2021
Huntcliff Dairy is run by Martien and Tietsia Huyzer with help from their daughter Marieke. There are no other staff. Three other kids have other careers and are not involved in the day to day operations, but their opinions regarding changes on the farm are valued and discussed. Martien and Tietsia both were born and raised on dairy farms in the Netherlands, and for Martien it was clear from a young age that he wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps. They immigrated to Canada in 2001 with four young children, bought some land and started building as there were few farms available for purchase. Quota and two herds of Holstein cows were found and they started their Canadian dream. In 2004, the first Jersey was acquired at an auction. When Martien heard the auctioneer say that sometimes you have to surprise your family at home, he thought: Why not! More Jerseys were bought and by 2019 no more Holstein semen was being used. Now milking 100 Jerseys and 35 Holsteins, the goal is to go to 100% Jerseys. The better cows receive sexed semen and the Holsteins and bottom end of the Jerseys are bred to beef semen. This has led to a better price for the calves that leave the farm. Jersey bull calves are not in high demand in Alberta and are
rare at Huntcliff Dairy. Surplus animals are sold as nurse or family cows as there is a high demand for them, with only a small amount of Jersey farms in the province. The Huyzers grow all their forages. After two bad seasons for silage corn, none is seeded in 2021, but there is still plenty in the bunker silo to feed from for most of this year. Crops are barley for silage, grain and straw, and alfalfa for silage bales unless it can be turned into hay. There is also a small field with mixed grasses that had made some nice hay for the calves in 2020 and looks promising for 2021. Soy meal may be purchased when the ration requires it. Classification is both a highlight and a stressful moment on the farm, but it mostly is a confirmation that the right breeding decisions are made by Martien and Marieke. They see it as a report card: how do the animals perform when compared with animals in other herds in Canada? All animals at Huntcliff Dairy are purebred. They strive for a cow that has a good udder and strong legs; a cow that can function anywhere under many different circumstances. They have noticed it is easier to get a Jersey to a 7th or 8th lactation than it is with a Holstein and appreciate the longevity of Jerseys. A special cow in the herd is Huntcliff Senior Wine, a 4 Star Brood animal that has given many females. There are over twenty animals in the herd that came from this matriarch. She is due this fall with her 9th calf and still going strong. In 2015 3 Lely A4 robots were installed and the existing parlour was demolished. The cows learned quickly: just three weeks after starting, they had exceeded the production in the parlour. Milkings per cow
CURRENT JERSEY CLASSIFICATION: 9 ME, 3 EX, 39 VG and 51 GP
PRÉSENTEMENT (JERSEYS SEULEMENT) : 9 ME, 3 EX, 39 TB et 51 BP
JERSEY HERD AVERAGE: 8,166 Kg. Milk, 421 Kg. Fat, 332 Kg. Protein
MOYENNE DU TROUPEAU JERSEY : 8 166 kg L, 421 kg Gras, 332 kg Protéine
JERSEYS' BCA: 274-260-293
MCR JERSEYS : 274-260-293
AWARDS
24 JUNE / JUIN 2021 Canadian Jersey Breeder / Eleveur de Jersey Canadien
are still around 3.4 times per day. Most of the Jerseys live in a freestall barn with chopped canola straw in the stalls. The Holsteins and some Jerseys live in a straw pack barn. Dry cows and pregnant heifers in the last trimester also live in a pack barn and have year-round access to pasture. The animals benefit from the exercise they get and calve easily with few problems. Huntcliff Dairy strongly believes in an open door to the dairy barn for the public. They have been a host farm for Breakfast on the Dairy and Alberta Open Farm Days. The Huyzers enjoy educating consumers on where their food comes from and running a sustainable business with high levels of care for the animals and environment. From Tietsia: “In order to be successful as a farm and as a family, you always need support. Whether it is from your church family, your colleagues or the knowledgeable staff at Jersey Canada, we all need guidance and sometimes a pat on the shoulder. Receiving the Constructive Breeder award was one of these great moments where your own industry acknowledges your success. We would like to thank Jersey Canada for the recognition, and will continue to breed and care for some great cows. We do not know what the future holds but good, strong Jersey cows will always have a place on many dairy farms in Canada.” With contributions from Tietsia Huyzer
