jj0912a

JERSEY JOURNAL

September/October

Print Post Approved 325550-009

R ockleigh P ark V alerian V avoom

Valerian x VG-87 Manhatten x VG-88 FLOWERPOWER

#1 APR(g) Jersey sire @ 335 APR(g) l Pannoo Partners “Vanessa” family l 3rd dam Navara’s full sister l

EAZI-BREED® CIDR® breeding success the first time round

“Reliable heat detection is just so important in maximising submission rate. An Eazi-Breed CIDR program is a useful breeding program option, especially where heat detection is challenging.”

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An Eazi-Breed CIDR dairy breeding program:

Eazi-Breed CIDR intravaginal progesterone releasing devices are trusted and proven in Australia.

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Vol. 65 No. 5 - September-October 2012

JERSEY

COVER

Print Post Approved 325550-009

VAVOOM daughter owned by R&S Ballinger, Naringal, VIC.

Developing and Promoting the Jersey Breed

Jersey Australia Board Members President: Trevor Saunders 495 Araluen Rd, Yarragon VIC 3823 Telephone: (03) 5626 6373 saunders-day@dcsi.net.au Vice President: Milton Johnston 118 Edinburgh Drive, Taree, NSW 2430 Telephone: (02) 6552 5915 Secretary: Scott Joynson PO Box 292, Ascot Vale, VIC 3032 Telephone: (03) 9370 9105 jersey@jersey.com.au Hon. Treasurer: Peter Ness PO Box 93, Mt Compass, SA 5210 Telephone: (08) 8556 8270 nyowee@activ8.net.au Andrew Younger 50 Zeerust School Rd, Zeerust Vic 3634 Ph: 03 5829 8352 Mob: 0409 572 484 Email: motor5@bigpond.com Geoff Heazlewood PO Box 87 Latrobe TAS 7307 Telephone: (03) 6426 1169 Chris MacKenzie 859 Cooriemungle Rd Timboon VIC 3268 Telephone: (03)559 87222 jireh859@skymesh.com.au Troy Mauger The Willows Willawa Rd Jerilderie NSW 2716 Telephone: (03) 5885 9294 tmmauger1@bigpond.com Rohan Sprunt 235 Kaarimba Hall Rd Kaarimba VIC 3635 Telephone: (03) 5826 9506 kaarmona@bigpond.com Lisa Broad 388 Johnson Rd Lockington VIC 3563 Telephone: (03) 5486 2624 lisa.broad@bigpond.com.au Brian Wilson 204 Wallamore Road, Tamworth NSW 2340 Telephone: (02) 6761 5783 vicki.brian@bigpond.com AJBS Website: www.jersey.com.au

JOURNAL

September/October

R ockleigh P ark V alerian V avoom

Rockleigh Park Valerian Vavoom

Valerian x VG-87 Manhatten x VG-88 FLOWERPOWER

Valerian x VG-87 Manhatten x VG-88 FLOWERPOWER Photo by Ross Easterbrook.

Contact:

www.absglobal.com/aus abs.au.info@genusplc.com Ph: 02 6049 9200 l Fax: 02 6026 2387 Semen orders only, freecall 1800-ABS-BULL

#1 APR(g) Jersey sire @ 335 APR(g) Pannoo Partners “Vanessa” family 3rd dam Navara’s full sister

l

l

l

JJcover_ABS_0812.indd 1

29/08/2012 9:33:36 AM

IN THIS ISSUE...

CONTENTS

ADVERTISERS INDEX

6 Behind the Scenes 7 August ABV Release 10 Supersensitive Jerseys need

ABS Front Cover and 11 Agri-Gene IBC Almervista Jerseys 32 Alta Genetics 9 Araluen Park Jerseys 29 Ardylbar Jerseys 23 Ascot Park Jerseys 26 Bushlea Jerseys 8 Central Gippsland JBC 20 Colac JBC 31 CRV 15 CSC Co-Op 18-19 DeLaval 5 Goulburn Murray JBC 17 Jimann Jerseys 28 Jugiong Jerseys 14 Nthn Districts JBC 4 and 21 Pfizer IFC Semex BC Viking Genetics 22 WWS-GA 33

Special Care with Embryo Transfer 16 New Board Member – Andrew Younger 24 Brisbane Royal Show Results 30 New office co-ordinator

ADVERTISING DEADLINES NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012 Advertising Bookings: OCTOBER 5th If you are supplying press ready artwork from an outside source the final deadline is OCTOBER 10, 2012 If you require your ad to be designed - all copy must be received by OCTOBER 16, 2012

Editorial and Advertising to: SHARON CLARK Clark Graffix - PO Box 1576, Shepparton VICTORIA 3632 T: 0437 066 077 | F: 03 5821 0165 | E: jersey@clarkgraffix.com PO BOX 292, ASCOT VALE, VIC 3032 Telephone: (03) 9370 9105 Fax: (03) 9370 9116 Email: jersey@jersey.com.au www.jersey.com.au Pre-Press Editor & Graphic Design: Sharon Clark - Clark Graffix Printed by: Shepparton Printing Service P/L (03) 5821 4707 Email: sps@shepprint.com.au NEW SOUTH WALES State Secretary - Milton Johnston Phone: (02) 6552 5915 Fax: (02) 6552 5915 johnston_jersey@yahoo.com.au

QUEENSLAND State Secretary - Diane Reeves Phone: (07) 5485 4585 Work: (07) 3221 3182 Fax: (07) 5485 4575 Email: ajbsqld@bigond.com SOUTH AUSTRALIA State Secretary - Amy McDonald PO Box 13, Greenock SA 5360 Phone (08) 8562 8113 Fax (08) 8562 8520 Email: carcoola@chariot.net.au TASMANIA State Secretary - Max McCormack PO Box 1258, Devonport TAS 7310 Phone: (03) 6424 1250 Mobile: 0409 252 232 Email: pegandmax@southcom.com.au

VICTORIA State Secretary - Andrew Younger 50 Zeerust School Rd, Zeerust Vic 3634 Ph: 03 5829 8352 Mob: 0409 572 484 Email: motor5@bigpond.com GENETIC RECOVERY OFFICERS Chris MacKenzie (Western Districts) Phone: (03) 5598 7222 Margaret Cockerell (Northern Vic) Phone: 0407 641 132 (03) 5864 1133 Barry Monson (03) 5625 3176 or 0429 343 903 WESTERN AUSTRALIA Susan Lutey Feast Rd, Serpentine WA 6125 Phone: (08) 9525 2407 hope1@iinet.net.au

Opinions expressed in The Australian Jersey Journal are not necessarily those of Jersey Australia Inc or its Board of Management or Compiling Editor, and no responsibility whatsoever is taken for their authenticity. While every effort will be made to publish advertisements as ordered, no responsibility is taken for the failure of an advertisement to appear as ordered.

Jersey Journal – September/October 2012 3

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And, because the rubber mats slot together like one giant jigsaw, you can transform your slippery concrete in minutes.

So, if you’re fed up with dangerous floors, put your foot down.

Talk to your local DeLaval dealer today and start imagining more. Call 1800 817 199 or visit www.delaval.com.au

JJ JERSEY AUSTRALIA

J

by Scott Joynson

Behind the Scenes

ersey Breeders around Australia will no doubt have heard via the media that on Friday 24th August ADHIS released the first ever Jersey Genome proofs known as ABVg’s.

The maiden release was not without incident as ADHIS picked up that the release data did not properly include the influence of the 4300 cows tested as part of the Jernomics Project. This discovery had analysts recalculate the release data noting that the original figures were conservatively biased and furthermore the discovery showed a similar though smaller bias in the Holstein ABVg release.

The inclusion of the Jernomics Project data measured against the correct base saw Jersey bulls increase across the population by an average of +13 APR points.

The ADHIS Board and staff responded quickly to the situation informing the Jersey Office, AB Companies and other stakeholders that they had found the anomaly. With consultation of all parties ADHIS made the decision to scrap the original data in favour of a fresh re-release on Monday 27th August.

There has been some re-ranking of bulls not so much at the very top of the lists but more so amongst bulls below this elite group. It is also interesting that while ADHIS moved toward a re-release that lifted the population, much of the membership discussion on the topic seems to focus critically on the fact that the genome technology can appear to overly inflate young bulls without milking daughters.

It is Australia’s first release of Jersey Genome ABV’s and there is still a lot to learn about the new industry breeding tool and how best to use it. Moving forward with more data and perhaps shared international data the early naysayers will quieten down as reliabilities increase and future proof releases come and go without incident. I know there is perhaps another group of Jersey breeders out there, the silent majority who wait and watch closely to see how the genome predictions match the (milking daughter data included) traditional ABV’s.

At the time of writing ADHIS prepares to post the genome testing results out to all the herds who participated in the Jernomic Project and I’m hoping that these will be out on kitchen tables in the first week of September.

A further announcement to members is the deregistration of the bull Paisley Milkalot, previously marketed by Alta

6 Jersey Journal – September/October 2012

Genetics and known by the NASIS Code: Milkalot. Upon genomic testing the bull was found to have a percentage of Holstein DNA which makes him ineligible for registration on the Jersey Australia registrar.

The Jersey Australia Board have been in contact with Alta Genetics who have written to all users of the now deregistered PT Bull informing them of the situation. Alta Genetics have removed the bull from sale and destroyed all stocks of semen in storage.

In accordance with the Jersey Australia Board ruling members are advised that registered female progeny of the deregistered bull born prior to December 31st, 2011 will be re-registered as GR2, females born beyond this date will be considered GR3.

Female progeny as a result of embryos sired by the deregistered bull collected prior to 31st March 2012 will be registered as GR2 and beyond this date considered GR3. All current and future male progeny of Paisley Milkalot will not qualify for registration on the Jersey Australia registrar.

As a final note Jersey Australia has now confirmed with the World Jersey Cattle Bureau that the 2013 Annual General Meeting program will be conducted in Australia.

International visitors will arrive in Sydney on and travel to Camden May 9th - May 11th. The second stage of the tour will see visitors travel to Victoria visiting the three dairying regions along with visits to research facilities and various tourist destinations till the 22nd May where the official WJCB tour ends.

A post tour is being planned for visitors to travel up to Cairns so as to experience the Great Barrier Reef along with the tourist attractions in the tropical North.

A full brochure and itinerary is being prepared and all questions you may have about the event can be directed to Robyn Barber rbarber@ruralco.com.au 03 9338 9259. Also check the Jersey website regularly www.jersey.com.au as updates and further details will be posted as they become available.

This will be a great opportunity to return the hospitality extended to our members who have taken part in the World Jersey Cattle Bureau events abroad and not to be missed.

JJ INDUSTRY

T

August ABV Release: New Choices for Jerseys

he August release of Australian Breeding Values (ABVs) provides dairy farmers with the most up-todate information to make breeding decisions for their herds.

It includes the first release of Jersey ABV(g)s – breeding values based on genomics – which will give Jersey breeders new options for selecting sires to use in their herds.

ABV(g)s enable dairy farmers to achieve faster genetic gain by selecting superior young sires with confidence.

Daniel Abernethy, from the Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme (ADHIS), said genomics was the large scale use of DNA data to predict the genetic merit of bulls and cows.

Genomic testing – or genotyping – can be done on an animal at any age, allowing breeding values to be estimated for young bulls, long before they have daughters in production.

“An easy way to get started with selecting young Jersey bulls is to refer to the latest issue of the Good Bulls Guide which includes the first list of the top young Jersey bulls based on their ABV(g)s,” he said.

Mr Abernethy said the reliabilities of ABV(g)s for young bulls with no daughter information was about 59% for production traits and about 45% for type traits.

“This is generally double the reliability seen with parental average alone, but it is still lower than the reliability we see for proven bulls.

From August, Jersey breeders have new options with the first release of Jersey ABV(g)s – breeding values based on genomics.

“A good approach is to use at least two to three young genomic bulls from the Good Bulls Guide as part of this season’s bull team. This provides a balance between the potential genetic gain and risk,” Mr Abernethy said.

The introduction of genomic technology in the Australian dairy industry represents a significant

investment of government funds and your dairy service levy. Partners in this program include Dairy Australia, Dairy Futures CRC, ADHIS, DPI-V, Holstein Australia, Jersey Australia and Genetics Australia.

CALL TO PRODUCERS OF CHEESE MADE WITH 100% JERSEY MILK

The 3rd World Jersey Cheese Awards will be held in Jersey, Channel Islands on the 6th & 7th October 2012.

The second awards were held in 2010 with over 100 entries received from 10 countries and we hope to improve on that this time. We had great feedback on the competition from medal winners at the 2010 awards and they reported that interest in their products received a boost as a result.

Entry is free and can be made online - full details on how to enter and class schedules are on the web site – www.jerseycheese.com - Closing date for entries 21st September 2012.

If you know of any producers of Jersey cheese please tell them about it and encourage them to enter.

Jersey Journal – September/October 2012 7

All About Udders!

AltA together with JerseylAnd sires - the Jersey Udder index (JUi) leAders

KARBALA

(iatola / centurion / avery) +6.16 JUI

Type and producTion Leader

academy

(legion / avery / berretta) +6.06 JUI

ferTiLiTy and heaLTh

applejack

(iatola / hallmark / lester ceaser) +5.84 JUI

baLanced producTion & heaLTh

pappy

(iatola / altaahlem / arco) +5.24 JUI

componenTs and heaLTh

paul

(rebel / hallmark / avery) +5.22 JUI

jpi Leader

galaxies

(jace / declo / alf ) +5.14 JUI

farmer favouriTe - 2nd crop success

cyrus

(country / hallmark / berretta) +4.81 JUI

#1 rear udders - high miLk

vanahlem

(altaahlem / flowerpower / taranak) +118 Mamm abv

#1 ausTraLian mammary abv (08/12)

Contact us for your copy of our Spring Update 2012

APPLEJACK DAUGHTER GROUP

ALTA GENETICS AUSTRALIA

Unit 11, 85-91 Keilor Park Drive, Tullamarine, VIC, 3043 tel: (03) 9330 3444 fax: (03) 9330 3144 email: julian.pick@altagenetics.com

words: Michael Porteus Giprat Belles Barbados Photo: Frank Robinson

Supersensitive Jerseys need special care with embryo transfers J

ersey breeders have been among Australia’s leading adopters of embryo-transfers (ET) to increase returns from their champion cows and speed up genetic gain in their herds.

Cattle fertility expert Dave Morris of Bass Valley Embryo Service says Jerseys can produce up to twice as many calves as other breeds with ET because Jerseys have supersensitive follicles.

Dave says Jerseys are very sensitive to the follicle stimulating hormones (FSH) which are used to make cows superovulate and make available more of their eggs for fertilisation.

He says this can allow Jerseys to produce up to 20 embryos in one flush, and these can be implanted in recipient cows which can enable a champion Jersey produce 15 calves in a year.

10 Jersey Journal – September/October 2012

But Dave says care must be taken with the FSH dose given to Jerseys, which is often only about 50 to 60 per cent of the dose required for a Holstein.

“That shows that Jerseys are supersensitive,” Dave says. “It’s all related to production. Because Jerseys are slightly lower in total milk production, there’s a little bit less stress on them. So I’d say they might give about 20 per cent more embryos than higher-producing cows.”

There is also variation in each Jersey’s response to FSH, and Dave has to find each cow’s optimum dose by monitoring how many embryos are produced in each flush.

He also advises that Jersey breeders monitor donor feeding: “Make sure that’s it’s well balanced with not too much protein – a donor Jersey needs a high-energy, hight-fibre diet.”

Dave says he prefers not to flush maiden heifer Jerseys, and would rather work with young cows that have had between one and four calves.

“A Jersey donor needs to have good inherent fertility,” Dave says. “I like to make sure that she has already produced a calf every year herself that’s a good start.

“Jerseys just need that bit of extra time to mature reproductively.”

After flushing, Dave uses two straws of semen at about 12 hours and 24 hours after the donor cow has come on heat.

“We like to spread the semen because we don’t know how many embryos the cow has released, and over what period,” he says. “We like to cover them over 12 to 24 hours to try to fertilise as many embryos as possible.”

He also recommends against using Jersey maiden heifers as embryo recipients, because they don’t achieve the highest conception rates.

However, Jersey embryos don’t have to be implanted in Jerseys.

“Potentially, you can implant any embryo into any cow – and some of the best results have come from putting Jersey embryos into Holstein heifers,” Dave says.

But he wouldn’t recommend using Holstein embryos in Jersey heifers: “You’d get reasonable conception rates, but the size of the calf is going to be the problem at calving.”

(Continued on page 12)

l

Thinking Globally

24 daughters appraised in Canada, with 83% of them scored VG or higher

Thinking Globally Investing Locally

l

www.absglobal.com/aus l abs.au.info@genusplc.com l Ph: 02 6049 9200 l Fax: 02 6026 2387 l Semen orders only, freecall 1800-ABS-BULL

www.absglobal.com/aus l abs.au.info@genusplc.com l Ph: 02 6049 9200 l Fax: 02 6026 2387 l Semen orders only, freecall 1800-ABS-BULL

Investing Locally

145 daughters appraised in the US, average GP84.5 with 10.4% appraised EX and 93% appraised EX or VG

(Continued from page 10)

Dave says that a Jersey in-calf with a donated embryo can be treated pretty much like any other pregnant Jersey.

“I think an embryo is at its most vulnerable for the first six weeks after implantation,” he says. “With any breed, I don’t like any unnecessary handling or stress during those weeks.”

ET calves can slot into farmers’ normal calf-rearing programs, and Dave says they grow up with no adverse impact on their own fertility. He has worked with multi-generational ET Jersey families.

He does think Jersey sisters produced from the same flush continue to show a special link as they grow up.

The cows are not clones - their genetic relationship is the same normal sisters - but Dave says they do show a special bond when they are together a herd.

Donor fertility essential Dave cautions breeders against deciding to flush a cow because they can’t get her in-calf. He says they have to investigate the reason for the infertility.

“If it’s a physical injury or something that has happened to her along the way, that may be fair enough,” he says. “But some animals have a genetic problem in fertility. They are not good choices as donors. All heifers resulting from that sort of cow will have the same genetic infertility as well.

“It’s essential to select a donor with good fertility in her own right.”

“I like to physically check every donor before I actually flush them. Quite often I use an ultrasound machine so I can assess the ovaries properly. It just

12 Jersey Journal – September/October 2012

gives an idea of the follicle numbers in the ovaries, and makes sure they haven’t got any ovarian cysts.

“I think having them on the correct diet with correct trance elements can guard against over-stimulation as well.

“With good donors, we can get anything up to 20 embryos in one flush out of a Jersey cow. You might end up with 12 or 15 calves.

“Jerseys have the potential to be very good donors, but you have got to manage them properly to be able to achieve those results consistently.”

Dave says some of his clients are flushing second- and third-generation ET cows. Quite a few calves born through embryo transfer have gone on to become breed champions or top sires.

He says ET has helped Australian breeders strengthen all the desirable traits in their Jerseys, including milk production and fertility.

“It’s just a way of increasing selection pressure, ” he says. “It’s enabled us to be able to select for all these different traits more heavily, and get there a lot quicker.

“If a cow has six or ten heifers instead of one calf a year, you condense six or ten years of breeding into one you have sped up the selection process in all traits.”

Back to the basics of ET ET first became commercial in Australia after the mid 1970s, and many Jersey breeders now sell embryos collected from their own cows, or use embryos purchased from Australia or overseas.

Dave stresses the need for a balanced approach to all fertility issues. He recommends that farmers work closely with vets to balance milk production, nutrition and fertility.

He says it’s important for breeders to go back to basics to fully understand the advantages and limitations of embryo transfers.

He says ET donor cows must have normal fertility: “Ovulation involves release of the egg from the follicle into the oviduct. At this time, the egg is undergoing changes to halve it’s chromosome number in readiness for fertilisation.

“Remarkably, the egg has been resting dormant in the ovary since its formation in early foetal life. Each ovary has many thousands of eggs waiting their turn to develop. Most of these will never be used.

“After ovulation, the egg is directed into the funnel shaped opening of the oviduct. Fine hairs and muscular contractions in the oviduct quickly move the egg well down the oviduct to the site of fertilization within 30 to 40 minutes.

“In an animal that has been mated, the egg should encounter sperm cells soon after its release. Passage of the egg down the oviduct stimulates sperm transport up the oviduct to the site of fertilization, thereby ensuring a prompt penetration of the egg.

“Eggs must be fertilised within eight to 12 hours of their release, otherwise they degenerate and are unable to be fertilised. It is therefore important that mating is done before ovulation occurs.

“Sperm cells also require maturation inside the reproductive tract before the are able to fertilise the egg. After four to five hours, they are fully active. Many semen cells surround the egg until one penetrates the shell and the cell mass causing fertilisation. Once this occurs, no other sperm cell can enter the egg.

“After 15 to 20 hours, the first cell division occurs and the egg is now called an embryo. The embryo then doubles it’s cell number every 24 hours. It remains in the oviduct for about three days before entering the uterus to continue development.

“By day nine or ten after fertilization, the embryo hatches from its shell and quickly grows throughout one and

then both horns of the uterus as the pregnancy develops.”

Dave says cattle reproduction is a complex sequence requiring the coordination of many steps to produce a pregnancy.

A cow normally produces one live calf per year, and normally only uses only about ten of the hundreds of thousands of eggs in her ovaries.

However, cows can be “superovulated”. A correct dose of FSH at the right moment in their oestrus cycle can induce the ovaries to release many eggs at the same time.

The follicle stimulating hormone does not have to come from a Jersey or even from a cow. Dave says porcine FSH from pigs is commonly used to stimulate superovulation in dairy cows.

After superovulation, many of a cow’s eggs can be fertilised to produce a number of embryos.

But Dave says these developing embryos do not attach to the wall of the cow’s uterus during the first few weeks.

“Therefore the free-floating embryos can be removed from the uterus at day seven and transplanted into a recipient cow,” he says.

“The implanted embryo is not recognized as foreign by the recipient and is not rejected, which enables us to use any type of cow as a recipient.”

The development of an embryo in a recipient’s uterus has no effect on the genes in the embryo or the resulting calf. They retain the genetics of the donor cow and sire, and can pass these on to subsequent generations.

Dave says that this means that embryo collection and freezing facilitates the storage and international sharing of valuable Jersey genetics.

Embryo collection Embryos are collected by inserting a rubber foley catheter through the cervix and into the uterine horn which is then flushed with a saline flushing medium.

“After manipulation of the uterus with the hand in the rectum, the fluid is drained from the uterus and collected in a filter,” Dave says. “This process is repeated a number of times in each horn.

“The filtered flushing fluid is then transferred to a flat searching dish and examined for embryos.

“The embryos are then transferred to a culture medium where they are evaluated firstly to see if they have been fertilized, and classified for their chance of conception and rate of development so they can be more closely matched to the heat times of the recipients.”

Dave says graded embryos are loaded into AI straws and held at constant temperature until they are implanted.

“The recipients are palpated to determine on which ovary they have ovulated,” he says.

“This is done by rectal examination and manual palpation of the ovaries to determine the presence of a corpus luteum either on the left or the right ovary. This indicates that the recipient has had a normal cycle.

First Choice Power Belle Sup 92 - a Jersey conceived through embryo transfer on a farm in Victoria.

“After an epidural anaesthetic, the embryo is implanted into either the right or left horn of the uterus using an AI or ET gun.”

He says this process is not easy: “It requires an ET vet of considerable experience to manipulate the uterus and place the embryo in the right position within the uterine horn.”

Bass Valley Embryo services averages six embryos per donor flushed, although results can range from zero to 50 embryos per donor.

Jerseys often produce about 20 embryos.

“Donors should be in good reproductive health and cycling normally, and a minimum of 60 days post calving,” Dave says.

He says conception rates from ET vary with the quality of the embryos and the recipient cows, and the effects of nutrition and the season. But conception rates are usually above 70 per cent.

He recommends that every property set up a specific program of nutrition and management to ensure optimum results from ET. Further research Dave says that as ET has become established, researchers have begun looking at ways to make further gains with techniques including semen sexing, in-vitro fertilization, and embryo cloning.

“These techniques are still being examined, but may become commercial possibilities in the not too distant future,” he says.

First Choice Declo Belle – a Jersey conceived through embryo transfer.

Jersey Journal – September/October 2012 13

Celebrating our ...

On Farm Challenge SeniOr ChampiOnS and congratulating the nDJBc on its 21st on Farm challenge in 2012

h Jugiong Daisymae 83 eX90

h Jugiong DayDream 349 eX92

h Jugiong ranunculus 4629 eX93

68m 6969 4.8 334 3.9 271 305 134 • Senior Champion 1992 Sire: Sproslea Hi Lindan

48m 8087 4.6 369 3.7 300 305 110 • Senior Champion 1999 & 2000 Sire: LESTER

72m 9288 4.6 425 3.5 326 305 126 • Senior Champion 2006 Sire: Jugiong 281 Star (Biestar)

h yarravale FernanDos Beth eX92 h Jugiong ilagay 142 suP92

h Jugiong ilagay 4712 eX93

108m 6024 6.4 383 4.3 259 305 125 • Senior Champion 1994 Sire: Sproslea Dan Fernando

60m 7007 5.6 395 3.7 259 305 102 • Senior Champion 2003 • Supreme Champion Great Sthn Challenge 2003 Sire: LESTER SAMBO

60m 10762 4.4 471 4.0 427 305 136 • Senior Champion 2007 Sire: ASTOUND

h monvale star mayJay eX92

h Jugiong PruDence 108 eX93

h Jugiong molly 5482 eX93

80m 10783 4.8 519 3.9 420 305 150 • Senior Champion 1998 Sire: BIESTAR

103m 8753 5.2 452 4.0 354 305 128 • Senior Champion 2005 Sire: PITINO

61m 9233 3.9 362 3.7 345 305 125 • Senior Champion 2011 Sire: ASTOUND

Owned with Rowantree Jerseys

Over the 20 years, 10 Senior Champions have come from Jugiong.

We are very proud to be the only herd to have had more than two senior champions in this time.

BOSGREGSTAR Australia’s No.2 Genomic Jersey Sire Australia’s Highest New Cow Family Outstanding APR +112 Overall Type

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Exciting Cow Family Valerian, Elton & Manhatten Free Pedigree

words: Michael Porteus

New board member wants a Jersey premium

N

ew Jersey Australia board member Andrew Younger (pictured) says he wants to see a more realistic value – a premium – for registered Jerseys.

The secretary of Jersey Australia’s Victorian branch who this year also joined the national board says that there is currently too much of a discrepancy between the value of Holsteins and Jerseys.

Andrew now runs about 210 Jerseys and 20 cross breeds on his 230-acre share farm 12km north of Shepparton.

He says reasons for the difference between the value of registered Holsteins and Jerseys include competition in the supply of black and whites, and the larger number of breeders.

“But part of the reason is also that the commercial farmer has been brainwashed with the production ability of the Holsteins,” says Andrew. “They

16 Jersey Journal – September/October 2012

have not looked at the big improvements that Jerseys have made in that area.”

Andrew can remember three decades ago when Jerseys always won the bestudder awards at shows, but did not give enough milk.

“The show ring dictated what was bred, instead of production,” he says.

“But now its different - I’ve bought a couple of jerseys that have done 10,000 litres. So the breed should be getting a better economic value, and we also need to get that bonus for a registered animal.”

Andrew says a good cow is not a bad colour. Last year he surprised many when he gave the three championship awards to Holsteins when he judged at the Camperdown show.

But he is always working for Jersey breeders to get increased returns for their cattle and their milk.

Andrew was born into a non-farming family in at Launceston in Tasmania in 1960. He had decided to be a dairy farmer by 1964. By the 70s, he knew he the breed he would run because of the temperament of his uncle Bruce Younger’s Jersey herd.

Andrew left Launceston to study at Dookie Agricultural College, and says he had to stay in Victoria to get viable returns from a Jersey stud.

Andrew joined the board of the Jersey Australia (Vic) branch five years ago and is now its secretary. He joined the Jersey Australia board this year, nominating where there were unfilled vacancies. He says there is plenty of worthwhile work to do on both Jersey boards.

Andrew says breeds are a personal preference. One reason he prefers Jerseys is that he is a bachelor. He can manage spring calving of more than 200 Jerseys by himself, but would not be able to do that with Holsteins. “You could be pulling 30 per cent of your calves,” he says.

However, he says there is a mountain of issues where dairy breeds have to work together, as they do on the all-breeds show ethics committee. He says there may be inter-breed synergies in dealing with health issues, and establishing protocols for work on genomics.

“When you are in the stud game, you don’t just keep an eye on your own block,”

... every breed has a strength and its weakness, but Jerseys definitely have advantages when it comes to environmental care, carbon footprint, cheese yield and profitability.

he says. “You’ve got friends that are involved with different breeds, and there are so many similar things. We all benefit from seeing how the other operates, and seeing how things can work together.”

He says every breed has strength and its weakness, but Jerseys definitely have advantages when it comes to environmental care, carbon footprint, cheese yield and profitability.

Andrew supplies Murray-Goulburn Co-op, where farmers are paid on components. Although he admits that it would be difficult to organise, he is disappointed that his Jerseys are not rewarded for the extra value of their milk when it is used in manufacturing.

Andrew says that changing milkpayment schemes to reflect this could add up to $50,000 to the annual returns to Jersey farms.

He has visited the Hilmar cheese factory in California, where 12 Jersey farmers set up their own plant so they could be paid extra.

“You would think the cheese yield would be relative to the components in the milk,” Andrew explains, “but it’s actually a synergy with the higher components, and you can make more cheese than you’d think.”

However, he’s not expecting a cooperative dominated by Holsteins to adopt a payment scheme which would give a greater slice of the pie to Jerseys.

And he says all dairy farmers have to work together to resist the costcutting trends which now return some producers only 15 cents a litre for some of their milk.

Goulburn Murray Jersey Breeders Club President: Ron Baker (03) 5864 6246 Secretary: Margaret Cockerell (03) 5864 1133

NEW MEMBERS ALWAYS WELCOME

GM

GLENARRON JERSEYS Ron, Glenyss & Grant Baker 14 Hutchins Lane, Katunga (03) 58646246 glenarron@origin.net.au YENOLAM JERSEYS Neil, Wendy, Dick & Lyla 1119 Boals Rd Numurkah 3636 Ph (03) 5864 1064 Fax (03) 5864 1025 yenolam@iinet.net.au

FRESH START JERSEYS Toni Adams & Mark Norman Ph (03) 5865 5060 M 0427 229 505 BEULAH JERSEYS Daryl & Lani Hoey 160 Christies Rd, Katunga dmlhoey@bigpond.com.au (03) 5864 6473

LOXLEiGH JERSEYS Geoff Akers Victoria Rd Tallygaroopna 3634 (03) 5829 8478 geoffakers1@bigpond.com

HHH

gmjbc encourages all our members to buy at least some semen through jmS so that our club receives a rebate to invest back into Jersey activities at a local level.

WARRAiN JERSEYS John & Margaret Cockerell 1219 Rendells Rd Numurkah 3636 (03) 5864 1133 warrainjerseys@mcmedia.com.au

GLENFERN JERSEYS Peter & Bev Farrell 579 Healesville-Kooweerup Rd, Healesville 3777 M 0409 503 352 peter.farrell7@bigpond.com

JBC

YALCARA JERSEYS Peter & Lyn Sprunt 926 Sandmount Road Katunga 3640 (03) 5873 2583 yalcara@cnl.com.au

KADDY JERSEYS Andrew Younger 50 Zeerust School Rd Zeerust 3634 (03) 5829 8352 motor5@bigpond.com www.jersey.com.au/ jweb/uploads/kaddy/ kaddy_intro.html

PiNNACLE PARK JERSEYS Darryn Smith 226 Crera Rd Invergordon 3636 M 0428 557 080

Another reason why gmJbc is Australia’s most progressive club.

HHH

New members welcome

WAiANiWA JERSEYS Lindsay Hamilton 1045 Hawkers Rd Nathalia 3636 (03) 5864 1380

KAARMONA JERSEYS Graeme & Robyn, Rohan & Claire Sprunt 228 & 235 Kaarimba Hall Rd Kaarimba 3635.

(03) 5826 9506 kaarmona@bigpond.com HAZELVALE JERSEYS Jason Hayes M 0410 135 420

HOMELANDS JERSEYS Phil Hentschke & Warren Schutz 142 Youanmite Rd Invergordon 3636 (03) 5865 5171

GENTEEL JERSEYS Brad Adams 553B Mywee/Koonoomoo Rd Strathmerton 3641 (03) 5874 5388 genteeljerseys@hotmail.com

FROGLANDS JERSEYS Ben Pedretti 51 Victoria Street Tallygaroopna 3634 (03) 5829 8339

WE

WANT YOUR BULLS

•

CSC is committed to the expansion of its young sire program in partnership with ABS Australia.

•

We aim to Genomic test as many top quality young bulls as we can, to expand our bull team to test up to 8 quality young bulls a year.

•

Genomics (both APR & TPI) will be used as an added tool to aid in bull selection; emphasis shall remain on strength of cow family, classification and cow performance.

•

CSC sets the payment standard and opportunities for Australian Jersey Breeders.

OPTION 1 2 3 4

CSC SIRE AGREEMENT OPTIONS PAYMENT/STRAW BULL PAYMENT PROVEN $7700 $0.00 $4400 $0.55 $2200 $1.10 $0 $1.65

GENOMIC $0.00 $0.275 $0.550 $0.825

All payments include GST

If you have a young sIre to offer, the choIce Is yours, DON"T geT shOrT chaNgeD, be rewarDeD – chOOse csc.

Upon completion of a purchase agreement genomic data will be released to breeders as soon as it becomes available to CSC.

For more information on the Central Sires Co-operative, contact: Corey Couch – info@riversidejerseys.com • Ian Anderson – anview@dcsi.net.au • Lindsay Anderson – kvista@dcsi.net.au Anthea Day – antheaday@dcsi.net.au • Brendan Scott – meldan9@bigpond.com • Luke Wallace – lukemel@dcsi.net.au Design: Sharon Clark