Jersey Breed Facts
Jersey popularity continues
It is a great pleasure to report that the breed has gone from
strength to strength in 2006 at BCMS where
11310 Pure-bred females was an 8% increase
on 2005 and 16% over 2003
Jersey sired cross-bred females at 5924 were 17% above
2005 and 55% up on 2003.
Among the dairy breeds, Jerseys accounted for 47% of
the non black & white pure female animals and 42% of
cross-breeds
At the Society Pedigree female registrations totalled 8856
Official milk record results confirm that
over 20000 completed lactations were recorded for the breed
in the year to the end of September and the 305 day average
was 5513 kgs milk at 5.41% butterfat
and 3.82% protein
NMR analysis of youngstock numbers on farms highlights that
the Jersey breed is set for further growth as breeding female
youngstock totalled 118% of the milking population – this
compares with 96% for Ayrshires, 97% for Holsteins and 99%
for Guernseys.
Facts
The Jersey is relatively small in size - about 400 to 450kgs in weight
It is extremely dairylike in type.
It is renowned for the quality of her milk
It is typically light brown in colour, though this can range from being almost
grey to dull black, which is known as Mulberry. They can also have white patches
which may cover much of the animal.
A true Jersey will however always have a black nose bordered by an almost white
muzzle.
The Jersey hard black feet are much less prone to lameness.
The Jersey can now be found across the world with a large population in Countries
such as Australia, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand, South Africa, USA, and Zimbabwe,
as well as here in the UK.
After the Holstein the Jersey is the second most popular specialist Dairy breed
world-wide.
Jerseys thrive under both extremes of temperature - they can grow thick coats
in very cold climates, whilst suffering form much less heat stress than the other
dairy breeds in hotter regions of the world.
Jerseys perform well under a wide range of systems, from the feedlots of California
to the grazing only systems of Australia and New Zealand.
Despite her small size the Jersey is renowned for its ease of calving, allowing
it to be crossed with the larger beef breeds.
Whilst it is normal practice to calve Jerseys at two years of age in this country,
due to the breeds early maturity they may well have their first calf from the
age of 19-20 months onwards.
Studies carried out in Denmark show the Jersey to be less prone to many diseases
than the other dairy breeds.
Scientific studies also show the Jersey cow produces milk more efficiently
than other breeds. This can be especially important in countries where feed may
be restricted. As well as making the Jersey a profitable option in agriculturally
developed countries.
Many herds of Jerseys in the UK now average well over 5000kgs of milk produced
per cow per year, with the best individual animals yielding around 9000kgs or
higher.
Jersey milk is in many ways unique. As a product it contains:- 18% more protein,
20% more calcium, 25% more butterfat than "average" milk.
In the UK milk and dairy products from both Jersey and Guernsey cows are increasingly
being sold under the "GOLD TOP" label, which is reserved for sole use.
Jersey milk has always been associated with luxury and this is still helping
to increase the sales of these products in a world more concerned with "healthy
living".
Such is the demand for Jersey milk to make these luxury products that there
is currently a lot of renewed interest in the breed. In both the USA and South
Africa the Jersey is the only breed increasing in numbers due to the demand for
this high quality processing milk.
|
