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.
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