‘Jersey – The Most Profitable and Sustainable Cow?’ – Literature Review for Jersey Australia
(b)
Figure 1. Average 305-day milksolids yield (kg) per cow by calving system, breed and year for (a) seasonal/split calving herds, and (b) year-round calving herds [DataGene, 2021].
Milk composition The composition of milk varies due to breed, physiological, husbandry and seasonal factors [Soyeurt et al., 2006; Palladino et al., 2010], lactation stage [Craninx et al., 2008; Stoop et al., 2009], age [Haile-Mariam and Pryce 2015], animal health [Goncalves et al. 2020], nutrition [Larsen et al., 2010], milking interval [Quist et al., 2008], on-farm storage [Forsback et al., 2011] and seasonal changes [Heck et al., 2009; Li et al., 2019]. Fat and protein concentrations Concentrations of fat and protein are higher in milk produced by Jersey cows than by HolsteinJersey cross-bred cows and Holstein cows [Beaulieu and Palmquist, 1995; Rastani et al., 2001; White et al., 2001; Palladino et al., 2010]. In Australia, based on herd recording data held by DataGene, the mean difference in the concentrations of fat in milk between Jersey cows and Holstein cows over a period of 27 years (1993 to 2019) was 1.1 g/100 ml in seasonal/split herds and 1.14 g/100 ml in year-round calving herds (Figure 2a,b).
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Prepared by Dr Steve Little, Capacity Ag Consulting, 1 November 2021
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