interests, it becomes like an extended family.”

Lisa says her first 12 months in the role have been challenging and enjoyable.

“In some respects, we’ve been lucky to continue functioning so well over the past two years but now it’s time to fully get back into action.”

One of her main priorities for the coming year is expanding the role and influence of the promotions and genetics and breed development sub-committees.

“We’ve had 12 months of having sub-committees and I’d like them to move to the next level,” Lisa said.

“I think we can filter their ideas and practices back through the Board,

which will save a lot of time at Board level and reflect their priorities.

“They have been going really well but it’s time to ramp them up to the next level in the next 12 months.”

Lisa has been farming all her life. She grew up on a South Gippsland farm and moved to northern Victoria for 28 years before moving back to Wonthaggi two years ago.

She replaced Chris MacKenzie as president in 2021, becoming Jersey Australia’s first female president.

Vice president Brian Wilson, treasurer Jamie Drury, both from Tamworth, were re-elected and Jane Sykes from Tasmania returned as chair of promotions and Wayne Kuhne from Victoria continues as chair of the genetics and breed development committee.

During the conference, 50 Year Awards were presented to John and Katrina Sykes and family and Peter McCulloch and family.

Long serving Tasmanian branch secretary Max McCormack was also acknowledged at the dinner.

Max previously received a Distinguished Services Award for his contribution.

Bright Future For DairY

Tasmanian agriculture –including the dairy industry - is looking to a positive future and speakers during the annual conference highlighted some of the progress.

Former TasFoods chief executive and managing director Jane Bennett started her agricultural career in dairy and continues to sing its praises. Her dinner informative talk shared advice on how local farmers can position themselves to be part of this success.

Ms Bennett, is a Nuffield Scholar and now Hop Products Australia’s board chair.

Dr James Hill from Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture’ Elliott Research Station outlined new developments, with the farm being divided into five smaller farmlets for more rigorous research to be undertaken.

Each farmlet will include different levels of ryegrass, clover and herbaceous plants to test the impact on methane emissions and the carbon footprint of the milk being produced.

They are also working on a seaweed additive to include in cow diets to reduce methane output.

The Central Gippsland Jersey Club would like to take this opportunity to send a massive thankyou to Scott and Tahnee Wilson of Riviera Farms.

We thank you for being such an important and active presence within our club. Tahnee has held the position of Secretary since 2018.

She has done an excellent job and been involved heavily with the shared organizing of all club activities and events. Members who are prepared to take on these roles are a crucial part of the enjoyment and ongoing success of our local clubs.

Scott has happily helped out with club events with the setting up and clean up of the Jersey fair, hosting the club members for on farm herd visits and numerous other activities.

We wish Scott, Tahnee and Marley much happiness and success with the move to sunny Queesland in whatever the future shall bring.

Dairy’s Finest Showcase Sale Tops $5400 Average

JERSEY

Australia’s Dairy’s Finest showcase sale has confirmed the status of Jersey cows in the Australian market.

All but one of the 27 lots sold, achieving an average of $5461 with a top price of $9000. The showcase sale was held as part of Jersey Australia’s annual conference this week in Tasmania.

Although down on the highs of the inaugural Showcase Sale in 2021, Jersey Australia general manager Glen Barrett said the sale was a great success with vendors and buyers pleased with prices.

Genetics Australia was major sponsor for the virtual sale conducted by auctioneer Brian Leslie from Dairy Livestock Services

and online through Elite Livestock Auctions.

“The sale offered a cow for everyone’s breeding objective with high type, high production or high BPI with many tested polled or A2 and backed by generations of outstanding breeding by Dairy’s Finest breeders,” Glen said.

“The Showcase Sale was a great success and we were very pleased with the results, although the prices reflected a margin of uncertainty in the industry, especially in relation to input costs.”

Brian Leslie said there had been great interest in the sale. “To have 400 people viewing online was a tremendous audience,” he said. “We had buyers online from all parts of

Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia and we had people from Tasmania in the room and also online.

“The widespread audience was outstanding and it was a very good result for both vendors and buyers,” he said.

The top price $9000 was paid for Rivendell Joyride Nova owned by the Menzies family in New South Wales and purchased by Rocky Allen of Rockstar Jerseys.

This was followed by $8500 for a Bushlea cow and $8000 for Kings Ville, Warrain Treasure and Loxleigh Iris entries.

Leadership Qualities

A number of graduates are now representing their industries or rural communities at the decision-making level in the boardrooms of both community and industry groups.

While she never left her focus shift too far from Jersey Australia, Lisa also appreciated how this deeper understanding of people management and leadership could benefit her farm business.

JERSEY

Australia president Lisa Broad has gained a better understanding of her leadership capabilities and hopes that other members can experience similar benefits.

Lisa was recently supported by the Gardiner Dairy Foundation to undertake the Marcus Oldham Rural Leadership Program and she is encouraging other farmers to undertake the program or to support those with leadership aspirations.

“I’d like to thank the Gardiner Foundation for their support and while Gardiner can sponsor others to do this course, I think it’s something Jersey Australia members could also consider,” Lisa said.

“Ideally, I’d love to see Jersey Australia develop a member training program that is supported by members to develop capacity in our next generation of potential leaders.

“It could be as simple as a wellestablished farmer donating a chopper cow or a calf to raise funds to cover the course costs so another aspiring leader can benefit, like I have done.”

The Marcus Oldham Rural Leadership Program, supported by NAB Agribusiness, is an intensive five-day workshop conducted on the college campus at Geelong. The program, which started in 1992, is recognised as one of the longest running rural leadership programs in the nation.

The program will develop the skills and knowledge of participants to enable them to undertake a leadership role and competently represent their industry or community in decision-making forums and understand and address the issues facing rural industries and rural communities.

Lisa said the program, conducted the week before the annual conference, was enlightening.

“I thought it would be out of my comfort zone but it was probably something I needed to do. We go through life as farmers and don’t get acknowledged for the things we know and do, but leadership training is something that can benefit everyone.”

Lisa took on the course to help her in her role with Jersey Australia, but it soon developed into something more.

“At the start when I was asked what I wanted to get out of the course, all my answers were to do with Jersey Australia, but as I progressed through the week, I found myself gaining things I could implement in my own business as well,” she said.

Lisa’s new skills centre mostly on people management. “You think everyone has the same goals, but do they?” Lisa asks. “We assume people have the same goals and values but that’s not necessarily the case and to consider other perspectives was one of my key messages.”

“It had benefits for both,” she said.

Lisa has had Jersey club-level and sporting club roles but her position with Jersey Australia is her first at a national board level.

“Being Jersey president is definitely something that I’ve learnt from,” she said. “Every day is challenging because something different presents itself all the time. I progressed during the year but I still keep learning and the leadership course certainly helped that.

“It doesn’t change you; it just makes you understand yourself better to take people on the journey with you.”

One statement that inspired Lisa was that in her role as a leader, she should aim to make her position redundant. “It means that you do your job so well that someone else can easily take over for you and continue the journey,” she said.

Lisa recommends other farmers consider the course. “I couldn’t put a value on it,” she said.

“Even if you’re remotely thinking about being involved with any sort of committee, or if you have workers in your own business, it’s invaluable.

“They push you outside your comfort zone so you can see things from a different perspective, plus you meet significant people from other parts of the industry. Doing the course has definitely opened other doors.”

Jersey-Beef “InFocus” For Sustainable Calf Solution

THE economic benefit of Jerseybeef is obvious for Anthea Day and Trevor Saunders.

The Gippsland breeders sell most of their Jersey- ABS Beef InFocus™ beef calves for $200 at 10 days old.

At the same age, they estimate a straight-bred Jersey would return about $12.

Calculate this margin across about 200 calves and the gains don’t take long to multiply.

But for Anthea, this new business direction is providing something much more valuable than additional income – peace-of-mind.

And that’s not only for the future of her own business, but this also

includes her beloved breed and industry.

“First of all, I’m a sook – just absolutely hopeless – the one thing that breaks my heart and that I can’t deal with is bobby calves going on the calf truck,” the Shady Creek breeder said.

“We saw the opportunity with sexed genetics, as an alternative, and if there’s a cow we don’t want to breed from, she automatically gets dairy beef.

“We’ve set-up a couple of different markets, a new calf shed where we can rear them for one-to-two weeks and we are hoping to get carbon credits from the dairy-beef, it’s a new opportunity that’s opened-up.”

Anthea and Trevor calve about 800 cows a year into their 650-strong Araluen Park Jersey and Ayrshire herd.

Maintaining their “social licence” to operate as dairy farmers is something they factored into their business.

“We are aware that overnight our bobby calf market could be shut, and we want to be geared for that,” she said.

“I’ve always believed every animal deserves a life too, so InFocus for me is a win-win. I’m happy with it and it is making me feel happier about our business as whole.”

ABS Beef InFocus is a specialised dairy-beef product that’s been specifically formulated to breed quality and consistent animals with the assurance dairy farmers need when it comes to calving ease, semen fertility and gestation length.

Proven in Jersey herds throughout the world and now in Australia,

InFocus provides dairy farmers with consistency and quality as the genetic product has its own ‘proof’ demonstrating its vital traits.

Having dabbled with other beef semen, Anthea and Trevor were drawn to ABS InFocus because of its track record with Jerseys.

“What really attracted us was the stats ABS had on dairy-beef,” Anthea said.

“They have stats on the dairy-beef out of Jersey herds, so there were a lot of pluses.”

And just as promised, calving ease hasn’t been an issue and neither has semen fertility.

“With InFocus, you just have to walk past with a straw, and they are in calf,” Anthea joked.

A true “game-changer” for the Jersey breed

For third generation Jersey breeder and ABS Gippsland sales representative, Alan Blum the opportunities InFocus offers the Jersey breed are endless.

He said there’s an appetite among farmers to find a viable solution for the lack of demand for Jersey bobby calves and in doing so improve the industry’s “social license”.

“With InFocus it’s a win-win, as farmers can still make money while doing the right thing,” Alan said. “In some ways, InFocus™ is helping farmers prepare their businesses for the future in a way that makes them money – it doesn’t cost them money – so it makes sense.”

Like Anthea and Trevor, Alan said many farmers were combining sexed genetics with InFocus to breed replacements from their genetically best heifers and cows and then adding value to surplus calves that were previously viewed as a dairy industry “by-product”.

An option that “never existed before”

Farmers wanting to include InFocus into their breeding program have been keen to learn about the entire dairy-beef supply chain, the value of the animals at various ages and the

long-term demand, according to Alan.

“The market price varies depending on when they are sold, but that is the great thing about InFocus animals, they are a diverse product and provide cashflow and farm management flexibility,” he said.

“Most people sell them at 12-monthsold or younger, very few are selling them as calves now.

“Initially most people sold them at 10-days old or weaned, but I guess that’s the benefit of InFocus animals, you can sell when it suits your farm business or take advantage of market trends.”

The colour of the InFocus progeny and assurances about its safety and effectiveness in Jersey herds dominate many other dairy farmer queries.

“Black animals still attract a premium and InFocus™ has the dominant black and polled genes, it’s a proven and consistent product,” Alan said.

“As for the other questions, the InFocus sold in Australia has been specifically selected to ensure calving ease, semen fertility and a live calf, plus it’s been consistently proven over Jerseys.”

Now InFocus calves have started hitting the ground in Australia and entering the beef supply chain, data will be collected on these animals’ carcass characteristics.

“We have buyers who specifically want these animals, which is great because it allows us to more easily collect the valuable data that helps

tell the story of Jersey-beef,” Alan said.

“Obviously, the more InFocus numbers we have, the greater carcass data and demand due to the product’s consistency.”

Providing Jersey farmers with “an option they didn’t have before”, Alan said InFocus not only delivers a sustainable solution to an industry “social licence” challenge, but it could also even alleviate labour shortages, as there’s less work involved with the dairy-beef animals.

“I can see the potential for a product like this to be on every Jersey farm, be involved with every Jersey program,” he said.

“In Denmark less than 5 per cent of conventional dairy semen is used in Jerseys to circumvent concerns about animal welfare and industry sustainability.”

Global challenges require local solutions

Speaking about global greenhouse gas emissions and a growing movement away from animal protein, a sustainable development specialist working in the dairy value chain in Costa Rica recently challenged the Jersey breed to proactively address these “social licence” issues.

Eduardo Robert Ureña told the World Jersey Cattle Bureau Online Conference that the image of farmers had moved from “heroes” feeding the world to “evil” businesses making money from natural resources.

What’s ABS Beef InFocus™?

A specialised dairy-beef product Beef InFocus has been developed by ABS to breed a terminal beef animal from a dairy cow in a commercial system.

Established from the best terminal genetics in the United States of America it’s been trialled – and continues to be monitored in dairy herds to guarantee crucial traits such as a calving ease, semen fertility, gestation length and calf mortality.

Backed by data from Jersey herds and verified across the globe, it delivers consistent beef calves that grow well and flourish in Australia.

Many Australian dairy farmers consider the income from their InFocus animals as their ‘13th milk cheque’.

He said the dairy sector must take responsibility, urging the WJCB to create a dairy global taskforce –encompassing all breeds – to ensure the sustainability of the industry’s relationships with vital industry stakeholders.

Genus Australia, trading as ABS, prioritises research into genetic solutions to help the dairy and beef industries overcome environmental and social licence challenges.

InFocus and ABS sexed genetic product Sexcel® are just some of the examples of the sustainable products on the market and are at the heart of the ABS “Winning Game Plan” breeding strategy.

Other ABS sustainability measures include breeding high generic merit animals that improve efficiencies — requiring less land, water, and resources to produce dairy products — supplying polled genetics to remove the requirement for disbudding and breeding healthier animals.

ABS is also focusing on breeding animals with reduced methane emissions and improved feed conversion efficiency.

These- and much more – including ABS’s own commitment to reducing

Social licence explained

The level of acceptance or approval that stakeholders and communities extend to a project, site, company, or industry.

The phrase was coined in 1997 by a mining industry sustainable development executive called Jim Cooney in discussions with the World Bank.

Difficult to quantify and measure. It’s one of the most talked about issues in agriculture.

Examples of agricultural practices or industries that have come under “social license” pressure include live export, chemical use, native vegetation management.

Source: Governance Institute of Australia, Australian Farm Institute

its carbon footprint are outlined in its new Sustainability Strategy available online.

A proactive Australian Jersey industry

Driven by the Jersey Australia Board and a need to support members with new services, Jersey Australia General Manager Glen Barrett said the breed society wanted to provide an alternative for surplus calves.

“When options like bobby calf sales can’t occur, and there’s mounting pressure in this space, it will have a bigger effect on the Jersey breed than other breeds,” he said.

“So, it was up to Jersey Australia to actively find an alternative market and thanks to the uniqueness of Jersey beef, there’s an opportunity to find supply lines and market opportunities for our members to move their surplus calves.”

Underpinned by a drive for industry sustainability, Glen said finding a solution included looking at what can be done on farm.

“What a specialised Jersey-beef market offers members is an alternative income stream to move those calves on at a significant return over and above what surplus Jersey calves are worth now,” Glen said.

“Members will be able to breed their replacement Jerseys with sexed genetics and breed the balance of their herd to beef to deliver a significant revenue stream.”

Glen’s also confident that Jersey-beef could assist the broader agricultural sector to reduce its carbon footprint as dairy farmers could be contributing quality beef into the supply chain in addition to producing milk.

When asked about eating Jersey beef, he said there’s plenty of human health benefits and it was also tasty.

“Sure, there’s stigma around the potential for yellow fat because visually it looks different and supermarkets think they can’t sell it, but really Jersey-beef is unique as reports have found it has high beta-carotene levels which is good for cognitive function and health benefits,” he said. “Its marbling is only second to Wagyu.”

“More and more high-end restaurants are favouring Jersey beef because of its uniqueness once it is cooked.”

Back on farm at Shady Creek in Gippsland, Anthea Day and Trevor Saunders know it’s only a matter of time before consumers cotton-on to the delicacy that is Jersey-beef.

“Jersey-beef, in carcass competitions at shows where judges look at and eat the meat, the Jersey Angus-cross wins time and time again,” Anthea said.

“But to sell that, we haven’t had any carcass information, we haven’t had much to go on.

“But I believe once the average consumer tastes Jersey beef-cross they are going to really like it.”

The Winning Game

With ABS’s Winning Game Plan

By

A Milk Management Tool With A Cash Bonus

FLATTER

milk production, a shorter spring joining and a ‘second opportunity’ for quality cows, these are just some of the benefits one Gippsland family have obtained from using a specified dairy-beef insemination program

The fact they also get valuable ABS Beef InFocus™ animals delivering a “cash cow” later in the season is just a bonus.

The Boyd family, Ranleigh Farms, at Foster and Yanakie have 37 ABS InFocus Jersey and Friesian-cross calves that were born in December.

Grazing in the paddock at their dairy farm, Estelle Boyd said “you couldn’t tell half of them were out of Jerseys and half were out of Friesians”.

Earmarked to be sent to the family’s out block, until market or seasonal conditions dictate a sale date, Estelle and her son Brett have used InFocus as a ‘tool’ to manage milk and cashflow.

“Because we shortened our spring joining, we created more empty (cows),” Brett explained.

“But instead of being culled, we gave them another joining chance in February, to calve in December, and

if they are any good, we move them into our autumn calving group.”

“It gives our good cows another chance to get back into the herd but breeding them to InFocus means they are also producing a beef calf that has value.”

The Boyd’s will now breed more of their lower genetic merit animals to InFocus, using genomic results to guide these decisions.

Estelle and Brett were both impressed with the fertility of the InFocus semen, and they never had any issues with calving.

Their carry-over cows that were joined to InFocus were bred as part of a fixed time artificial insemination program across five days.

“When you think about it, we are starting with the dodgy ones – cows that didn’t get in calf – but in saying that we were still getting 50 per cent of them in calf with the PG program,” Brett said.

“I think that is pretty good as that’s what we are getting from our maiden heifers in a similar program.”

The mother and son team are joined on farm by Estelle’s husband Geoff,

Brett’s wife Kelly and their children

Jase 7, Charlie 6, Gordy 4 and Zoe 1 month as well as Kelly’s dad Trevor Jury.

The family milks about 550 cows, depending on the season, across two farms with the herd containing about 60 per cent Jerseys.

They chose to use InFocus after doing a similar program with Angus a year earlier.

Brett said they opted for InFocus the second year on the advice of local ABS sales representative Alan Blum and the knowledge there were buyers wanting the animals.

For Estelle, the InFocus calves provide a “quicker turn around” than the Jerseys.

“InFocus provides a positive cash market for calves from 10 days old, whereas with Jersey heifers, there is no real market until they are 200kgplus or 12-15 months of age, unless someone is specifically chasing them,” she said.

“This means there’s a lot more risk for us to carry Jersey heifers through, especially in unfavourable seasons.”

Business diversity: Alan Blum from ABS has been working with Brett (middle) Estelle Boyd and Trevor Jury to implement an ABS Beef InFocus program into their dairy business.

Bull ID: CSCBUSHFIELD 29JJT20

Mastitis

Bull ID: CSCWOODSIDE

Mastitis

We aim to find and daughter prove the very best Jersey genetics by emphasising proven cow families and the production and classification performance of potential bull dams.

CSC Contact: Donald Ross - 0428 599

Bull CSCSKYWARD

CSC is the only farmer-owned Australian bull proving company that returns its profit to the Jersey breed; the breeders of our bulls, through industry-leading royalties and purchase payments.

Sydney Royal Easter Show

WITHone of the strongest line ups of Jersey cattle seen for many years, the Jersey show at the 2022 Sydney Royal Easter Show was one to remember and capped off by once again Jerseys taking a clean sweep of the Interbreed Competitions.

Cows were presented to Judge Matt Templeton from Tarwin, Victoria and with many champions and class winners at the 2022 IDW and Central Gippsland Fair, competition was certainly going to be high.

RIVENDELL VALENTINO ROSALIE owned and shown by the Cole Family at Wagga Wagga was the dominant heifer in the Junior classes claiming the Junior Champion ribbon from their Reserve Champion RIVENDELL VICTORIOUS EVE with SHIRLINN JAMIE ZARA exhibited by the Wilson Family at Tamworth the Honourable Mention.

CAIRNBRAE CASINO DAISY took the honour of Intermediate Champion. This classy heifer was exhibited by Wanstead Jerseys and Llandovery Illawarra’s from Bookar Vic, Jess and Brad Gavenlock ’s from Tallygaroopna Vic WALLACEDALE GALTINO MELAINE was Reserve Intermediate Champion with BROOKBORA EILEEN 130 the Honourable Mention shown by Brookbora Jerseys from Lockington VIC

WALLACEDALE GALTINO MELAINE was also awarded best intermediate udder.

BUSLEA IRWINS JENNY exhibited by Christopher Allen from Bega was crowned the Senior Champion over WINDY WAYS GALAXY DAWN 7 shown by Frank Walsh and Brad and Jess Gavenlock from Tallygaroopna Vic with SHIRLINN VIRAL ZARA form the Wilson Family in Tamworth the Honourable Mentions.

Senior best udder went to BRUNCHILLI VOLCANO JOYCE exhibited by Riverlane Dairy from Numbaa

In the Interbreed Competition, RIVENDELL VALENTINO ROSALIE took the Junior Champion Dairy Female award and CAIRNBRAE CASINO DAISY also took the Intermediate Junior Champion Dairy Female. BUSHLEA IRWINS JENNY continued her dominance on the day being crowned

Supreme Champion Dairy Female of the show. To cap off the successful show for Jerseys, the Wilson Family from Tamworth were successful winning the Interbreeds Pen of 3 of any age.

Congratulations to all exhibitors on an outstanding show. Results:

Heifer, over 4 & not over 6mths

1st RIVENDELL VALENTINO VERITY - RIVERLANE DAIRY PTY LTD

2nd LIGHTNING RIDGE FERDINAND NAVIDAD -ET MISS STACEY LEPPERT TONGALA VIC 3621

3rd CEDAR VALE JERSEYS MOSS VALE NSW 2577 RIVENDELL JEDI TAMMY [MRB 5326]

Heifer, over 6 & not over 9mths

1st RIVENDELL VALENTINO ROSALIE MR STEWART COLE & MS REBECCA COLE & MISS MATILDA COLE & MISS INDIANA COLE

2nd JAMBER VIP LADY 3 MR MARK WILSON & MR ROBERT WILSON JAMBEROO NSW 2533

3rd SHIRLINN LEE ZARA [L5W 3078] WILSON FAMILY, SHIRLINN JERSEYS WESTDALE NSW 2340

Heifer, over 9 & not over 12mths

1st RIVENDELL VICTORIOUS EVE MR STEWART COLE & MS REBECCA COLE & MISS MATILDA COLE & MISS INDIANA COLE

2nd SHIRLINN JAMIE ZARA. WILSON FAMILY, SHIRLINN JERSEYS WESTDALE NSW 2340

3rd KENDALE WEBCAM FINCH. KL & MA ATKINS HALLSVILLE NSW 2340

Heifer, over 12 & not over 16mths

1st SHIRLINN CHICAGO MERLE. WILSON FAMILY, SHIRLINN JERSEYS WESTDALE NSW 2340

2nd SALVATION RS VICTORIOUS REGAL MR CHRISTOPHER ALLEN COBARGO NSW 2550

3rd DIAMOND HILL ANDREAS STEPHANIE. MR MARK MANGOLD REGENTVILLE NSW 2745

Heifer, over 16 & not over 20mths

1st SHIRLINN TOPSY RUMOUR WILSON FAMILY, SHIRLINN JERSEYS WESTDALE NSW 2340

2nd PARRABEL JH PREMIER VOGUE MR CRAIG COCHRANE & MR JARED COCHRANE NOWRA NSW 2541

3rd ORANA GORDON SUNSHINE 8 JW & GK QUIN MENANGLE NSW 2568

Heifer, over 20 & not over 24mths

1st SILVERLIE SUNRISE TEQUILA MERLE. MISS SUSAN MORRISON CEDAR PARTY NSW 2429

2nd ORANA CELEBRITY SUNLIGHT. JW & GK QUIN MENANGLE NSW 2568

3rd BRUNCHILLI EDWARD VISCOUNTESS. RIVERLANE DAIRY PTY LTD NUMBAA NSW 2540

Junior Champion Female - RIVENDELL VALENTINO ROSALIE Reserve Junior Champion - RIVENDELL VICTORIOUS EVE Honourable Mention - SHIRLINN JAMIE ZARA

Three Females, not over 2yrs, not necessarily by the one sire, owned by the Exhibitor.

1st WILSON FAMILY, SHIRLINN JERSEYS WESTDALE NSW 2340

2nd RIVERLANE DAIRY PTY LTD NUMBAA NSW 2540

3rd JW & GK QUIN MENANGLE NSW 2568

Female, under 2yrs, in milk

1st BRUNCHILLI VENUE BELLE. RIVERLANE DAIRY PTY LTD NUMBAA NSW 2540

2nd RIVENDELL GENTRY ROSIE. MS HAYLEY BOYD & MR ADAM BOWDEN PYREE NSW 2540

3rd SHIRLINN VIRAL MEG WILSON FAMILY, SHIRLINN JERSEYS WESTDALE NSW 2340

Female, over 2 & not over 2 ½yrs, in milk

1st ORANA GORDON ROSE 2. JW & GK QUIN MENANGLE NSW 2568

2nd RIVENDELL GENTRY REALITY. RIVERLANE DAIRY PTY LTD NUMBAA NSW 2540

Female, over 2 ½yrs & not over 3yrs, in milk

1st BROOKBORA EILEEN 130. BROOKBORA PTY LTD TENNYSON VIC 3572

Junior Champion Female - Rivendell Valentino Rosalie

2nd BRUNCHILLI HIREDGUN EILEEN. RIVERLANE DAIRY PTY LTD NUMBAA NSW 2540

3rd BURNSIDE VICTORIOUS HONEY. MR MARK WILSON & MR ROBERT WILSON JAMBEROO NSW 2533

Female, over 3 & not over 3 ½yrs, in milk

1st CAIRNBRAE CASINO DAISY. WANSTEAD JERSEYS & LLANDOVERY ILLAWARRAS GIRGARRE VIC 3624

2nd WALLACEDALE GALTINO MELAINE. MRS J GAVENLOCK & MR B GAVENLOCK TALLYGAROOPNA VIC 3634

3rd MAYFAIR CARMELLO TIMTAM. MISS ISZI CRAWFORD BRUNDEE VIA NOWRA NSW 2540

Intermediate Champion Female - CAIRNBRAE CASINO DAISY Reserve Intermediate Champion & Intermediate Best Udder - WALLACEDALE GALTINO MELAINE

Honourable Mention - BROOKBORA EILEEN 130

Female, over 3 ½yrs, in calf, dry

1st FOXTON BOMBER ELLA. RJ & SC BROWN & S, M & M SMITH MOSS VALE NSW 2577

Female, over 3 ½ & not over 4yrs, in milk

1st SHIRLINN ENGINEER STARFINCH. WILSON FAMILY, SHIRLINN JERSEYS WESTDALE NSW 2340

2nd RIVENDELL CHEERS ROSLYN. RIVERLANE DAIRY PTY LTD NUMBAA NSW 2540

3rd KENDALE LOUIE ROULETTE. KL & MA ATKINS HALLSVILLE NSW 2340

Female, over 4 & not over 5yrs, in milk

1st SHIRLINN VIRAL ZARA. WILSON FAMILY, SHIRLINN JERSEYS WESTDALE NSW 2340

2nd SHIRLINN JOEL RUMOUR. WILSON FAMILY, SHIRLINN JERSEYS WESTDALE NSW 2340

3rd ORANA CUSTOMLINE SUNSHINE 2. JW & GK QUIN MENANGLE NSW 2568

Female, over 5 & not over 6yrs, in milk

1st CAIRNBRAE VALENTINO ESTELLE 34. CC & J COCHRANE & BEN GOVETT & ROCKY ALLEN & DANIEL BACON NOWRA NSW 2541

2nd BRUNCHILLI VOLCANO JOYCE. RIVERLANE DAIRY PTY LTD NUMBAA NSW 2540

3rd RIVENDELL HURRICANE FINGERS. MS HAYLEY BOYD & MR ADAM BOWDEN PYREE NSW 2540

Female, over 6yrs, in milk

1st BUSHLEA IRWINS JENNY. MR CHRISTOPHER ALLEN COBARGO NSW 2550

2nd WINDY WAYS GALAXIES DAWN 7. B & J GAVENLOCK & MR FRANK WALSH TALLYGAROOPNA VIC 3634

3rd RIVENDELL FEATHER ROSE. RIVERLANE DAIRY PTY LTD NUMBAA NSW 2540

Best Senior Udder BRUNCHILLI VOLCANO JOYCE

Three Females, any age, not necessarily by the one sire, owned by the Exhibitor.

1st WILSON FAMILY, SHIRLINN JERSEYS WESTDALE NSW 2340

2nd RIVERLANE DAIRY PTY LTD NUMBAA NSW 2540

3rd JW & GK QUIN MENANGLE NSW 2568

Dam’s Progeny Group

1st SHIRLINN SHYSTER RUMOUR -ET WILSON FAMILY, SHIRLINN JERSEYS WESTDALE NSW 2340

2nd SHIRLINN PLUS ZARA WILSON FAMILY, SHIRLINN JERSEYS WESTDALE NSW 2340

3rd AVON VALLEY VANAHLEM ERAN MR TIMOTHY WILSON & MRS KATE WILSON ATTUNGA NSW 2345

Five Females, any age.

1st WILSON FAMILY, SHIRLINN JERSEYS WESTDALE NSW 2340

2nd RIVERLANE DAIRY PTY LTD NUMBAA NSW 2540

3rd JW & GK QUIN MENANGLE NSW 2568

Senior Champion Female - BUSHLEA IRWINS JENNY

Reserve Senior Champion - WINDY WAYS GALAXIES DAWN 7

Honourable Mention- SHIRLINN VIRAL ZARA

Most Successful Jersey Breeder - RIVENDELL

Most Successful Jersey Exhibitor - WILSON FAMILY

Best Maintained Jersey Team, two to five head: MS HAYLEY BOYD & MR ADAM BOWDEN Best Maintained Jersey Team, over five head: RIVERLANE DAIRY PTY LTD

Intermediate Champion - Cairnbrae Casino Daisy

Senior Champion - Bushlea Irwins Jenny

Supreme Shirlinn Jerseys

Transferring Cows Records Between Herds

National ID is the primary identification used for genomic testing and Australian Breeding Values.

Herd Recording ID is an individual’s ‘within herd’ identification, often corresponding with a visual ID such as an ear tag or freeze brand.

Herdbook ID is a secondary identification used by breed societies. It is only used for registered animals.

The National ID is the preferred identification to use when transferring an animal.

Key points

• Transferring cow records gives new owners access to generations of historical data that can be easily uploaded to on-farm software.

• The buyer should notify their herd testing centre before adding an animal to their onfarm software.

• The National ID is the preferred identification to use when transferring an animal.

• Transferring ownership at a breed society does not automatically transfer the animal at herd testing.

• Creating a “new” animal in your on-farm software will often lead to creating a duplicate record in industry databases as the animal often already exists in another herd.

TRANSFERRING a new cow’s records at herd testing is an easy way to maintain data consistency with generations of performance and pedigree data able to be uploaded directly to on farm software.

This generates more reliable breeding values, supports management and breeding decisions on farm, and maintains a consistent flow of information throughout the herd improvement network.

DataGene’s Peter Thurn says that incorrect transfers or non-transfers is a common cause of data errors across the herd improvement network, with farmers losing access to valuable historical information.

“When buying cows, it is vital to ensure the cows are transferred at your herd test centre to ensure all data records are maintained,” he said.

“Farmers need to be aware that when a cow is sold and she moves to a new herd, her records don’t automatically follow.

Even when a transfer of ownership is processed by the breed society, this doesn’t automatically transfer their records to the herd test centre.”

Historically, many animals that are sold to another herd are not transferred correctly, and end up with lost, incomplete, or duplicated records.

This creates a disconnect between on-farm data, the breed societies and the herd improvement database.

When transferring an animal, it is up to the buyer to provide their herd test centre with the National ID of each new animal before herd testing them in their herd.

This simple task will maintain the link between herd performance (Herd Recording ID), pedigree performance (Herdbook ID) and genetic performance (National ID).

When is a transfer required?

Herd test centres should be notified whenever a ‘new’ animal enters a herd. A ‘new’ animal includes:

• Any animal purchases (privately or at auction)

• Any animals moved between herds (movement between sharefarmer herds or when an operator runs separate herds across multiple farms)

How to transfer a new animal

It is the buyer’s responsibility to transfer an animal at the herd test centre, as it is the buyer who must assign the new Herd Recording ID within their herd.

To avoid potential duplication of records, the buyer should notify their herd testing centre before adding an animal to their on-farm software (ie. MISTRO, EasyDairy, HerdData).

Steps to transferring cows between herds (new owners)

1. Obtain National ID ask the seller/agent to provide the National ID for each animal bought.*

2. Create a list of the new animals assign each National ID with a new Herd Recording ID in your herd (do not add the new Herd Recording ID to your on-farm soft ware)

3. Send the list to your herd test centre

4. The herd test centre will transfer records to the new Herd Recording ID automatically transferring all performance, pedigree, and genomic data linked to the National ID.

5. Automatic updating of on-farm herd management software, breed society and industry databases will be triggered by your herd test centre

* If the buyer/agent cannot provide the National ID for purchased animals, ask them to provide farmer’s name, address, herd test centre and Herd ID of animals. Send this list to your herd test centre to discuss your options.

The National ID is the preferred identification method when transferring an animal.

When selling an animal, sellers (vendors) and agents should provide buyers with the animal’s National ID. Sellers should enter the code S8 (Sold for Dairying) when terminating animals with their on-farm herd management software to ensure the record remains ‘active’ on the herd improvement database.

What happens if an animal isn’t transferred?

When an animal is allocated a ‘new’ Herd Recording ID by the farmer without notifying the herd test centre, a ‘new’ National ID is created for that animal.

This results in duplicate records for that animal, and a disconnect between the animal’s Herd Recording ID, National ID and Herdbook ID.

Even if the farmer uses on-farm software to manually add information such as Herdbook ID, date of birth, sire and dam, the ‘new’ record will NOT link to the historical data on the herd improvement database unless the farmer notifies their herd test centre and the correct National ID is linked to the cow Effects of not transferring an animal

Accurate herd test data is critical for breeding, culling, and health management decisions.

Farmers cannot achieve the full benefits of herd testing when information such as breeding values,

pedigrees, production data and cell count histories, are incomplete or missing.

Lost production history

Access to a cow’s complete production history is important when making performance-based breeding, management and culling decisions. Duplicate records or incomplete histories greatly reduce the accuracy and reliability of this information.

For herdbook registered animals, missing production histories will greatly devalue a pedigree, as well as affecting breeding values, production awards and Superior Total Performance awards.

Production Index (PIs)

The Production Index (PIs) is an important performance measure and management tool. Refer to Technote 10: Production Index (PI).

When data such as breed status, date of birth, age at calving, calving date and lactation number is incomplete or absent, it reduces the accuracy of the PI, or potentially, a PI will not be generated at all.

Australian Breeding Values (ABVs)

Breeding values are linked to the animal’s National ID. If a new animal has not been correctly transferred at the herd test centre, the National ID may be disconnected from the Herd Recording ID.

This disconnect will result in an ABV which is not calculated using all available information including

correct pedigree, production, type and workability information. Genomic breeding values can be calculated for animals where this data is absent or incomplete, but the reliability of the breeding values will decrease.

Health data

Historical information such as somatic cell counts, fat and protein ratios, lactation performance and calving intervals are valuable indicators of an individual’s health history.

By transferring an animal correctly, it ensures any historical performance data of both the individual and their maternal dam and grand dams can be utilised when making health related breeding, culling and management decisions.

Pedigree data

If a disconnect occurs between the Herd Recording ID, National ID and Herdbook ID, pedigree data can be lost. This affects the reliability of breeding values, can devalue a studbook registered pedigree, and limit the capacity of a selective mating program to accurately avoid inbreeding.

Summary

Data quality for purchased cows is preserved when farmers provide the National ID of the animal to their herd test centre before herd testing the animal in their herd.

Duplication and loss of data can be avoided by this one simple step and the value of your recently purchased cow maintained.

Autumn Class Tour Results

Top Classified Heifers

Score Cow

88

DOB Owner

WARRION DEBRA 51 1/04/2020 S CHANT

88 ASPIRE ASKN CHARO 1/04/2020 DANIEL BACON

88

87

87

87

87

87

WANSTEAD COIN ANGEL 21/03/2020 WANSTEAD JERSEYS

ROCKVALE EILEEN 5564 1/06/2020 A & S CHANT

BROADSIDE ROSE 3798 10/05/2020 GAVIN BROAD

BROADLIN ILLUSION 3796 8/05/2020 L & L BROAD

BROOKBORA GOLDEN GLORY 197 2/05/2020 BROOKBORA PTY LTD

RIVIERA DEXTO JOHANNA 2908 20/04/2020 SCOTT & TAHNEE WILSON

87 MURRAY BROOK LINDA 5093 17/04/2020 MURRAY BROOK FARM

87 MONTA VALE BON WINKS 2 12/04/2020 T, J & W MONSON

87

87

87

BROOKBORA OLIVER SLEEPING BEAUTY 2 11/04/2020 BROOKBORA PTY LTD

BROADSIDE KAREN 3782 5/04/2020 GAVIN BROAD

BROOKBORA PIXSTAR MIMOSA 4/04/2020 BROOKBORA PTY LTD

87 MT PLEASANT VICEROY LOLIPOP 4449 22/03/2020 D,S & T BRYCE

87 BROADLIN MERMAID 3765 19/03/2020 L & L BROAD

87 WARRAIN CHROME EMPRESS 6 16/03/2020 JR & MA COCKERELL

87 MIAMI LOKI SONG 7208 16/03/2020 PHILMAR DAIRY COMPANY

87 WARRAIN CHROME LOVE LIES 5 13/03/2020 JR & MA COCKERELL

87 WALLACEDALE POWER ELLOUS 13/03/2020 L & M WALLACE

87 MURRAY BROOK CLARA 5035 10/03/2020 MURRAY BROOK FARM

87 JIREH JAMIE COUNTESS 9/03/2020 C J & PL MACKENZIE

87 COORIEVALE CASINO BARBARA 9/03/2020 AF MACKENZIE

87 MIAMI CHOICE COWSLIP 7/03/2020 PHILMAR DAIRY COMPANY

87 WARRION TIPS 42 27/02/2020 S CHANT

87 MURRAY BROOK AGNES 5001 15/02/2020 MURRAY BROOK FARM

87 KV&WV MATT BONITA 15/02/2020 R. ANDERSON & D & D JOSI

87 MT PLEASANT STEVE ILAGAY 4423 11/02/2020 D,S & T BRYCE

87 WINDY WAYS CCC OLVIER DAWN 4503 9/02/2020 RICKY NELSON

87

KAARMONA VANAHLEM BENITA 23 22/01/2020 GC & RG SPRUNT

87 KAARMONA MATT MARYSUE 5 3/01/2020 GC & RG SPRUNT KAARMONA MATT SANDY 15 3/01/2020 GC & RG SPRUNT

Top Classified Cows PLEASANT VALENTINO 21/08/2016 & T BRYCE WINGANNA HIRED-GUN BUTTERCUP 5/07/2016 COBURN COLTON ROWENA 32 17/02/2017 & SL PAULGER INVERELL PANSY 221 8/05/2015 P ANDERSON ASPIRE VANAHLEM CHARO 2 11/04/2017 DANIEL BACON BROOKBORA LOVE LIES 737 17/08/2016 BROOKBORA PTY LTD BROOKBORA STANDARD LADY 306 9/09/2016 BROOKBORA PTY LTD CAIRNBRAE VALENTINO ESTELLE 34 30/09/2016 BEN GOVETT COORIEVALE RENEGADE JUNE 19/08/2012 AF MACKENZIE MYTEE TEQUILA MARIE . 2/02/2014 MELISSA PERRETT ARALUEN PARK TBONE SARINA 9/07/2014 T SAUNDERS & A DAY ARALUEN PARK NAVARIAN ADELINE 2 E 22/07/2015 T SAUNDERS & A DAY KAARMONA BABAXI BABE 231 12/04/2014 GC & RG SPRUNT JIMANN VALENTINO MAISY 10/02/2017 L & M WALLACE

92 MAJESTIC VANDA SC 27/08/2017 THEO BRADLEY

92 MT PLEASANT VALENTINO MABEL 4245 25/09/2017 D,S & T BRYCE

92 WARRAIN VALENTINO EMPRESS 4 25/03/2014 JR & MA COCKERELL

92 COLESHILL D MINDER LASS 10/08/2011 D COLE

92 ARALUEN PARK TAHBILK MELY 1/10/2018 T SAUNDERS & A DAY LERIDA PARK VALENTINO ROSEBUD 357 13/09/2017 RP & LJ SMETHURST

92

92

WANSTEAD BONTINO JUNE EX-92 8/08/2016 WANSTEAD JERSEYS

WANSTEAD VALENTINO DAWN 1/01/2018 WANSTEAD JERSEYS

92 ATTAVIEW MELVARA INCH 3 10/04/2016 RR & T ATTENBOROUGH

92

92

92

92

92

BROADLIN ILAGAY 3425 29/08/2016 L & L BROAD

BROOKBORA BARNABAS VANESSA 9/05/2015 BROOKBORA PTY LTD

BROOKBORA VANAHLEM DAPHNE 7/04/2017 BROOKBORA PTY LTD

BROOKBORA VALENTINE MARIE 18/05/2017 BROOKBORA PTY LTD

WARRION SILVERBELL 59 16/03/2017 S CHANT

92 WARRAIN VALENTINO BUTTERCUP 10/08/2016 JR & MA COCKERELL

92

RIPPONLEA BARNABAS TINKERBELLE 3024 19/05/2017 BELINDA EGAN

92 GLENFERN VALENT BUOY 11/08/2017 P J & B A FARRELL

92 ADADALE CELEBRITY MEGAN 10/06/2016 SPS & SL PAULGER

92 ADADALE BS ROSEANNE 2/02/2017 SPS & SL PAULGER

92

92

92

92

92

92

MYTEE TEQUILA MARIE 2 3/02/2014 MELISSA PERRETT

ARALUEN PARK LARFALOT ROCKETT 15/03/2010

T SAUNDERS & A DAY

ARALUEN PARK VALENTINO FONTAINE 18/03/2016 T SAUNDERS & A DAY

KINGS VALE VALENTINO MADGE 28/07/2016 T SAUNDERS & A DAY

ARALUEN PARK VALENTINO OLIVE 2 10/02/2017 T SAUNDERS & A DAY

ARALUEN PARK VALENTINO POSH 2 23/03/2018 T SAUNDERS & A DAY

92 STONYRUN AUS NAVARIAN MARYSUE 7/03/2014

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T SAUNDERS, A DAY & L RUTH

LERIDA PARK LEMONHEAD SABINA 53 1/10/2017 RP & LJ SMETHURST

92 LERIDA PARK BARCARDI ROSE 399 19/04/2018 RP & LJ SMETHURST

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KAARMONA CASPIAN IMPISH 16/01/2017 GC & RG SPRUNT

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92

92

KAARMONA VALENTINO BABE 285 21/04/2017 GC & RG SPRUNT

KAARMONA VALENTINO SANDY 8 5/04/2017 GC & RG SPRUNT 92

KAARMONA VALENTINO BABE 290 7/08/2017

GC & RG SPRUNT

WALLACEDALE BANDANNA MELAINE 5/04/2017 L & M WALLACE

Workability Traits

DataGene evaluate and publish three workability traits being Milking Speed, Temperament and Likeability.

These traits are all based on farmer-based assessment and recording of their 1st lactation heifers and help reduce milking time in the dairy, support OH&S initiatives by helping mitigate cows who kick during milking and increase farmer enjoyment of their cows by increasing the number of cows in your herd that you like to own/milk.

Milking Speed

✓ Minimising the time it takes for your cows to milk out can be assisted using the Milking Speed ABV.

✓ The ABV estimates a cow’s ability to milk faster than the average with the Average set at 100.

✓ To increase the milking speed of your cows, farmers should select bulls with an ABV greater than 100

Temperament

✓ The Temperament ABV is a measure of a cow ability to have a more favourable temperament than the average cow. In the ABV, the average is set at 100.

✓ To breed for improved temperament, select bulls with an ABV of greater than 100

Likeability

✓ Likeability is a unique Australian only trait and is based on how well the farmer likes the cow and want more cows like her.

✓ The ABV for Likeability estimates an animal’s ability to be more likeable than the average with Average set at 100.

✓ To breed for more Likeable animals, you select bulls with an ABV greater than 100.

Recording workability data

✓ Farmer support in recording and providing data is critical to ensuring the viability and reliability of the Traits. Data can be recorded on your farm management software like Easy Dairy and Mistro Farm, the Herd Data App or on paper and sent to your herd test centre.

Data is recorded as per the following

Score Milking Speed Temperament Likeability

A Very Fast Placid Very Definite Fast Quiet Definite

C Average Average Probably Slow Nervous Probably Not

Managing Bull Selection

✓ When selecting bulls, use tools like the Good Bulls Guide App where you can set filters on each trait to set minimum ABV level.

To find our more on Workability Trait Scoring, you can download the DataGene Fact Sheet at: https://datagene.com.au/sites/ default/files/Upload%20Files/ Fact%20Sheet%206%20 Workability_0.pdf

DataGene have a suite of Technotes and Fact sheets on all ABV’s that you can access at www.datagene.com.au or if you are using the Good Bulls App, when applying a trait filter, there is a simple trait explanation.

Preserving premium data through correct record transfers

hectares at Orford, 20kms north of Port Fairy in Victoria’s southwest. A recent decision to downsize the dairy will see the McGraths reduce their numbers from 400 to 250 cows, while expanding their small mob of ewes and beef cows to diversify their business.

With a growing interest in registered cattle, Rachel and Leo have taken over the dairy breeding program. Since establishing Wootanga Park Jerseys, the siblings have made regular investments in elite Jerseys with a focus on deep cow families with high-ranking breeding values.

In 2020, they purchased the complete herd of renowned Northern Victorian breeders Bernie and Carol McManus. With nearly 60 years of production and pedigree data, the Bercar Jersey herd has been among the top-ranking Jersey herds in Australia since the inception of Australian Breeding Values (ABVs), ranking No.2 on the Australian Balanced Performance Index (BPI) at the time of the sale.

Leo McGrath – Wootanga Park Jerseys, Western Victoria

FOR the McGrath family of Western Victoria, investing in high genetic merit bloodlines has been a way to fast-track their transition towards a fully registered herd of high-performance Jerseys.

The correct transfer of new cows at herd recording will preserve the valuable genomic, performance and pedigree records, provide data accuracy and reliability, and maintain the premium value of their investments.

Eddie and Anne McGrath, dairy with their daughters Rachel and Maureen, son Leo, and Eddie’s brother Andrew, milking 400 cows on 400

For Leo, the Bercar cows were the perfect foundation of his Jersey stud.

“It was an opportunity that was too good to pass up,” Leo said. “It was a magnificent herd – not really ‘show’ cows – but cows with great body, nice udders and lots of potential to milk.”

Sharing his passion for breeding and breeding history with the young dairyman, Bernie provided Leo with handwritten pedigrees for each cow, tracing back to the 1960s to their genetic recovery origins.

“Rachael and I are very excited to continue that history and building these great cow families,” Leo said. With the support of Bernie and his local herd recording team, Leo successfully transferred the records of the Bercar cows along with them

Leo McGrath “Wootanga Park Jerseys”

Leo McGrath at International Dairy Week

decades of valuable data, maintaining the crucial links between their performance, pedigree and genomic data.

This allowed individuals such as Bercar Peer 85 (at 2yo) to maintain her breeding values, claiming the No.62 position in the Jersey rankings in DataGene’s April 2022 ABV release with a BPI +365 (April 2022). Leo now plans to use genomic testing and strategic bull selection to build on these established pedigrees.

“Rachel and I have a real interest in breeding better cows,” Leo said. “We’re trying to select the best bulls and carefully choose the right bull for each cow.”

Leo’s long-term goal is to have his herd listed among the top BPI Jersey herds in Australia – along with a few show cows.

“I’d love to be able to show and sell my stud cows, and to breed top BPI cows and bulls,” Leo says. “But to build their profiles, I need that history and data behind them.”

While the transfer of the Bercar records occurred seamlessly, it was not the same for all of Leo’s investments. Recently Leo discovered gaps in the records of several of his new cows, including the highly ranked Brookbora Love Lies 748 EX-91.

Bred by Robert and Sandra Bacon of Brookbora Jerseys in Northern Victoria, Love Lies 748 was bought as a milking 2-year-old at the Global Impact Supremacy Sale in 2020. Boasting a BPI of +298 (April 2022), the former IDW Youth Show Champion ranks among the top 5% of the breed.

However, when Leo added her to his on-farm herd management software, without notifying his herd recoding centre, he unknowingly created a duplicate National ID, therefore disconnecting her performance data from the broader herd improvement network.

If this error was not rectified, any performance and progeny performance data achieved at the McGrath’s would not contribute to future ABV calculations, as well as limiting her ability for potential production or performance awards at Jersey Australia.

Fortunately for Leo, the error was identified, and the records are being rectified by his herd recording centre.

“As soon as I realised what had happened, I contacted my herd test rep for help,” Leo said.

“We have since identified her correct National ID and are working towards getting her data history merged with the new records.”

By correcting the transfer error, Leo hopes Love Lies 748 will return among the top ABV listings published in August, with the goal of developing his own branch of the high genetic merit family.

“We want to build a top-ranking herd with cows like Love Lies as the foundation,” he said.

“Continuing her breeding is important to us, so it’s important to have the data right too.”

(l-r) Rachel McGrath, Leo McGrath, Eddie McGrath