VIEW FOOTAGE OF AUSTRALIAN STARLORD DAUGHTERS HERE
“We used STARLORD for his exceptional fertility and health traits. Now milking his daughters, they stand out in the herd for their production and improved udders. We think they will make great cows and are confidently reusing again.“
– Max & Judy Hann Lockington, Victoria, Australia
DAUGHTERS AT HANN DAIRY, AUSTRALIA
A2A2
OVERALLS DAM PRO-HART CHROME LORETTA {6} EX-90
of Contents
President’s Perspective
General Manager’s Comment
Director Farewell
JerseyNZ Introduces new Director
King’s Creamery
Production Highlights 2022-23
2022/23
JerseyNZ Production Awards
World Wide Sires Photo Competition 2023 Results
Industry Affairs Article
Massey University Update
RAS List update
Jersey Future
Sharons Jerseys
JerseyGenomeTM Update
Your Zinc Checklist for 2024
International News
Registrations
Jersey Advantage
NZAEL Update
Champion Butterfat Bull
JerseyNZ Annual Conference 2024
Link Livestock Ltd Update
What is a Limited Liability Partnership?
Jerseyland Farms Update
World Wide Sires Bull Profile
JerseyNZ Hall of Fame 2024
JerseyNZ Governance Development Programme
Students get hands-on with dairy’s ‘grass to glass’ story
Ian Harris Memorial Heifer Competition
Telephone: 07 856 0731 Email: info@jersey.org.nz
jersey.org.nz
Office News
Dates to Remember
JerseyNZ Committees
Obituaries
Sale Results Club Contacts
New Members
Scholarship Fund Roll of Honour
Regional Ambassadors
Lower Waikato Jersey Club Report
Te Awamutu Jersey Club Report
JerseyNZ Strategic Plan 2022/23
President’s Perspective
The last Focus was June, the weeks from then have flown by. Every June comes with the promise of a better season ahead, and so the challenge of working with nature continues.
I was looking forward to a new crop of calves, and to see the results of continued progress to Jerseys in our herd. I wasn’t disappointed. We have a fabulous crop of heifers, and some outstanding calves. The move to Jerseys is seeing a much better result in calving ease, less pasture damage and easier calf rearing. TOP is this week, so at the time of writing, I can’t comment on whether there has been a proven improvement in type traits.
Our JerseyNZ TOP inspectors have done the early tours evaluating Sire Proving herds, and are now embarking on members herd classification. There has been an interest from members in becoming TOP inspectors, which is fantastic.
I commented in the June issue about whether my body was going to handle spring. I’m pleased to say it did, despite rearing extra calves this year – we had a very good run of heifer calves. I was fortunate to have a bit of extra help in the weekends from some keen young school children. I also had 20 children on-farm doing calf club calves after school from early August. I find giving back to the industry very rewarding, and I’m sure keeps me healthy in mind and body. I was recently asked how many calf club calves are in our herd – I estimate around 80-100.
I wrote this in the Annual Report for the AGM, but feel it’s worth repeating. Jersey breeders know the value of the Jersey cow, but we face some real prejudice – getting the Jersey story out to the wider farming community – debunking the myths is another challenge. JerseyNZ took the opportunity to promote Jersey at the National Fieldays, made possible with the collaboration between JerseyNZ, Jersey Advantage and Link Livestock. JerseyNZ management is working on options for next years Fieldays, and the board will evaluate this shortly.
Jersey NZ Board
Julie Pirie
President
Ngatea jpirie@jersey.org.nz 027 608 2171
Tony Landers
Vice President Hawera tlanders@jersey.org.nz 027 458 4465
Barry Montgomery
Dargaville bmontgomery@jersey.org.nz 021 034 0068
Jersey Advantage is making some great progress in many of their workstreams, Rachel Haskew has flourished in her role.
Members will have seen our request for JerseyNZ members to support Jersey Advantage. Jersey Advantage is gaining traction with work done in areas JerseyNZ can’t. There is a synergy between JerseyNZ and Jersey Advantage, which will benefit the Jersey breed now and in the future.
Due to the election of an appointed director, Tony Landers, there has been a vacancy on the JerseyNZ board. The short time between the election results and the AGM meant that an appointment could not be made in time. I am however, pleased to announce that the JerseyNZ board has agreed with the recommendation to appoint Fiona Carrick as an appointed director. Fiona brings with her skills in business, strategy and risk management, which will be an asset to our board.
There is certainly plenty to look forward to, a new government, warmer weather and a better outlook for milk price.
Take care, and I’d like to take the opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and an eventful New Year.
Julie Pirie | President
Peter Gilbert
Ashburton
pgilbert@jersey.org.nz 027 435 6334
Glenys Ellison
Hamilton gellison@jersey.org.nz 021 147 4490
Fiona Carrick
Cambridge fcarrick@jersey.org.nz
Our Strategic Purpose
Supporting our membership and wider Jersey community by promoting and driving the Jersey breed and Jersey products
Animal Evaluation Data
Unless otherwise stated, all BW, PW and LW ratings shown throughout this issue are as at the Animal Evaluation run of 27 Oct 2023.
Unless otherwise stated, all NZMI figures quoted throughout this issue are as at the NZMI run of 27 Oct 2023.
Julie Pirie
General Manager’s Comment
With the end of 2023 just around the corner, we can look back on a relatively settled year for JerseyNZ with some pleasure. Moving the Conference to March was a one-off and proved to be successful, and the other major new event on the calendar was our return to National Fieldays in collaboration with Link Livestock and Jersey Advantage.
Plans currently being formulated for 2024 include a series of webinars, podcasts and more intimate zoom meetings aimed at both members and the wider dairy industry covering a variety of breed and Breed Society topics, both general and more specialised. We will also be exploring a collaborative marketing plan in conjunction with Jersey Advantage, proving the Jersey breed as the most efficient and sustainable breed to the New Zealand dairy industry. We are also planning a collaborative social media presence for Jerseyland Farm.
Be on the lookout too for an opportunity to have your say on what JerseyNZ services and activities are important to you.
The 2024 Annual Conference will be based in Rotorua from 14-16 May. You can expect to hear some inspiring keynote speakers and informative industry presentations, as well as seeing what tourist-mecca Rotorua has to offer. There will be plenty of social activities and opportunities to network with other delegates. Save the dates in your calendar now.
In this issue of the Jersey Focus we highlight both a farmer and a producer – both ends of the spectrum for Jersey milk. Aaron & Jerushah Courage of Sharon’s Jerseys, Pirongia, are a young couple going places with the Jersey breed at the core of their operations. Kings Creamery General Manager Amit Chathrath and his family have built up their Jersey milk-based business from scratch supported with supply from members Murray & Janet Gibb. They have now broken into the supermarket trade, and business is booming.
With CRV about to change their processes around animal selection, we check out what this will mean for our members and how it will affect the selection process for the joint JerseyGenome programme.
Jersey NZ Team
Pam Goodin General Manager pgoodin@jersey.org.nz
Michelle Calcott Business Administrator mcalcott@jersey.org.nz
We are delighted to showcase the 2022/23 production season highlights along with the Production Awards that will be presented at the Annual Conference in 2024. Production is such an integral part of our ability to promote the breed, and we celebrate the success of all high performing Jersey herds.
BreedIT is almost fully operational. With all data share agreements now in place, we expect to have full access within a couple of months. With that access we will be able to complete the BW awards for the last two seasons, and finally be able to produce the Production Registers. Once all the data is available in BreedIT we will also start exploring value-add opportunities for members. It is over 10 years since DIGAD and a Breed Society solution (subsequently developed as BreedIT) were planned. Through that time, we have really been in a holding pattern with access to data. Once fully operational, we envisage significant efficiencies will be implemented over time for many of our breed activities as we explore and develop the programme.
Pam Goodin | General Manager
The Jersey FOCUS
The Jersey FOCUS is the official publication of Jersey NZ published bi-annually in June (Winter) and November (Spring) respectively.
Jersey NZ is the official trade name of the New Zealand Jersey Cattle Breeders’ Association Inc.
Sean Bresnahan
Digital Design Coordinator sbresnahan@jersey.org.nz
JerseyNZ farewelled former President Alison Gibb from the Board at the Annual General Meeting in September 2023 with the presentation of a Kowhai tree.
Alison was appointed to the JerseyNZ Board in May 2016 and was immediately elected President. She was reappointed in 2018, and was successful in the 2019 election moving from an appointed to elected Director. Alison made the decision to move aside from the Presidents role in 2022 after six years, and did not make herself available for re-election this year.
Alison was responsible for a huge refresh at JerseyNZ with a new look and new logo; embracing excellence in governance and succession; launching the Youth Council now known as the Governance Development Programme; and refreshing the strategy, making short- and long-term planning integral to Board activities.
The Kowhai tree presented to Alison has a gorgeous golden flower and is a legume. From a cultural perspective it symbolizes personal growth and helps people move on from the past with a renewed sense of adventure. When you gift a Kowhai you are showing trust in the recipients abilities and judgement, respecting them as a person and the choices they make.
Alison will continue to lead the Governance Development Programme so is not lost from JerseyNZ’s leadership team. The Board, members and staff thank Alison for her inspired leadership and service for JerseyNZ as a Director over the past seven years.
President Julie Pirie (left) makes the farewell presentation to Alison Gibb at the Annual General Meeting in Hamilton in September
JerseyNZ Introduces new Director
JerseyNZ is delighted to welcome Fiona Carrick as its newly appointed Director. Fiona is a senior strategic leader and brings broad and deep commercial and governance skills and experience to her role as Chief Executive at Te Waka: Waikato’s economic development agency. Most recently she held senior commercial, partnership and risk management roles in the primary sector. Fiona’s broad commercial experience spans local and global businesses. Her emphasis on continual and genuine stakeholder engagement shapes the effective partnerships she forges and leads within organisations and across industry.
Fiona holds a Master of Science (MSc) from the University of Otago and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Victoria University of Wellington. She is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors in New Zealand and a Member of Te Nehenehenui Trust Group Investment Committee. She also serves on the boards of Kiwifruit Vine Health Inc, the Waipā Community Facilities Trust, the Home of Cycling Charitable Trust and the Stihl Shop Group.
JerseyNZ have appointed a new Director following the successful election result from Tony Landers who has moved
from an appointed to an elected Director. Fiona’s appointment is for an initial term of one year in line with Board election timings and will be ratified by members at the Annual Conference in May 2024.
Fiona Carrick
King’s Creamery
As with many businesses, the story of King’s Creamery starts with small beginnings and serendipitous meetings. The idea, a journey, a new connection open to opportunity and King’s Creamery was on its way.
The story starts with the Chatrath family – Param and Kamal and their children Amit and Amisha. Having emigrated from Punjab, India in 1995 with a background in hospitality & food service they owned and ran three restaurants in Hamilton. Punjab, which is known as the “land of five rivers” is a hub for agriculture. Today they still own and operate Jaipur Restaurant in central Hamilton. Initially making their own yoghurt and paneer for their restaurants, they were soon supplying other local Indian restaurants with their pot-set yoghurt and paneer. Compared to the multitude of stirred yoghurts you’ll find on supermarket shelves today, King’s Creamery makes potset yoghurt with fresh Jersey milk the traditional way. This is achieved by filling the milk and live probiotic cultures directly into the pot that the yoghurt will be sold in, which is fully set in 6-7 hours, hence the name pot-set. King’s Creamery offers their Jersey Pot-set Yoghurts in both a full and low-fat variations.
Following the popularity of their yoghurt, the family expanded their product range to paneer and then Mango Lassi. Paneer is fresh acid-set, non-aged, non-melting cheese made by curdling milk with citric acid. Similar in texture to haloumi, paneer is a very versatile soft cheese with a neutral taste. Relatively new to the New Zealand palette with a neutral taste and the ability to absorb flavour, paneer is ideal for grilling, barbeque, deep frying or marinating and can be used in curries, salads and pizza.
Lassi is a probiotic Indian yoghurt-based beverage with a smoothie like consistency, made from Jersey milk and five strains of probiotics. With 14g protein per serve and only 6.8g per 100g of sugar which occurs mostly from natural lactose
and mango puree, lassi is a great source of fibre and great for gut health. Lassi can even be adapted to a cocktail!
Seeing a gap in the market for a good quality, locally sourced product, the family purchased a bare 3,000 square metre site in Hamilton’s Te Rapa industrial area in 2016. By 2018 they had created a purpose-built facility and were ready to go.
Building towards eventual supermarket contracts the factory started out with small quantities for production. Rather than sourcing milk from Fonterra, the aim was to source from an independent, local farm. They didn’t specifically set out looking for a Jersey herd and had spoken to a few farmers, but driving the expressway north one day they spotted the Tironui herd owned by Murray & Janet Gibb at Taupiri. They thought that the cows looked fantastic, and loved that they were all one breed. So they visited the farm and tried the milk, being blown away by the quality of the Jersey milk. Terms were agreed and they were underway. Tironui is a 400 cow Jersey herd with 80-90% A2 cows, and with Murray & Janet the Chatrath family discovered a mutual
love for good dairy and Jersey. Amit believes that the ‘Jersey factor’ sets their products apart.
With the business initially operated by family members, they have now expanded to eight staff with Param as Managing Director, Amit as General Manager and Kamal and Amisha also assisting with management and administration. All of the family are also still actively involved at their remaining restaurant Jaipur in central Hamilton. With both businesses, their firm belief is that they need to retain day-to-day involvement to ensure a premium product.
Initially they built their supply delivering to local restaurants, cafes, service stations & dairies with demand building through word of mouth. More recently, after three years of hard work proving that they can produce consistent product they have broken through with their first supermarket contracts with products going into New World, Pak n Save and 4 Square. The full range of paneer, lassi and yoghurt is available in the South Island, with only paneer and lassi available in the North. They expect to be able to supply yoghurt in the North Island sometime next year. This will be a slow expansion so that they can continue to ensure great quality product.
Premium ingredients are the key to their premium products. The Jersey milk is central to this philosophy and is proudly included in their marketing. The citric acid for the paneer; probiotics and mango pulp for the lassi; and cultures for the yoghurt are the only other ingredients used in their products. This is as natural as it gets.
While there has not been a lot of marketing yet, there has been an emphasis on packaging to reflect the company vision of affordable access to high quality New Zealand Jersey product. As new products to the market, packing and branding needed to be welcoming and attractive, reflecting their family values and great quality milk. All of the King’s Creamery packaging is recyclable. This is a premium New Zealand made product, but without the premium price tag.
This family is incredibly passionate about dairy. With supply able to be traced from a single herd, they are also able to ensure that all regulatory compliance is completed. They love their Jersey milk, and while some of the cream is removed there is no standardising. Theirs is not an industrial process, the process is traditional and simple, with Amit and Param still overseeing the factory floor to ensure the integrity of their product. The process won’t change, as they expand they will
still make product in small batches, just more frequently. They are currently investing in new, NZ made machinery to help streamline their processes and increase their efficiency.
Currently using around 3,000 litres of milk a day, they expect to increase production this summer, with the Mango Lassi being a hit on hot days. The milk is picked up after the morning milking Monday – Friday in threefour loads with a 1,000 litre vat set up. More recently they have purchased an 11,000 litre ex-Fonterra tanker currently being fitted out for their factory specifications. The milk has some of the cream removed and is pasteurized before going into product. The factory currently operates 8-10 hours per day, so there is room to expand as production increases, and there is also more room in the factory to bring in more machinery. They deliver locally in their own truck three days per week, two days to Auckland and one in the Waikato. With the supermarket contract they also have pallets now moving out of the factory 2-3 days per week. Product leaves the factory fresh, never stored for more than three days.
The Gibb family work with the Chatraths as demand increases. While initially demand for their dairy products died down through the winter period, that is no longer the case and the Gibbs are now split calving to maintain winter supply for them. Milk is invoiced on a monthly basis, and a premium is paid for winter milk. This season the Gibbs worked hard to keep up with demand for their milk. As production expands, the Chatrath’s intention is to stick with Jersey milk all sourced from local suppliers. They have no intention of ramping it up too quickly, a slow progression will help them come to grips with the market without compromising their processes or quality.
As entry to supermarkets opens up for King’s Creamery, they are also considering expanding their range with different size, flavour, and variant offerings for some products. Focus will also now turn to developing a marketing platform for the products, and the Jersey cows are expected to play a large role. Marketing will also focus on a locally sourced & manufactured premium Jersey product at an affordable price point. Look out for your local Globox billboards and their socials for their latest marketing.
Come 4.00 pm the day is finished at the factory, and the family head over to run the restaurant in the evening where they are just as hands-on, and Amit is also General Manager. Somewhere in there he also finds time to study towards his Master’s Degree in Property. It’s all full steam ahead!
Next time you’re in the supermarket, check out the chiller and give King’s Creamery a go.
Production Highlights 2022-23
JerseyNZ is pleased to announce the top ranked herds for the 2022/23 season. These tables are based on registered Jersey cows, and results are limited to those herds that have completed a minimum of FOUR herd tests in the 2022/23 season. Due to data share restrictions currently in place, at this stage we are unable to report on BW.
Frecklington Farms
C Shearer
P & K Horn
The Twelve Thousand Mile Trust
T & G Sneddon
Ashvale Jerseys Ltd
Goreland Partnership
Carnarvon Farms Ltd
J & D Gloyn
G P S 2007 Limited
C Shearer
The Twelve Thousand Mile Trust
Frecklington Farms
P & K Horn
Carnarvon Farms Ltd
T & G Sneddon Ashvale Jerseys Ltd
Goreland Partnership
David & Nicola Moffitt
Gralyn
Wilson Farms Ltd
Ngatimaru Farming Company Ltd
Disclaimer: Jersey NZ is reliant on information received via reports ordered via BreedIT from the Dairy Industry Good Animal Database (DIGAD). While every effort is made to ensure data is correct, Jersey NZ accepts no responsibility for any incorrect information printed.
Top 10 herds by milksolids Top
Top 3 herds by milksolids - Herd
2022/23 JerseyNZ Production Awards
Production awards are a recognition to members with significant herd and production statistics. The following awards will be presented at the JerseyNZ Annual Conference in Rotorua 2024. Congratulations to all members who will receive awards.
Sadly, we are still unable to report on any BW/PW data under BreedIT. We therefore have not been able to calculate the following awards at this stage, however we expect the data to be available prior to the Annual Conference for presentation.
• Mitchell Challenge Trophy – Top BW Cow
• Top Herd by BW
Show Season Championship Dates
North Island:
South Island: Whangarei - 2 December
Christchurch - 15-17 November
The TOP rankings will now be included with the TOP Review data in the June issue of the Jersey Focus annually at the conclusion of the TOP season. This includes the two-year-old herd averages for members with herds with a minimum of 20 two year old registered Jerseys classified in the season.
How Are Production Statistics Calculated?
Production information is sourced via BreedIT. BreedIT is sourcing all data for this reporting from DIGAD (Dairy Industry Good Animal Database). While DairyNZ sources all raw data from the herd testing companies, they then apply the ICAR Cattle Milk Recording guidelines https://www.icar.org/index. php/icar-recording-guidelines/. This means that the calculated lactation records including DIM (and therefore herd averages and indexes) will look different to what members are seeing on their MINDA records. The expectation is that when NZAEL 3.5 (inclusion of genomics for females) is implemented the data will look a lot more alike.
While the reported data does not match members MINDA records, as the data is calculated in a consistent manner rankings of animals and herds are not affected.
Herd data is calculated on herds with a minimum of 4 herd tests and 100 days in milk.
As an internal control, JerseyNZ individual animal data is also limited to S3J registrations status & above for the purposes of production reporting & awards. A herd must have a minimum of 20 registered Jerseys. Herd average data includes all registered Jerseys, regardless of registration status.
Production programmes are usually run in October annually. This allows for late calving animals to complete their lactation and be included. Breed Societies only receive data on registered animals, therefore we can only calculate herd awards based on registered animals by breed.
Does A Cow In Your Herd Have What It Takes?
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Photo of: Glenui Intergrity Shanty
Photo of: Glenui Integrity Lace ET
World Wide Sires Photo Competition 2023 Results
The 2023 competition saw a total of 97 entries from 26 members. Special thanks to Judges Christina Jordan, Jeremy Gloyn and Ross Morton. Thank you also to our very generous sponsors, World Wide Sires
Ferdon Tfern Sharee - Ferdon Genetics - C Ferguson
Ferdon Chrom Brighteyes - W Ferguson & S Gaskin
Bradnic Viral Raspberry - Jay Trusts Partnership - R & S Johnson
Fizz Viyella - Ferdon
Ferdon Bstone Venice - W Ferguson & S Gaskin
Ypres Chrome Alice - Kuku & Allandale - P & K Horn
Ferdon Tequila Caramel - Ferdon Genetics - W & M Ferguson
Allandale Tbone Lassette - Kuku & Allandale - P & K Horn
Allandale Tbone Quintet - Kuku & Allandale - P & K Horn
Kuku Tbone Leila - Kuku & Allandale - P & K Horn
Ferdon BS Vienna ET - Ferdon Genetics - W & M Ferguson
Allandale Tbone Demi - Kuku & Allandale - P & K Horn
Sherborne Rebel Poppy - Sherborne Farms Ltd - S & A Scherer
Hasty Spring SD Vuitton - Jay Trusts Partnership - R & S Johnson
Glenalla Madison Ivy - Snowfed Farm Ltd - N Gilbert
Manor Chocochip Alaska - Manor Jerseys - T Jeyes
Kuku Chocochip Nadia - Kuku & Allandale - P & K Horn
Argyll Candy Apple - Clonlara 2008 Ltd - C & K Bourke
Thornlea Misty Shakira - Just Jerseys Ltd - N & J Riddell
Glenalla Viral Fair - Glenalla Farm Ltd - M Gilbert
Leithlea Oliver P Esme - Leithlea Farms Ltd - T & M Luckin
Villian Gilda - Leithlea Farms Ltd - T & M Luckin
Lynbrook Vjquin Spades - Lynbrook Farm Ltd - S & N Ireland
Leithlea Charlie Fava - Leithlea Farms Ltd - T & M Luckin
Sherborne Chrome Pip - Charlie Scherer
Lucas Stitch - Blake Hamilton
Leithlea
Sherborne Vic Bumblebee - Archer Scherer
Drumclog
Industry Affairs Article
Roger Ellison | Industry Affairs Convenor Member of Future Proofing Committee, Jersey Advantage.
Is it possible to lower dairy farm emissions without decreasing production or profitability?
Pressure from government, industry, processing companies and the general public is mounting for dairy farmers to reduce their green-house gas emissions. But how can dairy farmers do this, and remain profitable in an economic climate where margins are continually squeezed? Tools that are commonly talked about such as dietary methane inhibitors, vaccines and genetic selection for low- methane emitting animals are still a long way off and will come at a cost.
Breeding lighter cows (i.e. more Jersey genetics) is a simple, no extra cost way to reduce green-house gas emissions without impacting on production and will probably lead to more profit. Decreasing average herd liveweight by 100kg/cow reduces emissions by approximately 10%, which is the 2030 industry target.
How does this work?
The metric for dairy farmers that relates directly to atmospheric warming is the amount of methane emitted per hectare. This is the metric that, as an industry, dairy is being asked to reduce 10% of 2017 levels by 2030 and 24-47% by 2050.
Currently, the only way to significantly reduce methane emissions/ha is to reduce dry matter (DM) intake/ha. For every kg DM a cow ingests, approximately 21g of methane is emitted as a result of rumen microbial digestion. Decreasing cow numbers but not decreasing total DM intake will not reduce methane production. Decreasing DM intake without making any other change will result in a decrease in milk solids production and, most likely, a decrease in profitability. So, is there a way to significantly decrease methane production by reducing total DM intake but without decreasing milk production and profitability?
The answer is yes for dairy herds where their average lactating cow liveweight can decrease by a breed change (e.g. HF and HFxJ to Jersey). By decreasing the liveweight/cow through breeding, cow numbers can stay the same, production will stay the same but feed required will be lower as a result of less liveweight/ha.
Essentially less feed is required because the amount required for maintenance is less. Production can be maintained by feeding the cows to the previous level of milk solids production.
Massey University Update
Massey University Dairy 1 carry on with OAD, but 90 cows are being used for the Regenerative Agriculture Project, lead by Prof Danny Donaghy. There are three pasture groups, and in each group are 10 cows of each breed (F, FxJ and J). So, the
Here is an example:
Herd A: 525 kg F10J6 cows producing 400 kg MS/year, which is above the national average.
Replace with Herd B: 425kg J16 cows and feed to produce 400 kg MS/year. Same number of cows as Herd A but lighter.
Based on DairyNZ Facts and Figures;
Herd A cows require 5.2ton DM/year at 11.0 MJME/kg DM to produce 400kg MS/cow/year.
Herd B cows require 4.7 ton DM/year of the same ME feed.
Herd B therefore requires 0.5ton DM/cow/year less feed to produce the same milk solids.
Industry uses a standard figure of 21g of methane emitted per kg DM eaten (21kg/ton DM)
Cows in Herd A will emit 5.2 ton x 21kg = 109 kg methane/cow/year (2725 kg CO2equiv)
Cows in Herd B will emit 4.7 ton x 21kg = 98.7 kg methane/cow/year (2467 kg CO2equiv)
By breeding lower liveweight cows, this farm would decrease its methane emissions by 9.5%, will produce the same amount of milk solids and likely be more profitable via less supplement being required and/or less nitrogen applied.
Along with the decrease in methane emitted, there will also be a drop in the other main agriculture-related greenhouse gas, nitrous oxide (N2O). Two of the big drivers of N2O emissions are quantity of protein and nonprotein nitrogen ingested and quantity of nitrogen fertiliser applied to pasture. Clearly, reducing total feed intake will lower the protein and nonprotein nitrogen ingested. Also, if less feed is required, it is likely that less nitrogen will be applied to pasture.
With just 7.5% of the national herd being Jersey, the industry has huge scope to lower emissions through using more Jersey genetics.
progeny of the cows that Jersey NZ initially donated continues to provide information.
Nicolas Lopez-Villalobos
ROCKLAND LQ BERKLY
SHELBY INTEG LABYRINTH ET
OKURA PEPPER LUCCA
GLANTON DESI BANFF
CHARTERIS COJACK MAKA
GLEN KAYCEE SHERLOCK JG
FOXTON GL CELESTIAL
LITTLE RIVER OI SAMURAI
SHELBY BC LOTTO ET S3J
CARATACUS LUCCA DONATELLO
TIRONUI SUPERMAN ET
LITTLE RIVER NUCLEUS S3J
LYNBROOK CM BOISTEROUS ET
LITTLE RIVER TRIDENT S3J
GLENUI SUPER LARKIN ET
CRESCENT I FIRELIGHTER ET
TIRONUI PKC MEGABYTE
GLOBAL BOUNTY REWARD
KAIMATARAU
LOCHREA GL INSULATOR
GLENUI SUPER LAMAR
LOCKHART OI JOEL JC15
CHARLTONS MISTY
OKURA TIRONUI BT MARCO ET
ELLISON INTEGRITY KAKA
CAWDOR COBRA STRIKE
OKURA LT INTEGRITY
SHELBY SS LORENZO S3J
A total of 91 bull calves were nominated for the 2024 Jersey Future team, with 10 selected for genomic testing. These results will become available towards the end of November and the selection process will be finalised after the dam and bull calf inspections in December.
Registering your animals for inclusion in Jersey Future
For future bull dams to be to be considered going forward, we recommend members register their animals with Jersey NZ. Registered animals can not only be put forward for nomination to Jersey Future, but can also provide several benefits, such as increasing the value of your herd. Registration is a prerequisite for successful bulls in the genetics industry and higher genetics bulls sold as service sires often attract a premium when registered.
Take advantage of Jersey Plus
Jersey NZ have made the process of registering your herd even easier with Jersey Plus. You can save up to $10 per animal on registrations by using Jersey Plus!
• Use the automated ‘Turn your herd on’ option to register all current females J12 and over. Members receive discounts depending on how many animals in their herd.
• To be eligible for Jersey Plus pricing members must also set up an annual standing order which is prompted by the office and will see all eligible heifers in your herd listed in a report. Simply name your animals and your registrations will be processed and completed.
• Further discounts may be available based on numbers registered.
Industry Benefits
There are two main benefits to the industry for registering your herd:
1) Information. As part of our data access arrangements, we can readily access information on the subset of registered Jerseys within the national herd. The more information we can access, the more reliable the data is.
2) Registrations generate income for Jersey NZ. It is that income that provides the resource for Jersey NZ to advocate to and work alongside industry partners on your behalf and to drive the growth of the Jersey breed.
Contact us today to begin the registration process!
Selection Process:
Jersey NZ will request elite bull calf nominations from members to be received by early September. These nominations are passed on to the selection panel, which consists of three JNZ members and up to two LIC representatives. JNZ and LIC have 50% voting rights. LIC field assists will contact members to sample bull calves and go on to inspect selected bull calves and dams as part of their scheduled bull buying round, commencing in November.
Bulls are selected by late November and owners willing to sell a Jersey bull to LIC pursuant to clause 4.6 will be required to enter into a sale and purchase agreement with LIC in a form that is acceptable to LIC in all respects, for the sum of:
(a) $4,000 (plus GST) per Jersey bull; or
(b) $5,000 (plus GST) per Jersey bull where that Jersey bull has been created by embryo transfer; or
(c) $1,000 (plus GST) per Jersey bull plus $0.50 (plus GST if any) per straw of Qualifying Semen; or
(d) $2,000 (plus GST) per Jersey bull where that Jersey bull has been created by embryo transfer plus $0.50 (plus GST if any) per straw of Qualifying Semen, and
(e) where LIC has made payment to an Owner pursuant to 4.7(a) or 4.7(b) and where LIC (in its sole discretion) has accepted the Jersey bull under one of its Premier Sires® or Alpha® brands or the Jersey bull is accepted for the sale of semen outside of New Zealand, an additional payment of $7,000 (plus GST if any)
Jersey Future Incentives
Members receive the following incentives by investing in Jersey Future genetics:
• Free TOP for all Jersey Future sired heifers where all two-year-olds are inspected in the herd
• 50% discount off the cost of registrations for all Jersey Future sired heifers
• One year senior subscription free to any new member purchasing 70 or more straws of Jersey Future semen.
Jersey Future continues to deliver bulls from outstanding proven and performing cow families. We encourage members to utilise these outstanding Jersey genetics while also supporting Jersey genetic gain. A big thank you to the members who have supported the programme by not only using the semen in your herd, but also nominating your bulls. We look forward to more members taking advantage of this scheme. Invest in our future. Invest in Jersey Future.
Managing Jersey Future Supply:
Unprecedented demand for Jersey Future semen in the 2023 season saw a large increase in semen orders from an expanded team of nine young genomically tested bulls.
Breeders are always encouraged to maintain good weight gains in their contract bull calves – this helps sets them up for success. Jersey Future bulls offer great value to New Zealand Jersey farmers. Before the catalogue hits your mailbox there is great care taken to ensure a balanced team to appeal to our farmer audience. To maintain Jersey Future, we need to be able to ensure that a minimum number of daughters are tested in a minimum number of herds. That is why there are conditions that apply to the sale of semen.
However …
• Young bulls are physically immature and can reach maturity at different rates. They must meet an age requirement for semen collection, which is why there is a cutoff birth date for team selection.
• Once collected, their semen must meet rigorous testing standards prior to being made available for use.
• Collection rates differ between bulls, and may also be affected by maturity.
• The semen targets required to meet all your orders can be a pretty daunting task for a young bull.
It’s a tight timeframe! We accept orders for AB start dates from early September, and LIC starts semen collection in August, with all collections completed by the end of September. This means that even early orders can be affected by semen availability if a bull is a late starter or slow producer. Some bulls may not produce any semen at all, others may not reach their collection targets to be able to meet all orders.
Encouraging Youth & Supporting the next generation. Supporting JerseyNZ through the use of JerseyFuture Sires.
At JerseyNZ we monitor semen collection and orders, and will contact you if we are unable to meet all of your order in time for your AB start date. You may wish to transfer your order to another available bull, or accept part of your order and wait to see if a bull goes on to produce. Further into the season we may have to withdraw bulls, or reduce the amount available per order, but we will always try to keep you in the loop. We maintain policies around semen allocation where there is limited or no supply available, and liaise with the JerseyNZGenetics Committee and LIC. We juggle the orders to ensure that wherever possible we can get at least some straws into all herds where they have been ordered, or that there are alternatives available.
We often find ourselves walking a tightrope! We know the lead-in time required from getting your order to LIC to the semen arriving on farm. We will sometimes leave it until the last possible day – that can make all the difference in meeting your order if a bull starts to produce semen.
Since it’s inception in 2017, several Jersey Future bulls have gone on to be marketed as proven or Premier Sires. JerseyNZ is proud of the huge success of this joint venture programme.
Jersey Future consistently delivers bulls from outstanding proven and performing cow families, supporting our goal to deliver outstanding Jersey genetics while supporting Jersey genetic gain.
Invest in our Future. Invest in Jersey Future.
Ngatea Jerseys
Brian - 027 2919533
Julie - 027 6082171
Sharons Jerseys
Nestled in Pirongia in the Waikato, the Sharons Jerseys herd of Aaron & Jerushah Courage is flanked by Mt Pirongia and Mt Kakepuku, making for some pretty spectacular scenery. This is their second season 50/50 sharemilking on the Hawthorne Rd farm, and they have just moved from the old cottage into a brand spanking new home built by the farm owners.
Relatively new to JerseyNZ having joined the Association in 2020, Aaron is already making his presence felt on the JerseyNZ Genetics Committee and the Jersey Future Working Group.
Their road to Jerseys has been a little unconventional. Aaron grew up at Gloriavale, a closed religious community on the West Coast of the South Island. At just 14 he left most of his immediate family behind and joined other family members in Queensland, Australia. Here he finished High School and worked part time in a plant nursery, which helps explain his green thumb now. In 2014 at the age of 16 he returned to New Zealand working for two seasons at Fairlie in Canterbury. From there he went to the North Island with a season at Dannevirke followed by three seasons working for well-known breeders Stewart & Kathryn Anderson (Arkan) at Otorohanga. He won Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year in 2018. In 2020, right in the middle of lockdown, Aaron took on a Managers role at Ngahinepouri and the couple moved in sight unseen. He managed this herd for two years, and was able to start his own herd here, eventually owning 10% of the herd which put them in a great position to move to 50/50 sharemilking.
Jerushah grew up on a Waikato Friesian/crossbreed farm, but her great love is horses. A western rider, Jerushah specialized in starting young horses and worked between New Zealand and Colorado, USA for about four years. With a sister also in the US, and seasonal extra work on her cousin’s beef farm, Jerushah was able to travel in the US also. She met Aaron just three days after returning from her last stint in the US at their local Reformed Baptist Church, where they talked cows for hours. Aaron & Jerushah married five years ago, and have since welcomed a delightful daughter, Ariel (3).
The farm is 72-ha effective, plus a 10-ha support block at the back, and with a 60 year old extended 20 aside herringbone shed with cup removers. Aaron & Jerushah employ no staff, and both milk although not always together depending on the time of the season. The couple laugh that they have ‘blue’ (effluent & tractor work) and ‘pink’ (calf rearing and weed spraying) jobs, but in practice they discuss everything and work together on pasture management. Planning together means that one can pick up a job if the other is busy. They both really enjoy crunching numbers & working everything out together.
The herd is 220 cows, mainly Jersey but includes 25 Friesian & crossbred cows. Support from members of the local Te Awamutu Jersey Club was invaluable in building their herd. They found that if they talked to breeders, most were genuinely happy to help a young couple starting out in the industry. Purchasing mostly good value low-end cows they were able to put their herd together for about $1100 per cow, great value that season. They expect to have a full Jersey herd in 3-5 years.
Aaron credits Stewart & Kathryn Anderson with help in gaining his first 50/50 sharemilking job for farm owners Murray & Julie Dixon. The farm has been in their family for 60 years as a Holstein-Friesian stud, but they were happy to have Jerseys come on to the farm. Still living on the farm, Murray & Julie provide support to Aaron & Jerushah, and they have a great working relationship. They are open to Aaron trying out his ideas at his own cost and will adopt them if successful. As a trial, Aaron has recently added DDG to the feed mix. Aaron looks for a two-threefold benefit when trying anything new, and so far they are needing less phosphorous, expect to get a few more cows in calf and increase production.
The farm is flat-rolling contour, with a flat heavy-soil area at the bottom, moving up to become quite hilly at
the back of the farm. They really need a drought to get grass growth on the flats, and the farm is summer-safe as they first viewed it during a drought and the flats were green. Average local rainfall is 1300mm, but last season they got 2000mm.
The support block grows maize and annual ryegrass. The farm owners graze the ryegrass in winter, and then Aaron takes a cut for silage. The block is then put into maize for the dairy platform and realised 210 t last season.
In the 2022/23 season the herd produced 85,000 kg MS from 217 cows, having culled quite a few early in the season. The farm record is 126,000 kg MS, but that included what is now the support block in the milking platform, and maize was bought in. For that record 260 Holstein Friesian cows averaged 520 kg MS. Aaron & Jerushah are milking 210 cows targeting 430-450 kg MS per cow.
Last season they fed 100 t of molasses which will reduce to 25 t this season along with 120 t palm kernel and 30 t DDG (dried distiller grains). Total feed will be more, but with feed pricing this season they are maintaining the same level of spend and getting more bang for their buck. The DDG will be fed from calving through the early lactation and mating period, and Aaron expects it to last until Christmas. He has 250 bales of silage including the 100 bales cut off the annual ryegrass. The extra is needed to support the calves which will stay on the farm until May before going grazing at the farm owner’s operation about 15 minutes away for a year.
When visited they had finished calving and were starting to get into mating. Using all AB mating last year, they thought they were set up, but don’t have enough replacements although they had plenty of short-gestation heifers born which were not retained. They have since purchased a line of heifers from Peter & Kathy Horn (Allandale & Kuku, Feilding), but will still be about 10% below their target replacement rate. They will buy a few more later to save on grazing now. Wanting really good quality animals for the herd, Aaron comments that he would also rather be short than bring in average heifers to replace average older cows.
Aaron & Jerushah bought 15 autumn calvers and carried through some empties to milk through the winter. He has since mated in June and intends to winter milk for at least another couple of years to give the farm owner an opportunity to assess the practice as the farm has not winter milked before.
With a 15% empty rate in his first season from all AB, Aaron was not impressed. He does all his own mating and has a local AB run. This season he will go more traditional and has purchased two bulls from Horns and two from Ferdon Jerseys. After 4-5 weeks of AB, the bulls will go out and then Aaron will
finish off with short gestation crossbred for the last 2-3 weeks to compact their calving spread.
Last year the yearlings were AB mated by the farm owner, which worked well. Jerushah’s uncle takes 20 Jersey bull calves at two weeks old for his operation, and in return dehorns the calves for them. Now that AB on the heifers is complete, there are 4-5 of those bulls running with them from their better cows.
Calving started this season around 10-12 July, but next season they will move to 16 July due to the wet flats as they need a bit more grass for calving. Mating started on 13 October.
Aaron & Jerushah use all Australian and North American genetics, targeting udders and dairy frame. Selecting bulls that exhibit those traits, with a relatively new herd he wants to see what works for them in terms of their environment and feeding regime. Aaron comments that breeding is not just about one trait, but the balance across a cow. He wants her to look good, milk and perform well. With a new herd, new farm & new environment they are still figuring out how that looks for their operation.
While he does intend to use some unproven bulls, the emphasis is on using bulls from good cow families. He often talks to experienced breeders and is also known to phone breeders to talk about the families behind their bulls. As yet they don’t have the cow family basis in their own herd, so they are relying on the sire lines to start establishing their own cow families. Really interested in bull reliability, they will use mostly daughter proven with some genomically selected bulls (primarily polled). Bull selection is not about the bulls, it’s selecting the right sires to bring through the next generation of females.
The entire herd will be mated to Jersey, except for SGL crossbred which will be used strategically though mating, and to finish of the last 2-3 weeks of the mating season. He will use nine sires from STgenetics and World Wide Sires, plus a little from Samen and Semex and their selection includes a couple of polled bulls. Initially they select bulls that they believe will suit their goals, then they go through each bull looking for their strengths and those that complement each cow that they want to retain progeny from. Jerushah keeps a list of all the cows in the herd, and through the season they make notes to help with the mating decisions as they are very selective about each mating. Aaron is excited by the concept of line breeding, but at this stage in the herds formation they are looking at establishing good cow families. He may consider using line breeding to compound those genetics in the future, but not yet.
At this stage in the herd’s development, they are also keeping all the AB heifers. In an ideal world in the future, they look forward to being able to be more selective with retaining replacements. They have a current market for 20 surplus males, any surplus females are bobbied.
Aaron & Jerushah have not registered the whole herd, instead registering any cow that they are breeding from. Aaron is not a fan of the grading up process, preferring a full Jersey line. It’s a pill he has had to swallow though as they build the herd. With animals on the ground now from his own breeding, his aim is to build the Sharons Jerseys herd & profile. Getting good results in the early days of breeding is a great feeling, as it gives confidence moving forward as they continue to learn from their decisions – what works, how to apply and how to improve. With their constant scrutiny of the herd and attention to detail, they are developing the confidence to move the cow lines in the direction they want.
While the couple have not come from a showing tradition, they have now entered two on-farm shows. Aaron comments that this has really opened up the way they look at a cow – from the top down. Which is the least perfect cow, and which is the most perfect? This doesn’t always reflect the functionality of a cow but is still an objective way of assessing her and can be applied in the paddock to identify improvements. Other tools include TOP (Traits Other than Production) data. He can learn from this service and apply it to his breeding programme by scrutinizing the data being collected on each cow, what is seen to get that score and what is needed to take her progeny to the next level. He will not purchase a cow without checking out her TOP scores.
Aaron & Jerushah’s future plan is to get their debt paid off as quickly as possible, and they keep a tight lid on costs – the only wifi is on the farm working phone. Aaron has learnt a lot of mechanical skills from family members, and they try to do as much on farm as they can themselves. The local farming community is old-school, they all help each other out and he has learnt to ask for help when he needs it as they give back to others also. Knowing their neighbors is important.
Having said that, they are happy to try something new with feed and genetics and take some calculated risks. They are not planning to be a high input farm but do want to feed the cows well and are figuring out the balance between utilizing the grass in the best way possible alongside the supplementary feed to ensure that cows are well fed every day. Neither enjoy having underfed cows, but it can be tricky with grass as a feed as it fluctuates, and they will adjust the supplementary feed daily based on grass intake.
The herd home on farm allows them to utilize almost 100% of the supplement. If the cows leave some behind today, Aaron will drop the feed a little the next day and it will all get cleaned up. The cows also have access to hay and silage in the herd home, which is used 365 days a year. In the milking period the cows will go there about 1.30 pm for a couple of hours and be fed 1-1.5 kg maize and 2.5 kg PK/DDG per cow daily. In winter it is used as a standoff pad, and overnight if it
is very wet. The cows are on slotted rubber mats, with the effluent bunker underneath. He is happy with this design – there is no mastitis or buildup of moisture. It is 5-7 degrees warmer in the winter, so cows are not using as much energy to heat themselves and still maintain their weight.
Off farm, their biggest activities include their Church community and English Country Dancing. Jerushah sews occasionally and makes her own butter and sourdough bread – the old-fashioned way. She has a horse but does not get much of a chance to ride these days. They run a few ducks and are starting to establish a garden at the new house, clearly fans of roses.
When asked why he milks Jerseys, Aaron’s answer is to the point “Because I’m not stupid”. He firmly believes that Jerseys offer the ‘best bang for buck’ with less cow to feed, and more cow to milk. They are more robust, have a great temperament and are inquisitive personable cows that enjoy being around people. In his experience both the calves and cows are much easier to handle, and of course the real drawcard is their feed conversion efficiency.
involvement with JerseyNZ continues to increase. Eventually both Aaron and Jerushah would like to be both Judges and TOP Inspectors, but to do that they need to get the herd established & have reliable relief staff. They are ‘dipping their feet’ with the local Te Awamutu Jersey Club and will become more involved now that Aaron is the Junior Vice-President after a couple of years on the Executive. As a member of the JerseyNZ Genetics Committee and Jersey Future Working Group, Aaron feels that he brings a different level of discussion, and really enjoys the role supporting JerseyNZ in its vision for outcross and polled genetics. While he doesn’t see himself as sentimental, Aaron has developed a huge collection of old sale catalogues. He loves poring over these catalogues, tracing what breeders and the breed have done over the years, and learning from the ongoing rich history of the Jersey breed in New Zealand.
Aaron & Jerushah have proven to themselves that they can get their debt reduced quite quickly when they set their minds to it. Once that is accomplished, the plan is to bounce quickly to the next step of getting onto the property market & eventually using those houses to leverage up to the purchase of a small family-run farm. There is no set timeframe on this, Aaron comments that life inevitably gets in the way. But they have come a long way so far starting from scratch, and their pure determination and focus will get them across the line.
Their
Elite
heifer programme to identify potential bull mothers
Changes to JerseyGenome selection process
The joint venture partnership between CRV and JerseyNZ JerseyGenomeTM has enjoyed many successes over the years to generate pedigree Jersey bulls that are highly sought after in the dairy industry and enhance the future of the Jersey breed. The female side of the programme has been just as important, with heifers graduating from the programme and going forward as potential bull dams.
With this in mind, CRV need to ensure that this programme continues to deliver high genetic gain in the Jersey breed, creating bulls that remain competitive in the marketplace. Accordingly, changes have been made to how JerseyGenomeTM operates to continue to achieve this goal.
CRV will be identifying Jersey females of interest to genotype using a new selection process which will generate a Genotype Request through the mail for owners to take a DNA sample from females of interest and return to GenomNZ lab for genotyping.
JerseyNZ and CRV are working in collaboration sharing relevant information for this selection process. As part of the sharing agreement, JerseyNZ will provide member participant codes only to CRV. CRV can match these codes up with their existing data to confirm JNZ membership. Females that are J16 in JerseyNZ member herds will automatically be considered for selection into the JerseyGenomeTM Programme once genomic results are received. We are hoping through this new approach to increase the selection pool of Jersey females available to all of CRV’s breeding programmes, including JerseyGenomeTM.
Breeder nominations are still very much needed, especially if you believe your female has something of value to offer JerseyGenomeTM for instance strength of cow family, outcross genetics or polled. To make a breeder nomination, please use the attached form and provide your sample directly to JerseyNZ.
Heifers will no longer have to be registered to be considered for JerseyGenomeTM, but heifers selected for the programme will be registered on selection.
If you receive a Genotype request letter in the mail for females of interest to be genotyped or are looking to nominate your female(s) please consider participating in this initiative. The benefits include.
• A Genomic Profile worth $60 free of charge including genomic indexes and breeding values.
• A2 and polled results
• Predict future performance.
• Informed breeding and management decisions
• Genomic results equate to approximately 5 herd tests in first lactation.
• Opportunity for your female(s) to be selected for more than one breeding programme (Delta ET, CRV Top Mate (Seasonal contract mating), JerseyGenomeTM.
• If J16 and in JerseyNZ member herds the opportunity to support JerseyNZ joint venture programme JerseyGenomeTM (Yearlings and 2-Year-olds only for 2024).
CRV offers competitive purchase options for bull calves resulting from our breeding programmes that make selection.
CRV genomic deadlines have been advised to members via email.
What is JerseyGenome™?
JerseyGenome is a joint venture between Jersey NZ and CRV to identify potential bull mothers. The scheme generates sires that will enhance the future of the Jersey breed and marries two technologies - breeding and science
How does JerseyGenome work?
CRV identifies young females within the Jersey population:
• Breeders are also invited to nominate elite females for consideration
• Candidate group is selected for Genomic testing
• JerseyGenome participants are selected
• No host farm – females remain on the owner’s farm
• Minimum of four herd tests required
• Participants will TOP and classify two-year-olds
• Animals are weighed at least once during the season
• Mating recommendations from CRV
• Resulting bulls advance to CRV
• If selected, royalties will apply to those bulls graduating from the scheme
• Young bulls will be considered for CRV Insire Teams
• Graduates’ income shared (Jersey NZ, Bull breeder, CRV and JerseyGenome participants)
Criteria for graduation:
Graduate:
• Recorded in calf on national database and confirmed by owner
• Heifers completing a minimum of four herd tests
• Minimum score of 6 for udder overall
• Minimum score of 6 for dairy conformation
Merit Graduate:
• Recorded in calf on national database and confirmed by owner
• Heifers completing a minimum of four herd tests
• Minimum score of 6 for udder overall
• Minimum score of 7 for dairy conformation
• NZMI in the top 25% of the JG graduate contemporaries
Elite Graduate:
• Recorded in calf on national database and confirmed by owner
• Heifers completing a minimum of four herd tests
• Minimum score of 7 for udder overall
• Minimum score of 7 for dairy conformation
• In the top 1% for both NZMI and BW for all Jersey 2 year olds milked in NZ
• Minimum of J16
One off Award:
An award to one heifer. This heifer must meet the graduate criteria and have the largest lift from her ancestry NZMI to NZMI post four herd tests. This award is to acknowledge the heifer who performs well above her expectations, this may not be the highest indexing heifer and gives the heifers with low ancestral (parent averages) starting points an opportunity for an award. Often these heifers are less related to the more common bloodline.
Performance award improved:
• Recorded in calf to AB sire and confirmed by owner
• Heifers completing a minimum of four herd tests
• Minimum score of 6 for udder overall
• Minimum score of 6 for dairy conformation
• The highest NZMI increase from; ancestry to completion of her first season
Keep up to date with JerseyGenome™ at: www.jersey.org.nz/jersey-genome
Your Zinc Checklist for 2024
Contributed by Dr. Joe McGrath
Principal Nutritionist Sollus
Technical Manager Ruminants, DSM
Senior Lecturer - Ruminant Nutrition, University of New England, Australia
Here is your Zinc check list for Facial Eczema season 2024.
1) Is your Zinc Oxide from a verified source and backed by quality certificates/brands etc?
2) Does your Zinc program include additional antioxidants like Vitamin E and Selenium to help improve the activity of the Zinc?
3) Make sure there is zero supplemental copper in your diet, doesn’t matter if it is organic. No additional dietary/ injectable/water copper supplementation.
4) Make sure your diet enables effective calcium and phosphorus absorption.
5) Get started with a half dose early to ensure that you can access the product quickly for when the spore counts hit.
So why do you need a Zinc checklist for 2024? Well, Facial Eczema (FE, Pythomycotoxicosis) has been impacting the NZ grazing industry for over 100 years. As grazing systems intensify so does the impact of the disease. Mainly due to a greater reliance on the host species (rye grass pasture), grazing intensity and the productivity of the animal.
In the early 1970s Gladys Reid demonstrated the effectiveness of super doses of Zinc as a potential cure, or prevention, of the impact of FE. It was largely ignored by the scientific community for about 10 years. However, research in the late 1970s and 1980s demonstrated effective dosing procedures for Zinc, with further work by Munday and his team in the 1980s demonstrating a potential mode of action and then demonstrated that antioxidants can improve the function of Zinc.
FE is an interesting disease. The spores that are ingested are not toxic. They only become toxic after being absorbed into the blood stream of the animal and only after being catalysed into a sporidesmin. This only occurs in the presence of copper, and it is thought that it is likely only in the presence of a copper ion. After the toxic sporidesmin is produced its actions go on to cause cellular damage and the creation of oxidising agents which go on to produce more cellular damage. Much of this damage occurs in the bile duct of the liver, the bile duct is responsible for breaking down chlorophyll. If chlorophyll is not broken down then animals will become photosensitive, which results in the dramatic skin lesions often referred to as eczema.
To be frank, Zinc is a bit of a silver bullet. Especially Zinc Oxide, as long as it is from a reputable company with a strong quality assurance program making sure that there are no contaminants. It is very safe and appears to cause minimal irritation to the cow (unlike Zinc Sulphate). Zinc Oxide has multiple modes of action:
1) Zinc appears to have an affinity for reducing the amounts of spores that cross from gut into the blood.
2) Zinc reduces the amount of copper absorbed, causing a slight copper deficiency, thereby reducing the amount of copper available to catalyse the spore into the toxic sporidesmin.
3) Zinc is a key component of antioxidants which are responsible for repairing the damage caused by FE.
However, it has been shown that there are other antioxidants and minerals that are critical for enhancing the performance of a zinc FE prevention program.
Green pastures are fantastic sources of the key vitamins A and E. Both vitamins are responsible for repair and maintenance of skin and gut linings with vitamin E being the key antioxidant within the cow, and essential for repair of damage. Unfortunately, during FE season the pasture is at its lowest concentration of both of these key vitamins. Also, silage, PKE and any conserved feed is deficient in these vitamins.
Selenium and vitamin D also play a key role in antioxidant health and immunity. HyD, the active vitamin D metabolite featured in Sollus products, is especially important as one of the problems with high levels of Zinc Oxide is the reduction in calcium and phosphorus absorption. This can be seen by an increase in Autumn metabolics when feeding Zinc Oxide. Only HyD can improve the absorption of these two minerals.
For optimum control of FE you need to have a daily feeding system. This can be a feedpad or trailers, but my favourite is an in shed feeding system. It allows for minimum cost feeding of cows, once or twice a day. You can be sure each cow gets access to the product, and you don’t have to worry about the negative impacts of Zinc Sulphate in water causing lesions and reducing water intake.
Unfortunately, the Jersey wonder cow is not any more resistant to FE than any other breed of cow. However, due to her skin colour, especially the black kiwi cross cow, Jersey and Jersey infused cows may show less obvious signs of photosensitivity. This does not mean they are more resistant. In fact, if you wait for signs of FE the damage to your herd and your production will already be done. You should have your FE prevention program underway typically a month before your usual start date. We recommend starting with 50% of your full dose rate of Lactisol Z, this will help to reduce copper absorption, increase antioxidant capacity and have you ready to hit full rate when it is required.
Genetics may help solve the issue in the future. Unfortunately, it does appear that the average cow is becoming less resistant, but selecting FE resistant animals has improved resistance by 20%. You should always cull susceptible animals, especially if you have an effective prevention strategy in place.
So, make sure your target Zinc products fit the checklist and good luck with the year ahead.
Joe McGrath
International News
Jersey Production Surpasses Milestone of 1,000 Pounds Fat
Trends for dairy product consumption are changing, and so is Jersey milk. Production statistics released by the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) show Registered Jerseys are not just yielding more pounds of fluid milk, but more pounds of nutrient-dense fluid milk. Every year, Jersey milk is becoming denser as breeders respond to cues from the market to develop a product that is more often eaten than sipped and increasingly being shipped across the globe as cheese or food ingredients.
The official lactation average for Registered Jerseys is now 20,447 lbs. milk, 1,005 lbs. fat and 765 lbs. protein on a standardized mature equivalent (m.e.) basis. On a Cheddar cheese yield basis (38% moisture), average production is 2,602 lbs. For the third consecutive year, all measures of production are increases over the previous year. The 2022 lactation average is based on 92,400 lactations. As it was in 2021, the average number of lactations per cow stands at 2.32 lactations. Ten years ago, the average number of lactations per cow was 2.44.
As compared to 2021, the new breed average equates to an extra 126 lbs. milk, 10 lbs. fat, 9 lbs. protein, and 28 lbs. cheese yield on an m.e. basis.
While component tests generally decrease as yield increases, this has not been the case with Registered Jersey production over the past several years. Both fat and protein test have increased or held each year over the past four years and today stand at 4.91% for fat and 3.74% for protein.
With these increases come increases in the pounds of product that can be processed from raw Jersey milk. The amount of Cheddar cheese that can be produced from 100 lbs. of Jersey milk is now 12.73 lbs. on a mature equivalent basis, up from 12.67 lbs. in 2021 and 12.4 lbs. in 2013.
Actual production is a new record as well at 18,058 lbs. milk, 889 lbs. fat (4.92%) and 674 lbs. protein (3.73%). Cheese yield is 2,293 lbs. and cheese yield per hundredweight is 12.7 lbs. The marks surpass those of 2021 by 117 lbs. milk, 8 lbs. fat, 9 lbs. protein and 25 lbs. cheese yield.
Expressed as energy corrected milk (ECM), average production for Registered Jerseys is 25,553 lbs. milk m.e. and 22,568 lbs. actual. Respective yield for ECM is up 239 lbs. and 205 lbs. versus 2021.
Based on statistics of the previous 10 years, the breed lactation average is projected to reach 21,259 lbs. milk, 1,058 lbs. fat (4.98%) and 813 bs. protein 3.83%) by 2030. Cheese yield is projected to 2,764 lbs. On an actual basis, production is projected to reach 19,002 lbs. milk, 949 lbs. fat (5.0%) and 722 lbs. protein (3.8%), with a cheese yield of 2,460 lbs. ECM is projected to be 26,871 lbs. m.e. and 24,027 lbs. actual.
Cheese yield per hundredweight is projected to rise to 13 lbs. of product on an m.e. basis and to 12.94 lbs. on an actual basis.
Full article available online at: https://usjerseyjournal.com/jersey-production-surpasses-milestone-of-1000-pounds-fat/
Registrations
Registrations are now underway for 2023 born calves.
Why should I register?
Registering your animals with Jersey New Zealand has always been an important part of our Association and your business.
The many benefits of registering your herd include:
• Registered cattle give more options for how they can be marketed. A registered pedigree herd has a profile through your studname that offers many quality added value opportunities, including brand development.
• Registered cattle give more options for how they can be marketed, on average a registered herd sells $200-$800 per cow above similar herds.
• Registered animals are eligible for programmes administered by Jersey NZ
• Industry good. Your registrations increase the subset of Jersey animals whose data can contribute to the national herd, increasing reliability for education and advocacy purposes.
• Registration is a prerequisite for successful bulls in the genetics industry, most AB companies require young Jersey bulls to be registered in the Jersey Herd Book.
• Higher genetics bulls sold as service sires often attract a premium when registered.
Standing Orders
Leave the hard work to us!
We recommend all members that register join our Standing Order system. Having a registration standing order with JerseyNZ provides you with an automated and streamlined process for registration seasons; allowing for added flexibility and preference selection for your convenience.
The first step involves completing your standing order form indicating your preferences and in which month you will want the process to be initiated. From then on, annually, we will supply you with a report and letter outlining your registration options. Your registrations will then be completed according to the information reported to you and the inclusion/exclusion of animals according to the feedback received in the office from you.
New Member? Jersey Plus Registrations
Are you a new member looking to get your herd registered? Then consider registering your herd through our Jersey Plus programme.
The offer is available to all new members who register their herd before 31 August of the year they join (i.e. for the next Herd Book).
This programme applies to you if you:
• Are a new member with or without a registered Studname/Prefix
• Use the automated ‘Turn Your Herd On’ option to register all current females J12 & over in your herd
• Use either the MINDA/MISTRO naming system or the default naming system
• Sign up to the standing order system to register your calves annually.
Using Jersey Plus ensures a saving of AT LEAST $10.00 PER ANIMAL on any female animal over one year of age.
Want to know more?
Check out www.jersey.org.nz/registrations for more information on
• How to register – online and downloadable forms available
• Male registrations
• Main (pedigree) and Supplementary (grading up)
• Standing Order Process
• Registration prices
• Jersey Plus pricing
• Registration policies and By-Laws
• Naming animals
• Helpful registration hints
Call (07) 856 0731 or e-mail info@jersey.org.nz to find out how to register your Jerseys and which registration options may work best for your herd.
For more on registrations including bulls and the full registration policy, head to www.jersey.org.nz/registration
Jersey Advantage
Rachel Haskew
Our Workstreams
Our work program has ramped up again post calving with key priorities being the Liveweight EV Review, engaging with DairyNZ Climate Change Ambassadors, another round of breed company meetings, and ongoing marketing and breed promotion through a Jerseyland Farm social media launch and a joint marketing strategy with JerseyNZ.
The Jersey story is strong, and the popularity of Jersey cows is increasing around the world because they are more efficient than other breeds. Jerseys have a material advantage in carbon efficiency, replacement rate, better fertility, better feet, legs & mobility, less calving difficulty, mastitis & collapsed udders. With increasing focus on farm profitability, sustainability and efficiency, the case for Jersey genetics has never been stronger and Jersey Advantage is working hard to get this message out to the wider dairy industry. We recently released an online survey asking farmers what’s important to them when it comes to their breeding strategy and testing what they believe to be the most profitable, efficient and sustainable cow.
Farmer morale is low, and the evidence is a high incidence of farms for sale and people leaving the 50/50 sharemilking industry. Better times are ahead with a change to a more business-friendly Government along with an improving milk price. Fonterra may have jumped the gun on sub $7.00/kg MS expectation, and plenty of examination is required into what is milk price and what is company profit. For most farmers, a bucket of milk is a bucket of milk whether it goes into WMP, SMP + AMF, or Cheese.
While Asian demand for Dairy products was fragile, fat prices were holding milk price from complete turmoil. Spot VCR was back at 1:1.3 levels again in favour of fat. At VCR of .75, fat and protein provide the same income streams to farmers because we as an industry produce 1.33 kgs fat for every kg of protein. A VCR of 1:1 fat provides around 57% of milk income and protein 43%. In the USA today, dairy farmers are getting close to 80% of their milk income from fat revenue.
From the Commercial Influence Committee
It’s a busy time of year on farm with calving and mating and that draws committee members time, however the key areas
Commercial Influence has been working on over the past few months are as follows.
A 6 monthly catch up with the LIC sire selection team of Simon Worth, Danie Swart and Malcolm Ellis. Jersey semen use continues to sit around the 15% mark for the LIC business and this has resulted in the bull selection numbers reducing to 30 per year with an additional 6-8 bulls potentially proven through the Jersey Future programme.
We are in the middle of a review of the figures included in the liveweight EV’s for the BW model. Liveweight accounts for around 15% of the BW model and is an important driver of efficiency in the national herd. It is therefore vital the cost of feeding and maintaining a cow are reflective of what is happening in reality. Farm inflation, according to AgFirst, has been running at over 10% for the past two seasons and feed costs make up over 30% of farm working expenses. Jersey Advantage will push hard to ensure the BW model is picking up the true cost of feed maintenance and milk production.
Fonterra has announced a review of its milk pricing model. This is partially a result of our failed bid to have capital costs reinstated into the volume charge after it was removed along with the capacity adjustment. Jerey Advantage is yet to see the terms of the review but has been invited by Fonterra to be involved in the review process. Given we live in a world focused on carbon footprint the advantage for a milk company collecting milk with 10% MS vs 7.5% MS needs to be given an economic reward. We will continue to make this argument even if common sense failed the first time around.
As an interesting fact to note, fat prices continue to hold up milk price during the current pay out drop and analysis by former Fonterra director Earl Rattray shows fat has increased in real terms over the past 22 years whereas the value of protein has only held steady. During high price cycles consumers can easily substitute milk protein for other protein products. High fat values are here to stay.
From the Environment Committee
Jersey Advantage understands in Europe and the USA, climate change and emissions issues are trumping animal welfare as the area of most concern for governments and consumers and this may take some heat out of the non-replacement calf conversation in the short term. A focus on climate change has benefits for the Jersey breed as it is the lowest emitter of green-house gases per kg liveweight, per kg dry matter eaten and per kg of milk solids, by a significant margin. Also, the milk produced results in less GHGs from transport and processing.
We estimate by converting to smaller Jersey cows, on farm GHG emissions will decrease by at least 10%. And by doing this, the number of tankers (truck and trailer units) required to cart that milk to the processing plant is 7 fewer/100,000kg of milk solids compared with predominantly Friesian milk.
Jersey Advantage is pushing this message with Fonterra by engaging with Dairy Trust Taranaki who are on a 10-year plan to net zero emissions at one of its research farms (Kavanagh Farm) and we’re also starting to engage with DairyNZ Climate Change Ambassadors through the Dairy Environment Leaders group. Jersey Advantage’s promotional work is also pushing this message via Facebook and Instagram and we have written articles on the topic that appear on the Jersey Advantage website such as ‘Lowering emissions without decreasing production or profit’.
Jerseyland Farm on Socials
Jersey Advantage and JerseyNZ are launching a joint initiative to give Jerseyland Farm a social media platform, develop an online audience and showcase what’s happening on the farm throughout the season. We’re proud of what Jerseyland is and we’d like to share more about how the season’s tracking, the day-to-day activities, and the on-farm team. A similar initiative has been undertaken with social media at Donald’s farm (NZ Young Farmers) and this has paved the way for commercial companies to donate goods and services to the farm. It’s a good opportunity to try and create something similar for Jerseyland.
In 2024, the Jersey Advantage team is looking forward to joining Jersey NZ members for conference in Rotorua and also collaborating with Link Livestock and Jersey NZ again for Fieldays 2024.
Welcome to new Trustee, Luke Beehre
Jersey Advantage welcomes a new Trustee, Luke Beehre, to the board. Luke brings a passion for Jersey, a fresh perspective and adds diversity to the governance conversation. Luke & Lyna own a dairy farm in Northland that until 18 months ago was home to the Okura Jersey Stud. They have a fine record of breeding some of NZ’s best genetics. Luke brings commercial expertise and leadership through previous experience in banking and Fonterra and is taking on some leadership responsibilities in JA. Luke has a background in agricultural project management & programme delivery, finance, governance and farming. He is currently leading the
Tututupu Grow Northland primary sector strategy for Northland Inc – the regional economic development agency. We wish Luke all the best in his new trustee role and know he will make a valued contribution.
Welcome to Phil Brewster – Little River Jerseys
The Jersey Advantage Commercial Influence Committee has welcomed Phillip Brewster from Little River Jerseys to our team. Phillip is a Director of Matriarch genetics and provides a good link between the two groups and has a good understanding of what is happening in the genetic progress space. Phil, his wife Janna and their 2 teenage boys 50/50 share milk and are equity partners on his family farm on the Hauraki Plains.
They have a herd of 340 predominantly Jersey cows because their size, heat tolerance and efficiency make Jerseys naturally suited to the climate and soils of the Hauraki Plains. He has spent several years on the JerseyNZ Governance Development Programme and believes Jerseys have an important role to play in the future of NZs dairy industry with the challenges dairy farmers face.
Are you passionate about the Jersey Breed, come and join one of our committees!
We’re looking for a couple of passionate, committed people to join our committees. The time commitment is manageable with your on-farm commitments as we have monthly Zoom meetings and attendance at
industry meetings for some of the team. If you’re interested in getting involved, get in touch with Rachel, rachel@ jerseyadvantage.co.nz
Thanks to Derek and Faye Black
We would like to express a special thanks to Derek and Faye Black for a significant and generous donation to both Jersey Advantage and JerseyNZ. Jersey Advantage is grateful for the ongoing support through farmer donations that keep the team employed and our work program going. Sincere and gracious thanks to Derek and Faye.
Special Acknowledgment to Richard Gibson
Jersey Advantage acknowledges the passing of founding Trustee, Richard Gibson. Right from the initial Jersey Advantage concept, Richard was a staunch supporter of crystallising the commercial aspects of Jerseydom. Richard & Joy were key donors and this allowed the emergence of Jerseyland Farms Ltd, they are also direct shareholders in Jerseyland Farms itself. Richard always had a nice balance between the detail of breeding superior Jersey cattle and understanding the commercial realities. We would like to offer our sincere condolences to Joy and family, Richard’s contribution to Jersey was immense and he will be missed.
Jersey Advantage Finances
September Bull Sale Fundraiser
Jersey Advantage ran a successful bull fundraiser through the bull sale season, and we want to thank the farmers who generously donated the proceeds of a bull sold in their local or national Jersey Bull sales. Thanks to Roger and Glenys Ellison (Koromatua), Warren and Louise Berry (Te Awamutu), Evan and Shirleen Smeath (Northland), Mark and Dianne Townshend (Hauraki Plains) and Lynrich Jerseys – The Lansdaal Family (Morrinsville/Cambridge).
Jersey Advantage will always be looking for additional funds. Our marketing spend is still light. We urgently need to be able promote the economic advantages of Jerseys. There are three very demonstratable and undeniable facts that apply to breed financial viability 101.
• Jerseys produce 8-9% more MS per unit of feed (+2% protein and +13% fat).
• Jerseys lose 25% of that production advantage through lower cull and non-replacement calf proceeds.
• Jerseys lose a further 25% of that advantage through the fixed cost of carrying more cows per ha.
• This leaves a +4% gross margin for Jerseys vs Holstein Friesian and a significant +10% net margin after fixed costs and mortgage interest. This is a massive breed advantage!
We want to increase our revenue streams to be able to carry out more ambitious breed promotion. Currently $50-100k pa is achievable from the Jersey Advantage investment in Jerseyland farms. Another $30k will come via contribution from Jersey NZ subject to their own financial position.
Bequeaths
Jersey Advantage will over the next year or two touch people for bequeath contributions to advance the investments of Jersey Advantage. Successful farmers have significant estates. For those whose prosperity has been underpinned by the Jersey cow they may wish to consider how much is enough for family, and whether 5-10% of their estate could be channelled towards Jersey Advantage. Building the Jerseyland farms concept to 500,000 MS would mean another $250k pa which could be channelled into Jersey research and marketing.
Support Jersey Advantage
Jersey Advantage is a not-for-profit organisation, founded and funded by farmers to promote the economic, environmental and animal welfare benefits of the Jersey breed.
To support us through the donation of a cull cow or cash donation please email louise@ jerseyadvantage.co.nz or click the Contact Us link on our website – jerseyadvantage.co.nz
Murray Harnett Challenge Trophy
Young Judge Competition
Held annually at the NZ Dairy Event in late January, this Young Judge Competition is open for Jersey NZ members up to 30 years of age. The first two placegetters each year will go on to represent Jersey NZ in the World Wide Sires All Breeds Young Judge competition.
Contact pgoodin@jersey.org.nz by 20 December to enter the 2024 Challenge
NZAEL Update
by Andrew Fear
Upcoming changes to BW
In the December animal evaluation (AE) run, NZAEL (New Zealand Animal Evaluation Limited) will be implementing two key improvements that might change your animal’s BW. The Economic Values undergo an annual update, and a new Fertility Breeding Value (BV) will be implemented. These two changes have been developed in consultation with breeding companies, farmers, and industry experts to ensure you have the most accurate values to make informed breeding decisions.
Fertility
In December NZAEL will implement a new conception-based fertility breeding value (BV). The updated Fertility BV will use Pregnancy Rate (PR42) to replace Calving Rate (CR42) as the target trait under selection. The pregnancy rate (PR42) represents the proportion of an animal’s offspring expected to become pregnant within the first 6 weeks of mating.
The new Fertility BV will cause re-ranking among cows and bulls, but the new ranking will be more accurate than what we currently publish. The new fertility breeding values are also better at predicting whether a cow will be culled for fertility, compared to the current fertility BV.
Pregnancy rate will initially be calculated from an animal’s calving date to confirm successful mating, but moving forward NZAEL hopes to be able to integrate pregnancy test data.
Economic values
The Economic Values (EV) update occurs annually. This year’s update includes revision of the economic information within the model and several other improvements. These changes result in a less complex model, which is easier to communicate, while still providing accurate EV’s.
To better reflect actual feed costs, a structural change was made to the model which now estimates feed price relative to milk price. This change means there is a close relationship between milk price and feed price which is more reflective of what occurs in the dairy industry than the previous model.
The model now consistently uses the last 5 years average as the basis for its calculations, whereas it previously used a mix of the last 5 years and the last 4 years and a forecast year. This change creates a more stable model with closer alignment of costs and revenue and is more accurate in times of higher inflation. Most of the changes to the Economic Values are driven by a routine update to the overall milk price and the relative value of fat to protein (value component ration or VCR).
The five-year VCR average moves from 1.09 to 0.91 (-16%) which is likely to re-rank animals as protein becomes more valuable than fat. Those animals who produce higher protein and milk volume will be rewarded.
You can read more about the Economic Values at https://www.dairynz.co.nz/animal/breeding-decisions/ economic-values/
NZAEL is a subsidiary of DairyNZ, which manages the national breeding objective for New Zealand dairy cows. It aims to develop, promote and deliver independent, state of the art animal evaluation technologies that advance genetic improvement in the national dairy herd.
Champion Butterfat Bull
Cliff Shearer
The designation C.B.B. after a bulls name was in my opinion that greatest accolade any bull could receive. Only used in New Zealand for a couple of decades, in 1925 there were just eight bulls that qualified. Of course in 1925 herd testing was just getting started and very few cows were tested which explains why so few bulls received the title.
By 1935 the number had increased to 28 sires. And by 1948 after which it was no longer used there were 106 C.B.B. Jersey bulls in New Zealand. The 1948 list includes all the great bulls - most of which made their name for type but also had great production, truly being Champion bulls.
Brampton Dreaming Sam, Bindle Royal Hope, Clarion, Ku Ku Bonny Owler, Lobelia Palatine Sultan, Oddicombe Dreaming Sam, Owler of Puketapu, Oxford Beaus Combination, Peggys Squire, Sproston Omen, Vagabond of Oaklands and Viola’s Golden Laddie. All names to conjure with in the pre AB days. Most qualified with all their daughters in just one herd. Many of the named sires were imported to New Zealand from Jersey Island, USA and Canada.
The two photos show the different qualifying rules for C.B.B. between 1925 and 1948. I imagine it was getting to be a lot of work in the pre computer days. Every year in the ‘’ Advanced register of Merit “ books as well as the CBB bulls they listed all bulls having six or more daughters producing over 100 lb of butterfat above their age standard. By 1948 this list was over 400 sires and climbing. In 1925 the NZJCBA also published a list of all bulls having six or more daughters that were COR test - no production requirements. Sultans Disdain had 40 tested daughters and Eminents Fontaine had 38, the two with the most.
Since then we had “Merit Sire “ used for a while and “Superior Sire “ used for a few years but nothing today. Most of the world has used different titles to show the most highly regarded bulls in their country but I think being called a Champion Butterfat Bull is the greatest there has ever been. Its a pity we can’t do things like this these days.
Jersey NZ Farm Signs
Hang it like the Lansdaal’s, screw it to a fence, smack it in your shed, or jimmy up a light display from the electric fence and flash everyone who drives past.
Single Sided = $150.00 excl gst
Double Sided = $200.00 excl gst Delivery on farm additional POA To order email info@jersey.org.nz
PURIRI JERSEYS
Wilson Farms
TE WAIU JERSEYS
J & N Guy
Rotorua 14-16 May 2024
Annual Conference 2024
Prepare to embark on a Conference like no other in the tourist capital of New Zealand – Rotorua. 2024 promises to be a celebration of knowledge, inspiration and a focus on the future.
Planning is well underway for an impressive lineup of fun activities, inspiring keynote speakers and the much-anticipated annual Jersey Pride sale.
Rotorua, famous for its geothermal wonders and Maori culture, will provide attendees with a variety of activities catered to all levels of interests, all while soaking in the stunning landscape and culture of the region.
As always, a highlight for Jersey breeders across the country is the Annual Jersey Pride sale with the sale of high-quality Jersey cattle being showcased and auctioned.
As we begin to say goodbye to 2023, our 2024 Conference is sure to appeal to Jersey members of all ages. So, mark your calendar and look forward to more details in the coming months.
If you are keen to be part of the Conference Committee who are involved in the planning of the Conference, please get in touch with the office – info@jersey.org.nz or 07 856 0731
Link LivestockLTD Update
Declan recently joined the Link Livestock team in the North Waikato / South Auckland region
Hi, my name is Declan Rocke and I’ve recently joined the Link Livestock Team.
Born and raised on a farm in Ireland, I started my career as a dairy assistant in the UK over ten years ago, moving to New Zealand in 2014 where I progressed from 2IC, to Herd Manager and onto Farm Manager. I took the plunge into contract milking in 2018, and today I’m in my second season low order share milking on an autumn calving farm in Pukekohe, I also do an AB run in the spring with LIC. As you can tell I’m not one for standing still, I’m a very driven individual with a passion for the farming industry.
My grandfather was a cattle dealer, and I have traded livestock as long as I can remember, always as a hobby and at times my full-time income. Becoming a stock agent has been an aspiration of mine for some years now, with some help on the farm I now have the time to follow that passion.
I live on farm in Pukekohe with my wife and our two-year old daughter. When I’m not on the farm you will likely find me out fishing, spending time with the family or enjoying a social with the lads.
I look forward to getting out in my local area and doing business with you all.
Link Update
Hello to you all, I hope your spring is going okay, considering what sounds like a nationwide theme of very changeable weather, patchy grass growth & challenging inflation & commodity prices! The LINK team have been busy sourcing service bulls for our clients heifers and herds. Bull prices seem to be similar to last year, however Jersey yearling bulls have been challenging enough to find.
Link have held a couple of In-Milk Auctions, which sold to expectations, with good demand for in milk cows pre mating.
Link have already contracted sale groups for May/ June 2024 delivery, and we are always keen for Herd Listings, so if you or someone you know are thinking of selling/auctioning a herd, feel free to contact myself or any of the team to discuss options.
All the best for your mating & late spring.
Stewart Cruickshank | 027 270 5288 scruickshank@linklivestock.co.nz
JerseyNZ and Link Livestock Ltd form Limited Liability Partnership
The Board of JerseyNZ advises members that effective from 1 February 2024 a Limited Liability Partnership will be established with Link Livestock as the General Partner and NZ Jersey Cattle Breeders Assn (Inc) trading as JerseyNZ as the Special Partner. The aim of this partnership is to extend the tax-exempt status of JerseyNZ to any dividend received from Link Livestock.
Link Livestock Ltd will change to CattleLink Limited Liability Partnership trading as Link Livestock. There will be no material change for JerseyNZ. The formation of the Limited Liability Partnership does not require any constitution or by-law changes, and the accounts of JerseyNZ will continue to be audited annually. There will no change to the governance structure of either JerseyNZ or Link Livestock.
What is a Limited Liability Partnership?
by David Waine, Matley Ltd
A Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) was a business structure created as a way of allowing a silent partner invest into a business minimizing risk and an active partner undertaking the day-to-day operations. Rather than operating by a company structure which has specific rules around distributions, LLPs give flexibility for capital investment & returns to the Limited Partner, but limits their risk to the General Partner.
So the question that arises is what is the difference between a company and a limited liability partnership? A company is a structure that has shares issued and those shares are limited up to the value of the share capital. However, getting profits out of a company can prove to be difficult. The first option is to take it by way of a declared salary through to a company, but this doesn’t work when you have incorporated societies owning shares. So the only other way to take money out is by way of a dividend.
With Jersey NZ having tax-exempt status, this means that if any dividends are paid, the imputation credits attached to those dividends are forfeited and effectively “lost” within the tax system. This creates an inequality within the tax system that was never contemplated by Parliament.
LLPs are like ordinary partnerships and are governed by a partnership Deed. The partnership deed lists how the profits of the partnership are going to be paid to the individual partners, the rights and obligation of each partner, and what each partner gets on the dissolution of the partnership. The limitations of ordinary partnerships, is that each partner is joint and severally responsible for the others actions. This limitation is removed in an LLP as the Limited partner enjoys the same protection as a shareholder does in that they are not liable for the actions of the General Partner.
The Board of Jersey NZ has been considering what the best option is moving forward for its investment in Link Livestock, and this is where the LLP has been considered the best investment vehicle. It limits the risk for Jersey NZ but allows a tax efficient transfer of profits to assist in the objectives of Jersey NZ.
What does that mean from a day-to-day basis for the members? Effectively, nothing changes apart from a new entity is created and a new bank account is opened. The LLP will continue to trade as Link Livestock did. The difference in the structure is that any profits that are generated from the new LLP can then be transferred through to Jersey NZ, with Jersey NZ dealing with the tax rather than Link Livestock. As Jersey NZ has tax-exempt status, this means that the full revenues generated from the trading activities can be transferred through in a tax-efficient way to Jersey NZ to enable it to support its breeding objectives.
Like companies, the investment by Jersey NZ is treated as being the only exposure to risk. The day-to-day liability and operational risk would sit with the general partner being Link Livestock. Therefore, we have a structure that gives the legal protection to the members, but at the same time allows maximize revenue to the Society to further develop its activities.
A LLP structure is one that gives flexibility for distribution of income to further activities but at the same time provides protection which you also get within the company. It is basically the best of both worlds giving limited liability but at the same time providing a tax-efficient structure for Jersey NZ to move forward.
Have an opinion on the current industry movement?
Jersey NZ invite members to share their thoughts in the “In My Opinion” segment.
Discuss relevant thoughts regarding the Dairy Industry, Breeding and Genetics, Life as a Farmer or anything else that pops into mind.
Send at any time to: info@jersey.org.nz
Opinions expressed by editorial contributors or claims made in advertisements are not necessarily those of The Jersey FOCUS, General Manager and Board of Jersey NZ.
David Waine
Jerseyland Farms Update
by Julie Pirie
As the saying goes, misfortune comes in threes, and that has been the case this season for Jerseyland Farms. The start of the season looked promising, with the farm fully staffed, the cows in better condition than previous, and plenty of grass.
2023 will no doubt go down in meteorological history as being one of the most challenging weather years, and Southland had more than its fair share of rain. This has been mostly handled well, but the extreme downpour of 20-22 September was too much for the stopbanks on Jerseyland Farms, and a significant area of the farm went under.
While this caused stress, it was not unexpected. We knew the farm flooded, and were able to negotiate a good purchase price for the farm based on that. What has been encouraging is the way the farm and cows bounced back. The herd missed one milking as the shed wasn’t accessible.
The second blow for the farm has come in terms of staffing. Dyllan and Rachel operate a great team environment, but personal circumstances meant they have lost the valuable skills of their second in charge. A blow for them, but the farms location and facilities should mean recruitment of a replacement won’t be too difficult.
The third blow was very unexpected. After two pregnancy tests
UPDATE AS OF 31 OCTOBER 2023:
Rodney, Pete and I visited the farm 31 October. It was good to catch up with Dyllan and Rachel, and meet their new staff member, Paul. The farm and cows were looking very good. Dyllan has been really pleased with the number of cows submitted for AB so far. Tail paint and scratches are being used.
The weather was warm and sunny, the locals told me the grass grows at 150kgDM per day on these sort of days. Silage has already been made, and with the grass growing quickly, more will need to be made to maintain grass quality. Dyllan and Rachel have found, despite the floods, the season has been easier this year. Less metabolic issues and cow deaths have meant far less stress. It was very reassuring visit.
At this stage if the promised weather continues, the cows and pastures are in a good state to help gain some of the lost production back.
in autumn it was a shock to find around 30 cows not calved on their due date. The plan was to calve down around 640 cows, an increase of around 30 on last year. Having wintered cows that won’t calve is expensive. We have been able to find 20 Jersey in-milk cows to replace some of these.
There has been a very conscious effort to keep costs to bare minimum. The flood and empty cows have been a blow to production, with the farm currently 7,350 kgMS behind last year. The Board has made some changes around financing, with capital notes reducing the need for overdraft.
Management and the Board are very conscious of the responsibility to deliver a good outcome. The financial situation is being carefully monitored in order to keep the focus on returning dividends to the investors. Dyllan, Rachel, Pete and the team are working together to make the best of a tough start and ensure that opportunities to make profitable and productive gains are pursued.
The Board is pleased to have a team on board that maintains a high level of optimism and enthusiasm despite a tough start.
-Jerseyland Farms Investors
JerseyNZ gratefully acknowledges the following members who have supported the Jersey NZ investment in Jerseyland Farms through a donation and/or the provision of an interest free loan to Jersey NZ.
Pirie Farms Ltd
Fyvie Meadows Ltd
Lower Waikato Jersey Club
R & G Ellison
Lynbrook Farm Ltd
Goreland Partnership
Te Awamutu Jersey Club
R & E Riddell
E & S Smeath
R H & J Potts
P & S Ingram
Ede Investments Ltd
BULL PROFILE:
STARLORD AB Code: 320727
The Complete Package
As an A2A2 Beta-Casein and BB Kappa-Casein sire, 7JE1726
STARLORD offers type (+1.20) udders (+10.80 JUI), great fertility traits (+1.2 DPR, +2.1 HCR, +1.8 CCR) and harbours the Mastitis Resistance designation to bring the complete package to Jersey enthusiasts! According to Marc Bolen, Select Sires Inc. Dairy Sire Marketing Coordinator, “STARLORD is from a deep maternal line of VG cows with the great production synonymous with Ahlem Farms Partnership in Himar, California”.
STARLORD being the #2 CRAZE son in the breed, behind stable mate 14JE1762 CASTRO, injects the famous Pleasant Nook F Prize Circus family into the pedigree, unsurprisingly siring daughters with great udders which improve over
successive lactations. Offering the right balance of dairyness and strength, STARLORD consistently produces trouble-free, long-lasting cows which milk freely out of longer, well set teats. Combine that with production, fertility and exceptional health traits it’s easy to see why producers are going back and using him.
At 401 BPI and +110 for mammary in Australia he’s one of the top selling Jersey bulls in the market – like 7JE01344 MATT, 7JE01219 OLIVER-P and 7JE01038 VALENTINO before him. Watch out for STARLORD as he continues to make himself a household name within the Jersey breed in Australasia!
CONDITIONS FOR APPLYING FOR THE HALL OF FAME
• Any cow that has been registered with JerseyNZ is eligible for nomination (current or historic)
• JerseyNZ will appoint three Judges annually to consider nominations, these judges will be selected from a cross-section of JerseyNZ membership
• 5 finalists will be chosen and announced via e-mail, website and Facebook prior to Annual Conference
• Up to 2 cows will be inducted annually into the JerseyNZ Female Hall of Fame at the Annual Conference Awards Night. This presentation will highlight the inductees and their accomplishments
• Nomination reasons may include (but are not restricted to) high index; outstanding progeny; on farm results; show results; great cow family; any other accomplishment worthy of consideration.
• Any nomination will stay active for the next two years if the cow is not inducted into the Hall of Fame within that time
• Members do not need to be the owner of a cow to nominate her
Entry has been extended to the 1st of February annually for presentation at the Annual Conference 2024. The Hall of Fame will be maintained on the website with photos and brief citations for each inductee. Get your thinking cap on now and get your nomination in!
Entry Form can be found at: https://www.jersey.org.nz/jersey-hall-of-fame/
FOLLYS VIYELLA
NOMINATED
FERGUSON
JerseyNZ Governance Development Programme
by Alison Gibb
We have just completed our first year under the new structure and have found it to be very beneficial. Not only have we had some very interesting and inspiring discussions but have been privileged to have had some key industry players present to us.
The year began with the process of interviewing the new candidates to the programme, Megan Thomas, Sara Russell and Wayne Hofmann. Although they had already been accepted, it was explained that the interview process was part of the training and the existing members, Abbey Stantiall and Dave Ackerman did the interviewing.
Our first topic was “What is Governance?”. Managing Director of CRV, Mr James Smallwood and General Manager of JerseyNZ, Pam Goodin, joined the meeting where it became very apparent that while there is no one clear definition of governance, there are many common themes such as: “Big Picture” thinking, thinking strategically rather than operationally, Financial and Risk management, developing effective processes and developing a good culture for an organization/business.
Unfortunately, illness and unavailability interfered with our July meeting, but we were finally able to connect in early September to look at Strategic Planning. To begin the session, we watched a YouTube video of Simon Sinek – Start with Why? If you know your why then it much easier to decide where
your organisation is heading, what will it look like in 5-10 years’ time and to develop the steps to get there. CEO of LIC, Mr David Chin presented a very thoughtprovoking power point and shared real-life experiences of strategic planning.
Our final training session for the year will be the topic of Diversity. What is diversity on a board and why is it needed? There are the obvious factors to consider such as age, gender, cultural and educational backgrounds but there are also the less tangible factors such as life experience and personal attitudes and personalities.
The JerseyNZ Governance Development Programme would like to take the opportunity to thank our industry speakers for freely sharing with us their insights, experiences and thoughts and above all, their valuable time. It is very much appreciated.
This programme would not be possible without the financial support and encouragement of the JerseyNZ board, and we would like to acknowledge this generosity.
At the end of each year we open up applications so if this programme is of interest to you then contact Pam Goodin, General Manager for more information.
Students get hands-on with dairy’s ‘grass to glass’ story
A dairy farm on the outskirts of New Zealand’s largest city is also an outdoor classroom for future generations of farmers.
Running Donald’s Farm on the edge of New Zealand’s largest city allows an Auckland farmer to operate one of the country’s most unusual dairy businesses.
Owned by NZ Young Farmers (NZYF), the 63ha effective farm in Whitford is managed by Sam Waugh. It acts as both a commercial dairy farm and as an educational hub for Auckland schoolchildren to visit in order to learn about the primary sector.
For Waugh, it means combining conventional day-to-day farming with a de facto teacher’s role.
It’s a challenge he relishes.
“We don’t know of any other farm in New Zealand that’s trying to do what we do. Being so close to the city and being able to work alongside urban schools to bring kids out to a whole other world is quite a unique opportunity,” he says.
It gives him, wife Liana and son Albie an insight into living and operating a dairy farm on Auckland’s fringe that few have.
“I grew up in Manawatū and then spent most of my time after school in Canterbury. I never thought I would be living, let alone farming, in Auckland. It was never on my radar.
“Farming here has its challenges but it’s quite a unique location where you are just far enough away that you still feel like you are not in the city but we are close enough that it’s very relatable for the urban population when they do come out.”
He has a view of arguably Auckland’s most recognisable landmark out of his living room window.
“It’s quite interesting waking up every day and looking at the Sky Tower as a farmer.”
It’s also given cause for him to reflect on the so-called urban-rural divide between farmers and the urban population.
Sam Waugh and wife Liana with son Albie and one of the friendly cows
“You don’t know what you don’t know and the people visiting the farm have very rarely had the opportunity to talk to a farmer, let alone come out to a farm.
“Their knowledge isn’t there because they don’t know what they don’t know. Sometimes in the rural sector, we see the divide as a problem. I don’t see it as a divide, it’s a misunderstanding or a lack of knowledge.”
That misunderstanding also goes both ways and he questions whether farmers truly understand the needs of urban populations.
“For me, one of the things I really like about this job is being able to walk the line between the two and help bridge that understanding and knowledge.”
The 74ha farm has 11ha of retired areas and native bush, milking a 120-cow self-contained herd of mostly Jersey cows along with a small number of milking shorthorn, a legacy of the late Donald Pearson, the farm’s former owner.
He bequeathed the farm to New Zealand Young Farmers in 2018.
The generosity of Pearson’s gesture, given the land value of the farm because of its location, is not lost on Waugh.
He says Pearson was approached numerous times over the years by developers who wanted to turn the farm into lifestyle blocks.
“He was adamant that it’s not what he wanted and it’s very much a strong part of our identity and how we operate.”
Pearson knew that the understanding and knowledge of farming and how food is produced was diminishing within NZ’s urban population. He believed his farm could be used to help turn this trend around.
“It was Donald’s wish that the farm remain as an operational farm and that it be used to connect communities with farming,” Waugh says.
It’s a commercial farm, but its focus is split between profitability and education, with the farm used as an outdoor classroom for schoolchildren.
“His focus for the farm was connecting communities with
farming and that’s what we’re starting to develop,” Waugh says.
“What we would like to do long term is to have around 5000 students a year on the farm and connect with students multiple times during their schooling, from primary into secondary and potentially into tertiary. Currently, our focus is on the primary and secondary age groups.”
He is in his third season running the farm. It is a sole position apart from a relief worker who covers for him on his days off.
After leaving university, Waugh worked as a farm consultant in Canterbury while also sitting on the NZYF national board.
It was during this time that Pearson first began discussions with the organisation around donating his farm. However, for Sam and Liana an OE beckoned and the couple spent the next couple of years in the United Kingdom.
He had kept in touch with the board over the course of his travels and knew about the bequeathal. While on a trip home to NZ for a wedding he was interviewed for the manager’s job.
In the background of all of this was the covid-19 pandemic. Waugh initially turned down the job to travel more, but once the scale of the pandemic became clear, Sam and Liana changed their plans and moved back to NZ.
The position was still open and Sam was hired.
NZYF set up the farm as a not-for-profit entity and as a wholly owned subsidiary with a board of directors chaired by Hauraki Plains farmer Julie Pirie.
Waugh and the board meet bi-monthly for a catchup, and he will speak informally with Pirie about farm matters about once every two weeks.
The day-to-day management is largely left to Waugh.
NZYF undertook development work following the bequeathal. Pearson had kept the farm in immaculate condition, but as he had grown older and unable to complete some of farming’s more physical tasks, areas of the farm had become rundown.
It coincided with tighter regulations around milk temperatures and effluent storage, prompting the NZYF board to improve the farm’s chiller unit in the dairy shed and upgrade its effluent system with a new lined pond installed in 2019. It has 90 days of storage.
Plans are underway to improve the farm’s raceway so it can handle buses for school visits, and to construct a new building that will act as an educational centre during those visits.
Schoolchildren visited Donald’s Farm late last year and were shown what goes on behind the farm gate
A lot of the older pine and macrocarpa trees in the farm’s gullies have been harvested. The land will be re-fenced and riparian planted.
Running through the farm are two tributary waterways that feed into the Papakura stream. Fences alongside these waterways have been replaced with a 5m buffer that will be planted in natives. A 2.8ha block and a 0.5ha block of native bush on the farm have been retired and will be extended over time.
“One of our key goals is around water quality and we would like to make sure it’s at a drinkable state when it leaves the farm,” Waugh says.
It will also be an educational focal point for the school visits.
The herd is milked twice a day through spring before switching to once-a-day in mid-December when the summer dry sets in.
“We have a very heavy clay soil that gets very wet in the winter and when its gets hot in the summer it gets very dry and it presents some challenges.
“The reason for once-a-day is threefold. It protects us if it does get very dry, frees me up so I can do more maintenance and development work around the farm as well as the allowing more time for the educational workload. Over the summer and autumn months we’ll try and do a lot more of our visits.”
To supplement the pasture, around 10ha of chicory is used as a summer feed crop and a small amount of meal is also brought in. Waugh also tries to get at least one cut of baleage through spring to feed out.
“Chicory is a big tool for us in summer, which helps us extend the round and provide a really high-quality feed over the drier months.”
Waugh says one of his main focuses since becoming manager is pasture renewal.
“In the autumn we’ll re-sow the chicory into new grass and in the last couple of seasons, with that chicory coming out, we
have started to get a fair bit of new grass in. We have seen some good gains from that and it’s making a big difference in our production.”
Last season the farm produced 36,942kg milk solids and this season is aiming for 37,000kg MS. At this stage, production is slightly ahead of target.
The farm’s soil type and pasture variability are reflected in its low stocking rate and while it can create challenges through spring, it also ensures the herd is well fed and in top condition.
Calving starts on July 10 and Sam keeps 30 replacement calves and approximately 20 bull calves to 100kg, which are then sold at the saleyards.
Over winter, he on-off grazes the cows by housing the herd in an open barn to protect the paddocks from pugging during wet periods. He also uses the housing in the summer to get the cows into the shade and prevent overgrazing the paddocks.
The low input focus means the farm operates as a System 1 to 2, depending on the season, with pasture utilisation being the main focus. If the season does turn dry over summer, he does have options to increase inputs to ensure the cows maintain condition via in-shed feeding.
He starts drying off the herd in late March-early May, staging it based on cow condition and when the cow is due to calve.
He runs the heifers separately from the older cows so he can show schoolchildren how these younger cows transition from calf to being a milking cow.
Calving starts on July 10 and he keeps 30 replacement calves and approximately 20 bull calves to 100kg, which are then sold at the saleyards.
The herd is also using Allflex collars for the first time as a tool for heat detection and animal health data. Mating begins on October 1 and runs for 10 weeks. He does AI for the first five weeks then the bull is run with the herd for a further five weeks.
The herd is milked twice a day through spring before switching to once-a-day in mid-December when the summer dry sets in. Sam in the milking shed during afternoon milking.
However, with the cows now having collars, he may review their mating plan and do AI for the entire 10 weeks. He uses LIC’s Forward Pack semen on his cows with an emphasis on keeping the herd Jersey-based. The breed is also favoured because it performs well on the farm’s rolling to steep terrain.
Waugh hosted his first large group of schoolchildren just before Christmas with students from Manurewa and Papakura high schools visiting.
All of the two schools’ year nine students came to the farm –70-80 students a day over two weeks.
He says the plan is for the educational programme to dovetail into contextualised learning resources.
“We are wanting to build resources using Donald’s Farm as the context so students will come out to the farm to see what we are doing and learn about farming. Then when they’re back in the classroom they’re using data/information from the farm to base their learning on, helping them to relate to it a lot better.
“They can use farming and use food as the context for their learning and that is definitely a goal we have going forward.”
The students were split into three groups during the visit. One group went on a farm tour to learn the “grass to glass” story of dairy as well as how the industry tries to mitigate its environmental footprint.
Another did practical activities developed by Horticulture NZ and the Arborists Association, teaching the students about seeds, plant growth, tree climbing and forestry. There was also a session focusing on machinery and how it is used on the farm.
The final part of the day has the students taking part in an exercise where five role models dressed in mufti clothing get asked 10 questions from the students.
The models then leave to get changed into their work clothing and while they are changing, the students have to guess what jobs they do.
Once changed, they explain their jobs to the students.
Waugh says they tried to get a broad spectrum of people from across the primary sector including people from Fonterra, a sheep and beef farmer, forestry, biosecurity and fishery officers, a tree nursery worker and someone from the horse-racing industry, plus many more.
“In total, we had 32 organisations involved over the two weeks from those within the primary industries through to the tertiary education commission.”
Overall, it all went a lot better than he had expected.
“We’ve had a lot of very positive feedback from all people – the role models, the teachers and the students. There was a lot of engagement from the students, a lot more than we were expecting, with Papakura High School reporting higher levels of school attendance the days the students were coming out to the farm.”
That feedback will be used to improve the programme for this year.
Waugh estimates that about 95% of the students had city backgrounds. Around 40% of the Manurewa High School students had been to a farm before, and 50-60% from Papakura High School.
There was a range of farming knowledge among the students. Most, for example, did not realise cows had to be pregnant or have recently given birth to produce milk, he says.
“But that’s what we’re trying to do. Bring that [knowledge] level up among the urban population.”
Sitting alongside the school visits are a small cluster of other educational projects. These include a trades academy and a calf club programme.
Waugh also works with Nature’s Den, a programme that sees 15-20 primary school children visit the farm and base themselves on the farm’s bush block to spend the day on outdoor learning.
“The overall concept of the farm is it to be an outdoor classroom for students of all ages,” he says.
That could one day see students in a science class take topics studied in the classroom outside for practical learning, he says.
NZYF helped him organise the day along with people from the Tertiary Education Commission and Ministry for Primary Industries.
“The plan long term is we would like to employ someone to be able to free up my time to develop and organise the educational aspect of the farm.”
Students Rourke van der Linden from Weymouth Primary School and Sky Ryan, who is home schooled, get some hands-on experience and help shift the calves to a new paddock.
However, employing that person will require outside funding, which NZYF is looking into. That would also ensure the longterm financial sustainability of the teaching module, he says.
It would also take some pressure off him as he juggles the challenge of both running the farm and co-ordinating the school visits.
Keeping the educational element going will also help maintain the students’ interest. Too often in the past the primary sector has been enthusiastic about establishing one-off events to get young people onto farms but is not strong on delivering the follow-through, eroding any engagement the event might have established.
Ultimately, Waugh wants Donald’s Farm to break that mould by providing multiple interactions with students.
This will enable them to gain a deeper understanding of the broader primary industries, helping them to better understand how food is grown and highlighting the career opportunities within primary industries.
“We want to make sure we’re in front of mind in their thinking and showcase the primary industries as an exciting career opportunity for them.”
This article was first published in the Dairy Farmer magazine on February 27, 2023 and is republished with permission
The previous article was originally published in the Dairy Farmer magazine, they have granted permission to publish it in Jersey Focus. Julie Pirie, Chair of Donald Pearson Farm Limited has added some detail about the herd.
Donald Pearson had a herd of Milking Shorthorn cows, he was very proud of them. One of the hardest decisions that needed to be made was to change breeds. It was done over two seasons, with half the herd replaced by animals from the Kokufu herd from Matatoki, Thames. Bobby Backhouse was an enthusiastic jersey herd owner, who had also recently passed away, so it was fitting that some of her cows replaced Donald’s. Link Livestock helped with this purchase, and also the sale of the second half of the Shorthorn herd. We were fortunate the next year to purchase her in-calf heifer line, again through Link Livestock, this has lead to some very good animals as foundation cows. One of these cows is Donalds Speedway Princess, who featured on TV3’s morning show, with Ryan Bridge hand milking her on live TV. It was a well planned and executed mission to get Princess to Auckland CBD a week before Christmas, and during rush hour.
Ten Milking Shorthorn cows remain in the herd and maintain the Dungannon prefix. The Jersey content is not fully registered yet, but once registered will have the prefix Donalds.
The move to Jersey has been good for the farm. The previous farm record was around 26,000 kgMS. Last season the farm produced 41,711 kgMS with young stock on. There has also been a change in pasture and summer management that has helped production. Other benefits include better water usage – especially in summer, improved fertility and less pasture damage. The cows have spent a majority of the winter on the herd home, with minimal feet issues.
The work never stops on a dairy farm, even when it is hosing down with rain.
Continue doing what you do best
You’ve already made great genetic gains. You’ve improved your milk production, built a better herd, and are on track for further improvements. Now’s the time to keep up the good work.
Continue driving your genetic gains with superior genetics. Continue knowing you’re making the right selections with GeneMark® testing and keep your data accurate with MINDA® herd records. Continue herd and animal health testing to support your on-farm decisions, and eliminate surprises. And we’ll continue supporting you every step of the way.
There's always room for improvement
Ian Harris Memorial Heifer Competition
The Ian Harris Memorial Heifer Competition is open to all youth aged between 8 and 35 years of age. The competition consists of two categories – Junior (8-17yrs) and Senior (18-35 yrs). Entrants must be a member of Jersey NZ or associated with a member who retains a Senior or Associate membership. We invite one nomination per entrant. The competition is open to any in milk 2 yr old (J14 and above), born between 1 January and 31 December.
From 2023 the competition will be calculated with PW replacing LW for production. This is because LW will not be available in BreedIT.
How are points allocated?
Points are awarded for production, TOP and fertility
Production:
• Points are based on the difference between the animals PW and average PW of the herd’s two year old group.
• 0.2 points will be awarded per PW point difference up to a maximum of 50 points. e.g. if the herd average PW is 153 and the animal PW is 264 there is a difference of 111, which equals 22.2 points
Fertility:
• Points are awarded for the animal’s expected calving date for 2022 relative to the herd’s planned start of calving
• If an animal is due to calve on the PSC, then the animal gets the maximum 50 points.
• 0.55 points are deducted for each day after the PSC that the animal is due to calve.
Traits of the than production (T.O.P):
• Points are based on T.O.P scores
• Single direction Traits (RW, US, C, FU, RU) actual points 1-9
We will be asking for nominations in mid-2024, so keep an eye out! Animals can be nominated from other herds, provided you have permission of the herd owner.
Our 2023/23 entrants:
Cow Name:
Padraig Williams
Annabel Jeyes
Ruby Williams
Charlie Williams
Ariel Courage
Carlisle Christensen
Henry Scherer
Charlie Scherer
Kemnay Christensen
Jack Williams
Thomas Jeyes
Ella Harris
Gabrielle Scherer
George Williams
Crystal Scown
Kimberley Simmons
Aaron Courage
Sol Drent
Loren Osborne
Shayne Caird
Archie Elliot
Aislin Chrome Emily
Manor Chrome Delta
Williams Quiz Roxy S3J
Williams Zambezi Muffin
Sharons NSD Obelia S2J
Northern Little Girl S3J
Sherborne Rebel Polly
Sherborne Baby Bree
Northern Darcy
Williams Popeye Grace
Manor Buzdox Athena
Sherborne Matt Briar
Sherborne Matt Fran
Williams Superman Lauraa
Cow Name:
Kuku Blackstone Nina
Brydale Viral Becka
Sharons Casino Hat-Trick S3J
Denson Dale Tbone Beattie ET
Denson Dale Rising Desire
Shaydoc Victorious Love
Manor KTP Surprise S2J
Sherborne Casino Pippa with Henry Scherer
Junior Entries
Senior Entries
Office News
TRAITS OTHER THAN PRODUCTION SEASON
The Jersey TOP season will be coming to a close as this issue of the Jersey Focus reaches your mailboxes. We are expecting to inspect over 200 herds and 16,000 animals between member and Sire Proving contract inspections this season.
Are you interested in becoming a TOP Inspector? We could really use a few more inspectors. This would really take the pressure off existing inspectors – as the old saying goes ‘’Many hands make light work’’. Inspectors receive a daily allowance, and all expenses are covered including travel, accommodation, and meals. If you are interested in finding out more information, or tagging along with an inspector for a ride-along to see what it’s like or how to get certified, please contact info@jersey.org.nz or 07 856 0731.
OFFICE ACCESS
We always welcome visits from members. We are no longer maintaining a separate visitor car park, so if you are intending to visit, please just give us a call first and we will make a park available. Alternatively, there is free 120 minute parking on the office side of Tristram St, or paid parking on the Hinemoa Park side of the street using the PayMyPark app. There is also free parking in many of the surrounding streets.
JERSEY NZ TEAM
In this issue we farewell Karen Maxwell from the role of Member Services Administrator. Karen finished with us on 10 November after 17 months with Jersey NZ. Initially covering a maternity leave absence, Karen joined the permanent team at the start of this year. However, the call of the road beckons and Karen is planning some extended travel before looking for a new role. Please join with me in hoping that Karen has some great travel experiences, thanking her for her service to JerseyNZ and wishing her well for wherever the future takes her.
We expect to announce our new Member Services Administrator shortly, but in the meantime her role will be covered by other team members. Please bear with us through this transition period.
Office hours are 8.00 am – 4.30 pm. Not all of the team work full-time and our hours of work are listed for you below. We will respond to emails during our work hours.
Pam Goodin
GENERAL MANAGER
Mon-Fri 8.00 am – 4.30 pm
Sean Bresnahan
GRAPHIC DESIGN COORDINATOR
Mon-Fri 8.00 am – 4.30 pm
Michelle Calcott
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR
Mon-Fri 9.00 am – 3.30 pm
Jackie Kennedy
MARKETING & PROMOTIONS COORDINATOR
Mon-Thurs 7.30 am – 3.30 pm
TBC
MEMBER SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR
HERD BOOK & PRODUCTION REGISTER
Both the 2022 and 2023 Herd Books will be completed and issued once this issue of the Jersey Focus goes to print. The Herd Book is available by pre-order, if you would like to start receiving the annual Herd Book at a cost of $40.00 incl GST please contact the JerseyNZ office.
We also expect to be able to complete the Production Registers for the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons early in the new year at the latest. The Production Register is available by pre-order, if you would like to start receiving the annual Production Register at a cost of $45.00 incl GST please contact the JerseyNZ office.
REGISTRATION NAME REMINDER
JerseyNZ would like to take this opportunity to remind members that when purchasing animals and/or semen that the marketing of a ‘name’ does not necessarily mean that an animal is registered with JerseyNZ. If a three generation pedigree is provided, a registered animal will be noted as PJ or SJ, the pedigree will carry the JerseyNZ logo and state REGISTERED JERSEY. If you are unsure, please confirm with the appropriate vendor.
MEMBER CONTACT
We ask members to consider their sustainability footprint when receiving newsletters and updates from Jersey NZ. Electronic notification is now the simplest, quickest and more cost-efficient way for us to remain in contact with you, highlighted by longer mail delivery times and increased postage costs. All our newsletters, forms and activities are also downloadable from the website, and online forms are also available for most activities. Where your newsletter is printed, we will not print and include attachments, but these will still be available on request from the office.
We urge members to choose electronic delivery as their preferred option to receive notifications from us. To do so, just email us at info@jersey.org.nz.
CONTACT US:
290 Tristram Street, Hamilton 3240 PO Box 1132, New Zealand
07 856 0816
@JerseyNZ f
info@jersey.org.nz www.jersey.org.nz
DATES TO REMEMBER
Jersey NZ | Get all of the Jersey NZ updates, reminders and general Jersey business on our Facebook
National All Breeds Youth Camp
Office Reopens
Royal Show - Horowhenua
NZ Dairy EventFeilding
Auckland Anniversary Day - Office closed
JerseyNZ Hall of Fame nominations close
Waitangi Day - Office Closed Special Award nominations close
Youth Scholarship applications close
West Lynn Trophy entries close
COMMITTEES
COMMITTEES, PANELS AND WORKING GROUPS 2023/24
All Committees for the 2023/24 year will be reviewed at the November Board meeting once the newly appointed Director is in place. Members will be updated in the Christmas newsletter.
INDUSTRY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Roger Ellison, Julie Pirie, Glenys Ellison, Cameron Townshend, Pam Goodin
AUDIT & RISK COMMITTEE
Glenys Ellison, Alison Gibb
JUDGING & CLASSIFICATION COMMITTEE
Barry Montgomery, Peter Gilbert, Ross Riddell, Richard Adam, James Wallace, Graeme Collins, Robert Hall, Warren Ferguson, Maurice Pedley
GENETICS COMMITTEE
Steve Ireland, Tony Landers, Ross Riddell, Aaron Courage, Barry Montgomery
YOUTH COMMITTEE
Julie Pirie, Peter Gilbert, James Wallace, Ruth Jeyes, Nick Browning
ANNUAL CONFERENCE ORGANISING COMMITTEE
Pam Goodin, Alison Gibb, Ross Riddell, Maurice Pedley, Rodney Dobson
LINK LIVESTOCK LTD - DIRECTOR
Alison Gibb
DIRECTORS APPOINTMENT COMMITTEE
Ross Riddell, Robert Hall, Trent Paterson
JERSEYGENOME WORKING GROUP
Tony Landers, Glenys Ellison, Glenn Wilson, Josh Sneddon
DIRECTOR EXPENSES REVIEW PANEL
Steve Ireland, Colin Hickey
NZ DAIRY BREEDS FEDERATION
Alison Gibb, Barry Montgomery, Peter Gilbert, Julie Pirie with Pam Goodin as reserve
SHOW ETHICS COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE
Peter Gilbert
JERSEY ADVANTAGE TRUST BOARD REPRESENTATIVE
Glenys Ellison, Evan Smeath
JERSEYLAND FARMS LTD BOARD REPRESENTATIVE
Julie Pirie
Obituaries
It is with deep regret and profound sadness we record the passing of the following members, previous members and friends of Jersey NZ.
Ian Clark - OXLEA - Taranaki
John Pedley - KAIMAT - Manawatu
Barry Geange - PAMPAS - Waikato
G & M Barnett - NARBETHONG - Bay Of Plenty
David Pettigrew - JERSEYDALE - Taranaki
Beryl Tripe - Marlborough
David & Jill Glass - February & May 2023
The passing of David and Jill Glass was reported in the June issue of the Jersey Focus
John Emslie - Manawatu
Graeme Hosking - Auckland
Brian Wickham - Waikato
They purchased their farm in 1960 and due to a pine hedge, grey herons nested and the name ’Heron Hill’ was established. They purchased their first pedigree Jersey calf in 1965 and she became an important part of their success.
They joined the Te Awamutu Jersey Cattle club in late 1960’s. Jill served two five year terms as club secretary. As part of that job at that time club show secretary was also included and entries reached over 300 at times.
David served on Club committees and served two years as Club President. He became a Show Judge and a Classifier just prior to T.O.P. They sold their herd in 1997 and David then served nine years as Club Secretary, Jill typing up his notes. They both were awarded Life Members of the Te Awamutu Jersey Club and Distinguished Members from JerseyNZ.
They are both sorely missed.
- Mandy Glass
Obituaries will be printed in the Jersey Focus where they are provided by members. Where the obituary is not provided by the family, permission has been sought from the family prior to print.
Sale Results
Next Generation Futurity Sale
2023
The Next Generation Futurity Sale was held as part of the Waikato A&P Show on Friday 27 October at Claudelands Showgrounds in Hamilton.
A total of 15 Holstein Friesian, 6 Ayrshire, 1 Milking Shorthorn, 1 Brown Swiss and 1 Jersey heifer calf were up for sale. The Jersey heifer calf, Fynreath Askn Violet sold for $1,900. The average across all breeds was $1,750.00.
Fynreath Askn Violet | Sold as Lot 5
CLUB CONTACTS
Regional Ambassadors
Our November spotlight on a Regional Ambassador is on Des Hickey from Ohinewai. Des has been a Regional Ambassador from the beginning of the programme which was established in 2018. Unfortunately, Covid meant many of our ambassadors weren’t able to carry out this initiative until more recently.
Des covers an extensive region from Hamilton to Auckland and encompasses the Thames Valley and Coromandel regions. Interacting with people and discussing all things Jersey is a pleasure for Des and he expresses his joy in sharing a love of the Jersey breed. From his conversations with existing, new and potential members, he is a source of knowledge; happy to address any questions or concerns they may have about their animals or about JerseyNZ.
Des believes it’s important for JerseyNZ to have Regional Ambassadors as they have the ability to create strong and meaningful connections between the Board and our members, both new and longstanding being a fundamental priority. He says there is great significance in ensuring that no member ever feels isolated within our Association and that’s where our dedicated Regional Ambassadors come into play. They can serve as invaluable bridges, ready to assist with any queries or concerns that members may have. Des has extensive experience as a long-time member of JerseyNZ who is also a former TOP inspector, meaning this wealth of knowledge and expertise can readily be tapped into.
The choice of the word ‘advice’ holds significance in a Regional Ambassador’s role. Des says he firmly believes in guiding and supporting our members, rather than dictating their actions. Regional Ambassadors can empower individuals to make informed decisions, encouraging them to take charge of their own journeys. For newcomers to JerseyNZ, Des wholeheartedly recommends reaching out to your local ambassador, initiating a conversation about aspirations and the path you wish to tread. Our Ambassadors possess a treasure trove of experience and insights that can prove instrumental in helping you realise your ambitions or goals.
Des talks about a memorable experience in his Regional Ambassador role where the JerseyNZ office reached out to him regarding a new member who was in search of guidance with purchasing a pedigree herd. Through a series of emails and phone conversations, Des had the opportunity to offer valuable insights and suggestions, shedding light on aspects that the new member hadn’t previously considered. Des explains that it was a fulfilling experience helping them navigate through this process. Des is pleased to share that due to this interaction, this member has TOP’d his heifers this year. It’s exchanges like this that underscore the importance of our collective efforts in providing support and fostering growth within the Jersey community.
Des says the most rewarding part of being a Regional Ambassador is establishing a strong, tangible connection between our Board, the JerseyNZ office and our members. By being a reliable and approachable resource, we can ensure every member can be felt to be heard and supported. By fostering these relationships, we can ensure that our association is not just an organisation, but a tightly knit community where trust and camaraderie are fostered and the assurance that we are all working together towards a common goal.
Des would like to emphasise that there’s absolutely no need to hesitate when it comes to reaching out to any of JerseyNZ’s Regional Ambassadors. Whether it’s a simple phone call or an email, don’t hold back from initiating a chat. Our collective benefit is to work towards your benefit. Your success and comfort within the Association are our top priorities, so please remember that we are here, ready to lend a helping hand whenever you require it.
”Regional Ambassadors can empower individuals to make informed decisions, encouraging them to take charge of their own journeys.”
Upper South Island: Brian Nesbit 027 225 9969 / 03 525 9969 chardonnay.nz@gmail.com
Upper South Island Ted Ford 027 444 2805 / 03 544 2805 westbourne@xtra.co.nz
Canterbury: Robert Hall 027 431 8610 / 03 348 8406 8raro8@gmail.com
Des Hickey
Lower Waikato Jersey Club Report
In the first half of the year the Lower Waikato Jersey Cattle Club have their annual Heifer Competition and the Gaydene Memorial Production Awards. This is split over two days to cater for some of our members who are now autumn calving. The judges for the Heifer Competition are the members of the club who wish to have a go – their scores are then averaged. Points are awarded for uniformity /20, growth /30 and conformation /50.
The results for 2023 are:
Complete Line of In-calf Heifers
1st: Steve & Wendy Skelton - High Range Jerseys
2nd: Stephen & Annabelle Scherer - Sherborne Jerseys
3rd: Brett Dyson - Glenhaven Jerseys
3x1 Sire (Each cow pointed /50 for conformation)
1st= C & N Hickey - Horopito F Cym PP
1st= N Dyson - Thornwood Degree Trigger
3rd: S & A Scherer - Wilsonview IF Matt ET
Gaydene Memorial Production Awards for:
2-year-old cows
1st: Brett Dyson
2nd: N Dyson
3rd: R & A Gibb
3-year-old cows
1st: Russell & Alison Gibb
2nd: B Dyson
3rd: N Dyson
4-year-old cows
1st: Brett Dyson
2nd: N Dyson
3rd: R & A Gibb
Gaydene Memorial Production Award Elite Cow
1st: Stephen & Annabelle Scherer – Glenella Links Clover EX 2nd: Russell & Alison Gibb – Zenith TBone Rosie VG
Lower Waikato held their AGM in July where Alan & Maureen Hintz were appointed Patrons, Mrs Natalie Dyson was appointed President, Mr Stephen Scherer, Senior Vice President and Thomas Hickey, Junior Vice President.
Lower Waikato meets regularly on the first Thursday of every month beginning in August with a Pizza and Programme Planning evening. The programme usually involves a mixture of herd visits, a visit to a herd outside of the club, this year visiting Josh and Kareena Sneddon and the Tahau Stud, social events, Annual Club Show, Type and Production Competition and the Heifer Competition.
Each year we either have a mystery meeting where we do something quite different e.g. visit Zealong; the Tea Plantation, Hills Laboratory or a trip away.
President - Gavin Vowles
Secretary - Alison Gibb
The members either pay a sub or contribute a bull calf which we sell – the money then subsidises competition day meals and the trips away. It also provides the club with opportunity to do such activities as sponsor the JerseyNZ Calendar, a donation to JerseyNZ to go towards the farm purchase and donations to the Governance Development Programme.
Currently we are organising our Annual Club Show to be held at Brett Dyson’s farm on Monday 13 November, at 10am. Mr Luke Gilbert will be the judge. Later in the month will be our Annual Type and Production Competition and we use the same BW and PW as the Semex Competition.
Anyone interested in joining the Lower Waikato Jersey Club would be most welcome. We meet every first Thursday of the month.
This year Lower Waikato are celebrating their 75th Jubilee. We would to invite all past members to join us for a celebratory lunch on Saturday 2 March 2024.
If you would like to join us please contact the secretary Alison Gibb at arrk.gibb@gmail.com or on 027 481 0820 as soon as possible so that we can coordinate numbers.
We look forward to catching up with everyone.
Te Awamutu Jersey Club Report
The ANNUAL BOWLS EVENING was held in May at the Te Kawa Hall. Once again an evening of friendly rivalry between the local Friesian & Jersey Clubs was enjoyed with an enthusiastic turnout of members and lots of young ones involved. Originally started by the late Phil Rye from the Friesian Club in 1993 the Jerseys have been the winners over the Friesians for well over half the number of years the cup has been played for. Our thanks to John Ellis for organising this event and once again our members were successful.
NORLANDS JERSEYS hosted our May herd visit and Discussion Group. Euan and Claire Reeve are 3rd generation on the farm and have moved to the use of Afimilk collars. They had some excellent data and commentary on their use. Frank Portegys, from Dairy NZ, led some interesting discussion around the demographics of rural populations and staffing issues. We enjoyed viewing the group of cows of interest, including the dam of Norlands PKC Roxton ET.
AGM NEWS: The AGM in June 2023 saw the appointment of our new Patron, Don Shaw. A wise counsellor and a well-deserved appointment. Our new President is Richard Adam and Aaron Courage is Junior Vice President. The new executive is the following; Glenn Wilson, Ron Hamilton, Roger Ellison, Glenys Ellison, Paul Johnson and Tony McAllister. Marion Johnson stays on as immediate past President. Secretary is Shirley Hamilton & Treasurer is Pauline Adam.
LIFE MEMBERS: The announcement of the Life Membership awarded to Ron & Shirley Hamilton was exciting news at the AGM. Warmest congratulations to them both. Their contribution to our Club is immense and greatly appreciated.
President - Richard Adam
Secretary - Shirley Hamilton
Media - Don Shaw
The OSCOWS Annual Production Awards were celebrated with a dinner at the Waipa Workingmen’s Club at the end of June. An enjoyable dinner was followed with the presentations recognising outstanding production last season.
The RH Potts Cup is a new award for Junior members. Animals that had been entered by members in calf club, were judged for type during the On-Farm Index event in February, as milking two year olds. At the end of the season their production is compared with the average of their herd mates. Inaugural winner was Rayner Johnson with Mangapiko Raceway Abba. Second was Benjamin Turner with Karaka Star Lottie. Third was Blake Hamilton with Drumclog Leo Marshmelloe.
L-R: Richard Adam, Don Shaw, Shirley Hamilton, Marion Johnson
L-R: David Potts, Rayner Johnson, Don Shaw
Norlands Jerseys
Drumclog Jerseys
JULY DISCUSSION GROUP saw a big number of members visit DRUMCLOG JERSEYS. Andrew Hamilton has owned the herd for 12 years and has worked on breeding big-framed Jersey cows, with good udders using mainly Australian bulls, and some LIC, with a focus on polled. Members enjoyed viewing Andrew’s very quiet group of heifers. Frank Portegys led discussion on wearable technology, cost of feed inputs and managing farm costs this coming season. STgenetics provided a bar-b-que lunch. It was an enjoyable catch up for everyone just before the busy calving season.
SEPTEMBER DISCUSSION GROUP was at CINAGRO JERSEYS where we enjoyed a very pleasant spring day and good turnout of members. Frank Portegys led an interesting discussion around summer crops, teaser bulls and mating plans, and we viewed the very quiet two-year-old heifers of Nathan and Sam Moffitt. This is their fourth season sharemilking for Richard and Pauline Adam. Nathan is focusing on conformation and breeding from their high PW cows. The heifers represented an interesting range of sires. They appeared to enjoy the visitor interaction.
Glenys Ellison | Publicity
COMING UP FOR THE TE AWAMUTU JERSEY CLUB:
20 - 23 November
On-Farm Classic Show - Judge is Peter Gilbert.
Contacts:
Richard - richardpaulineadam@gmail.com
Shirley - drumclog@farmside.co.nz
VISITORS AND MEMBERS ALWAYS WELCOME
Drumclog Jerseys
Harbourside Sams Oban by Grandeur Dreaming Sam
JerseyNZ Strategic Plan 2022/23
CORE PURPOSE:
Supporting our membership and wider Jersey community by promoting and driving the Jersey breed and Jersey products
BHAG:
Jersey #1 Breed
Adding integrity and value to your farming business
• Member focus groups – identify member’s needs that could be met via BreedIT
Reviewed in 2023 the full Strategic Plan includes One and Three Year Strategic Priorities along with 90 day Action Priorities. The full Strategic Plan can be viewed at www.jersey.org.nz/governance/
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Material for advertisements 26 April 2024
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