Benefits & Advantages of Jerseys

Higher feed conversion efficiency = Lower feed costs
1.6 kgs energy corrected milk/kg of DM eaten Vs 1.3 in Fresians

Jersey cattle are known to have the richest milk of all dairy breeds with averages of 6 % butterfat and 4% Protein and Yields of up to 8500 kgs

  • Lighter cow 450 kgs V 600 kgs for Fresian cattle
  • Cows can be turned out earlier with less poaching occurring
  • Can be stocked higher therefore higher milk solids / ha – Ease of calving
  • Lower replacement rate therefore more stock to sell
  • Hard feet and less susceptible to lameness
  • Equally suitable to high input high output systems or low cost grass based systems
  • Reach maturity earlier therefore produce milk earlier than other breeds will
  • Mix in well with Holsteins and wont be bullied as they are aggressive feeders
  • Aggressive grazers

Crossbreeding Benefits

  • Contributes to an easy care herd
  • Less supervision required at calving time
  • Quick return to reproduction cycle
  • Lower maintenance
  • Improved fertility
  • Shorter calving index
  • Greater feed efficiency
  • Higher milk solids

 

 

 

Jersey’s in other Countries

Denmark
Denmark has the largest Jersey cattle population in Europe with 64,000 pure bred and milk recorded Jersey cows. The breed represents about 13% of all Danish dairy cattle. Credited with the highest production of butterfat in the world, the 2008 national average for the purebred recorded Jerseys is 6,564 kg milk with 384 kg fat (5.85%) 264 kg protein (4.02%). Annually, semen from approximately 50 young bulls is used for test inseminations and 30% of all inseminations involve young sire semen. Denmark is a major exporter of Jersey genetics and most national Jersey herds in mainland Europe are founded on Danish Jerseys. Danish Jersey exported 260,000 doses of semen (to 34 different countries) and 1,040 heifers in 2008. Danish Jersey has used sexed semen since December 2004. In 2008 20% of the semen used (proven bulls) was sexed semen.

New Zealand
New Zealand has the largest population of Jerseys in the world with some 800,000 Jerseys of all ages. At June 2005 there are 580,000 milking Jersey cows in the national herd of 3.9 million milking cows (15%). In addition there is another 1.1 million Jersey cross milking cows, some 28% of the national herd. Approximately 130 young Jersey bulls are progeny tested each year.