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A PASSIONATE pledge to lead a resurgence of the Jersey cow was given by LIC’s new acquisition manager for the breed at the Premier Sires Breeding Day, while the KiwiCross manager purred over the success of this newcomer. A dairy farmer and breeder for 20 years, Malcolm Ellis, who took over the Jersey position in November, gave a commitment to his goal of “J25-25” – a 25% Jersey population by 2025.
Worth said in 1991 the Jersey represented 26% of the national herd – now it was just 12.4% - “a dangerous position”.
“I have no doubt the dairy industry is stronger with a 25% presence of the Jersey breed in our national herd.”
He intended to encourage existing Jersey farmers to breed a surplus and sell them into a national pool.
“Secondly we will present AB options to the industry that will tempt other breeds to cross. Clearly the second is my focus.
“Day to day my drive is to present two Jersey bulls, both daughter and DNA proven, to the industry that Jersey cow farmers can be proud of and that KiwiCross and Fresian farmers can’t resist.”
Worth said from 1989-1991 he was an LIC technician when even third-generation Friesian farmers could not get enough of Jersey sire Judds Admiral because his EBI (economic breeding index) was 14 points higher than the next pretender.
“The whole industry benefited from his bloodlines. The Jersey breed needs a Dante, an Admiral, a Manhatten and we need bulls of this calibre at the rate of a couple a year, not settling for one of these supersizes every five years.”
Key points of his job will be to build strong relationships between LIC and the breeder, breed a high quality selection of cows for contract breeding and the selection of sires which would ultimately sire sons.
“When I look back over my time as a breeder and dairy farmer, the ultimate achievement was to have selected a sire of sons. We need to get back to that. The selection of sires of sons in the Jersey programme will be concentrating on the very best.”
He also said he would not compromise the coat colour of the Jersey. Meanwhile bull acquisition manager Simon Worth said the KiwiCross breed was one of the most impressive initiatives through LIC.
“I am hugely excited to be able to tap into the cross-bred cow – she is efficient, fertile, aggressive and high indexing as well.”
“Kiwi farmers were demanding a KiwiCross product. We first realised the potential in 2004 when North Sea exploded onto the scene. His influence without a doubt has been enormous.
“In 2012 we are witnessing a new phenomenon, Howies Checkpoint, whose impact will be felt for many years to come.”
Worth said inseminations through DNA and daughter proven saw KiwiCross this year only 200 short of the one million mark.
At 32% this was second only to the Holstein
Friesian at 51%, a breed worth also championed later
in the day.
LIC chief executive David Chin says meeting the revised methane reduction targets will rely on practical science, smart technology, and genuine collaboration across the sector.
Opening a new $3 million methane research barn in Waikato this month, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay called on the dairy sector to “go as fast as you can and prove the concepts”.
The Government has announced it has invested $8 million in lower methane dairy genetics research.
The first calves of a new crossbred dairy-beef offering are now on the ground at a Pamu (Landcorp) farm near Taupo.
Academic and former Fonterra director Nicola Shadbolt has been elected as LIC director.
Acclaimed fruit grower Dean Astill never imagined he would have achieved so much in the years since being named the first Young Horticulturist of the Year, 20 years ago.
The Ashburton-based Carrfields Group continues to show commitment to future growth and in the agricultural sector with its latest investment, the recently acquired 'Spring Farm' adjacent to State Highway 1, Winslow, just south of Ashburton.
New Zealand First leader and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has blasted Fonterra farmers shareholders for approving the sale of iconic brands to a French company.
A major feature of the Ashburton A&P Show, to be held on October 31 and November 1, will be the annual trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial test match, with the best heading dogs from both sides of the Tasman going head-to-head in two teams of four.
Fewer bobby calves are heading to the works this season, as more dairy farmers recognise the value of rearing calves for beef.
The key to a dairy system that generates high profit with a low emissions intensity is using low footprint feed, says Fonterra program manager on-farm excellence, Louise Cook.
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