International Jersey Breeders visit Genetics Australia The World Jersey Cattle Burro visited Genetics Australia on the 17th of May, as part of their “Gold Rush Down Under Tour”. Over seventy Jersey enthusiasts from around the globe spent the day at Parwan Park in Bacchus Marsh, learning more about: • The development of the Jersey breed in Australia. • The Australian Dairy Industry. • Jersey genomics in Australia. • The growing demand for Australian Jersey genetics internationally. • And the modern day Australian Jersey Cow, that our breeders demand.
The visit was a great opportunity to reflect on the past, look at the present and gaze into the future. All Jersey breeders in Australia should feel proud of the progress and development of the breed, to now have some of the breeds best genetics globally. Australian breeders have a long passionate history with the Jersey cow dating back to the first Jersey cows arriving to Australia in 1829. Some of the early documented Jerseys were at Kameruka in 1834 with the Kameruka Estate stud still in existence. The Anderson family continue to make an enormous contribution to the breed. Their long and proud history with the Jersey cows dates back to John Anderson and some of the first Jersey in Victoria back in 1851. The first official Australian breed group was formed in 1899 as the Australasian Jersey Herd Society. The inaugural meeting took place at the Arcadia Hotel and comprised of a number of breeders that were exhibiting Jersey cattle at the Sydney Royal show. Genetics Australia began Progeny Testing Jersey bulls in the late 1950’s. Dundee Dandy “DD” was one of the early graduates and he had an enormous impact on the breeds development with the advent of wide spread Artificial Insemination. Dundee Dandy sired many great cows, but his major impact came through his son Lang Park Spotted Dan “SPOT” and intern SPOT sired one of the breeds true all-time greats, Yarravale Danny Boy “YDB”. YDB still holds the record for siring the Jersey cows ever in Australia.
The group of international Jersey Enthusiasts that visited Genetics Australia.
16 Jersey Journal – July/August 2013
During the mid 1970’s and 1980’s the genetics that were progressing the breed were local sires. The most popular sires of the time had a common theme as they were sired by bulls proven in New Zealand. The popular sire of this era included; • Oakbrae Noble Monarch OOBL sired by Hawthorn Grove, Monarch, NZ. • Oakbrae Dictator OADI sired by Puhinui Mons, Dictator, NZ. • Rosecroft Master Owl ROSE sired by Ridge Lee, Master Owl, NZ. • Green Pine Dante GANT sired by Glanton Red, Dante, NZ. • Maryvale Senator MVS as an imported sire.
In the mid 1980’s the breed was at cross roads. There was some dissatisfaction among commercial dairy farmers with smaller framed Jersey cows that were struggling to compete with Holsteins and Jersey calves that did not have the vigour and growth that was required. Victorian Artificial Breeders embarked on a grade breeding programme to add to the breeds woes as a large number of Jerseys were bred and converted to Holstein. In the late 1980’s North American Jersey genetics became and helped unite and progress the breed. North American sires Young sires that are in waiting along with their sire pathways and country of origin. Sires 12 LARFALOT (AUST) 10 VALERIAN (AUST) 7 NAVARA (AUST) 4 VANAHLEM (AUST) 3 ELTON (AUST) 2 SANDBLAST (AUST) 2 SPIRITUAL (AUST) 1 SIMBA (USA) 1 ABERIAN (AUST) 1 TBONE (USA) 1 MURMUR (NZ) 1 BADGER (AUST) 1 MINSTREL (NZ)
MG Sires 9 VALERIAN (AUST) 5 MANHATTEN (NZ) 4 OUTINFRONT (AUST) 4 FLOWERPOWER (AUST) 3 LARFALOT (AUST) 3 ABE (USA) 3 VANAHLEM (AUST) 2 JACE (USA) 2 NAVARA (AUST) 2 ASTOUND (AUST) 2 BLACKSTONE (CAN) 1 COCKATOO (AUST) 1 KONUI (USA) 1 LEMVIG (DENMARK) 1 PARADE (USA) 1 MEDIATOR (AUST) 1 MINSTREL (NZ) 1 SPIRITUAL (AUST)
GMG Sires 5 FLOWERPOWER (AUST) 5 PITINO (USA) 5 TARANAK (NZ) 3 MANHATTEN (NZ) 3 BIESTAR (AUST) 2 ASTOUND (AUST) 2 ABE (USA) 2 LANDLINE (AUST) 2 ARMADA (AUST) 2 REBEL (USA) 2 DAIRYKING (AUST) 1 PARADE (USA) 1 LIKABULL (NZ) 1 SAMUAL (NZ) 1 JACE (USA) 1 BARBER (USA) 1 BELLMARK (USA) 1 LEMVIG (DENMARK) 1 BERRETTA (USA) 1 HEARTS (NZ) 1 PORTWINE (AUST) 1 ADMIRAL (USA) 1 LESTER (USA) 1 AEROSTAR (USA)