The news about the recent highly successful Jersey development day/open barn meetings at Ferme Reyla and Rapid Bay Jerseys in Western Quebec really got us thinking as you know from a previous post.
two hundred and thirty plus people at a Jersey day!
Something kept tickling the back of my mind as I thought about that total attendance.
We had cause to dive into bound volumes of the Jersey Breeder that we keep in our "back room" at Jersey Canada Hqs recently. Happened that we had to look at those issues from 1959, half a century ago! Then it all clicked! As so often happens the bound volume opened up to August 1959 and an article by R. W. Nason entitled "Nova Scotia Field Day, Held on the North Shore" caught my eye. Hardly a surprise I'd be interested as the first twenty years of my life had been spent growing up on Nova Scotia's North Shore! The very first paragraph began this way: "With well over two-hundred-and-seventy-five in attendance the 1959 Jersey Field Day could not only be considered as one of the largest livestock events of its kind in the province.....". This was the article I had been thinking about!
Now at the moment this event was held at the Stony Acre Jersey Farm of Sigbert MacConnell and his son Rae at Meadowville in Pictou County a few miles a little three year old nipper, who is now typing these words, was probably giving his Mother grey hairs!
It is really something to think that half a century, fifty years later, we are having very similar turnouts at Jersey events! Consider all the changes the industry has gone through!
The news about the roaring success of the event in Quebec ties in so well with other levels of activity we are seeing this year. In fact we are now back to levels of memberships and registrations that have not been seen since the era when All-Jersey pr grams were being wrapped up and pooling of milk was happening. The Jersey breed went on a downhill slide in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Most would say that supply management has been a great thing for the Canuck dairy producer in many ways. There was, however; a period of radical adjustment to the new reality and new system for the Jersey breed as special markets for Jersey milk disappeared. Thankfully some talented dairy producers, aware of the Jersey's ability to profit in any market stuck continued to develop their Jersey herds. Today, those still with us, can take a great measure of satisfaction that the breed is back where it was four decades ago in a much smaller industry cow and producer number wise!
Four decades later we've more than regained lost ground! Supply management continues to exist but has been adapted to allow for creation of specialty products some from Jersey milk only! And all that remains is to wonder: What next? How far can the recovery go?
"Wethinks" the top of the extended Jersey surge has yet to be reached-perhaps we're still only in the early stages!
Forty, fifty years on we're still "growing, we're still going strong" as Mame in the musical would same!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
We Stand in Awe!
...and we are cheering!
The December 2009 Jersey Journal from the USA arrived on December 11.
Among many arresting pieces of information was the Page 17 Editorial "Finishing Strong in 2009".
This article made such great reading! One could not come away from a reading without being very motivated!
Seems that, as of late November, the American Jersey Cattle Association's year to date total for registrations is already the fifth best total EVER recorded in 141 years of history of the association! There is no question that the 2009 total will be at the very least the fourth best total ever recorded!
Please pause and consider that this means that in the top five all time yearly totals for the AJCA three of them are 2007, 2008 and 2009 with the long ago years of 1947 and 1953 being the other top finishers!
Dig a little deeper and you'll discover that the new top ten list for all time will contain 2002, 2005, 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2009! The other four years will be "golden oldies" like 1928, 1929, 1947 and 1953!
And why stop at the fourth best year in history this year? 2009 could well end up as the second best year in association history along with 2008!!!! Think about that and all the changes the dairy industry has gone through in 141 years and what 2009 was like for the US dairy industry!
Six of the top ten years being since 2002!!!!! AWESOME!
The great things happening with the Jersey breed in the USA-and there is so much more than the registration totals alone-are being stimulated here in Canada too!
It is clear that our registration total will be the best we've seen in a decade, since 1999, and possibly the best we've seen since 1985, 24 years ago! Equally interesting is that 1985 is the best year for Jersey Canada registrations since 1969, four decades ago!
Can you say renaissance of the Jersey breed in North America?
Where will we both land? December 31 holds the final answer. It is, however; clear that the Jersey breed is moving ahead like never before. In a radically changed industry from ten or twenty four or forty or one hundred and forty one years ago we're truly rockin' on! And for that we are so thankful!
Bravo, AJCA and US Jersey owners and Canuck Jersey owners! All of your hard work is paying off in an overflow of abundance and dividends!
The December 2009 Jersey Journal from the USA arrived on December 11.
Among many arresting pieces of information was the Page 17 Editorial "Finishing Strong in 2009".
This article made such great reading! One could not come away from a reading without being very motivated!
Seems that, as of late November, the American Jersey Cattle Association's year to date total for registrations is already the fifth best total EVER recorded in 141 years of history of the association! There is no question that the 2009 total will be at the very least the fourth best total ever recorded!
Please pause and consider that this means that in the top five all time yearly totals for the AJCA three of them are 2007, 2008 and 2009 with the long ago years of 1947 and 1953 being the other top finishers!
Dig a little deeper and you'll discover that the new top ten list for all time will contain 2002, 2005, 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2009! The other four years will be "golden oldies" like 1928, 1929, 1947 and 1953!
And why stop at the fourth best year in history this year? 2009 could well end up as the second best year in association history along with 2008!!!! Think about that and all the changes the dairy industry has gone through in 141 years and what 2009 was like for the US dairy industry!
Six of the top ten years being since 2002!!!!! AWESOME!
The great things happening with the Jersey breed in the USA-and there is so much more than the registration totals alone-are being stimulated here in Canada too!
It is clear that our registration total will be the best we've seen in a decade, since 1999, and possibly the best we've seen since 1985, 24 years ago! Equally interesting is that 1985 is the best year for Jersey Canada registrations since 1969, four decades ago!
Can you say renaissance of the Jersey breed in North America?
Where will we both land? December 31 holds the final answer. It is, however; clear that the Jersey breed is moving ahead like never before. In a radically changed industry from ten or twenty four or forty or one hundred and forty one years ago we're truly rockin' on! And for that we are so thankful!
Bravo, AJCA and US Jersey owners and Canuck Jersey owners! All of your hard work is paying off in an overflow of abundance and dividends!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Those Jerseys! They are everywhere!
Always nice to see the Jersey breed being recognized as a thriving part of our Canuck dairy industry! When I was at the Manitoba Dairy Conference in early December, I made a pleasing discovery! Jersey Canada Past President Janna Remond came for a visit at one point carrying an interesting T-shirt.
See accompanying photos of the front and back of this "Running Jersey"! The shirts were created by Manitoba Milk, the provincial milk marketing agency. I spoke with the friendly lady who was looking after sales in their promo item booth during the conference. She told me that some on their team felt it was time to go with some colour after creating so many black and white items! I couldn't help but agree, of course!
Now we might like a prettier cow but we have to recognize that the shirts are for more than the fine connoisseur of cows crew! The 204 "runner number" relates to the area code for Manitoba. We love the message on the backside of the shirt, or Jersey, which reads: "Caution! Drinking Chocolate Milk Can Lead to Winning Races."
We congratulate and thank Manitoba Milk for creating an item featuring a Jersey cow on a running jersey! The Manitoba Milk website is at www.milk.mb.ca. Yup, those Jerseys they are popping up anywhere and everywhere, and that will continue and amplify!
See accompanying photos of the front and back of this "Running Jersey"! The shirts were created by Manitoba Milk, the provincial milk marketing agency. I spoke with the friendly lady who was looking after sales in their promo item booth during the conference. She told me that some on their team felt it was time to go with some colour after creating so many black and white items! I couldn't help but agree, of course!
Now we might like a prettier cow but we have to recognize that the shirts are for more than the fine connoisseur of cows crew! The 204 "runner number" relates to the area code for Manitoba. We love the message on the backside of the shirt, or Jersey, which reads: "Caution! Drinking Chocolate Milk Can Lead to Winning Races."
We congratulate and thank Manitoba Milk for creating an item featuring a Jersey cow on a running jersey! The Manitoba Milk website is at www.milk.mb.ca. Yup, those Jerseys they are popping up anywhere and everywhere, and that will continue and amplify!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
What in the name of time is happening here?
WOW! And we mean WOW!
During the time period from November 29 to December 7, our fearless and agile and highly capable National Extension Agent Jean-Marc Pellerin traveled to British Columbia and Manitoba and back home to Quebec. He was doing extension work as part of Jersey Canada's cooperation with regional Jersey associations. In this case Jersey West and Jersey Canada were teaming up to grow the breed in two of the four Western provinces!
In addition J-M attended the annual meeting of the Manitoba Jersey Cattle Club (see our two most recent Think Jerseys! blog postings from earlier this month!) and work with the Jersey display at the associated Manitoba Jersey Conference.
In four and half days (some of them very loooonnnggg days!) J-M accomplished the following in working with newer Jersey owners:
This is a phenomenal amount of activity for such a short and jam-packed trip! Two things are readily apparent from the trip! We have a superb National Extension Agent-but you knew that already! This "Jersey thang" is taking off like never before! We're living in the land of no limits! And we are lovin' that! Watch us grow and be a part of the momentum!
During the time period from November 29 to December 7, our fearless and agile and highly capable National Extension Agent Jean-Marc Pellerin traveled to British Columbia and Manitoba and back home to Quebec. He was doing extension work as part of Jersey Canada's cooperation with regional Jersey associations. In this case Jersey West and Jersey Canada were teaming up to grow the breed in two of the four Western provinces!
In addition J-M attended the annual meeting of the Manitoba Jersey Cattle Club (see our two most recent Think Jerseys! blog postings from earlier this month!) and work with the Jersey display at the associated Manitoba Jersey Conference.
In four and half days (some of them very loooonnnggg days!) J-M accomplished the following in working with newer Jersey owners:
- 20 herd visits
- 6 new members signed up-taking us over 1,025 for the year!
- 4 new herd names registered-taking us over 130 for the year!
- 46 registrations!
- 63 transfers (plus 25 to 30 more that RGG and J-M collected at the Dairy Conference!)
This is a phenomenal amount of activity for such a short and jam-packed trip! Two things are readily apparent from the trip! We have a superb National Extension Agent-but you knew that already! This "Jersey thang" is taking off like never before! We're living in the land of no limits! And we are lovin' that! Watch us grow and be a part of the momentum!
Monday, December 7, 2009
The Race to Stay Current
Seems like every time we go to print, publish or present some Jersey material we run the extreme risk of being out of date within minutes! Case in point - last week we had the privilege of making a presentation entitled "Celebrating The Jersey Miracle" at an historic annual meeting of the Manitoba Jersey Cattle Club at the Manitoba Dairy Conference. As is so often the case, we were busy putting finishing touches (okay, honesty hour - creating it for the first time!!) on the presentation on Tuesday afternoon December 1 before a Wednesday afternoon flight to Winnipeg (aka Winterpeg)! We thought we were really up to date!
Amongst all the state of the union/status updates, we were beyond chuffed about our 2009 membership total which had climbed to 1,020 as of Monday the 30th of November! And so up to date, we thought!
Got to Manitoba on Wednesday meeting and met up with our Jersey "Man In Motion" Jean-Marc Pellerin, who was fresh from two and a half days work in British Columbia. Jean-Marc had been waving the Jersey flag on behalf of Jersey West/Jersey Canada with much help from BC National Director Anita Norrish. Well, what did J-M have for news? Five new members! New total for 2009? 1,025 - highest in 42 years, but you knew that, eh?
So, on Thursday morning I had to report to the Manitoba meeting that our Power point slides created about 40 hours earlier were already slipping into "outdatedness"! Frankly, I LOVED doing so! Any idea how much fun it is to be involved in a breed where upward trending and "change are the only constants"??? Answer: LOTS!!!
Amongst all the state of the union/status updates, we were beyond chuffed about our 2009 membership total which had climbed to 1,020 as of Monday the 30th of November! And so up to date, we thought!
Got to Manitoba on Wednesday meeting and met up with our Jersey "Man In Motion" Jean-Marc Pellerin, who was fresh from two and a half days work in British Columbia. Jean-Marc had been waving the Jersey flag on behalf of Jersey West/Jersey Canada with much help from BC National Director Anita Norrish. Well, what did J-M have for news? Five new members! New total for 2009? 1,025 - highest in 42 years, but you knew that, eh?
So, on Thursday morning I had to report to the Manitoba meeting that our Power point slides created about 40 hours earlier were already slipping into "outdatedness"! Frankly, I LOVED doing so! Any idea how much fun it is to be involved in a breed where upward trending and "change are the only constants"??? Answer: LOTS!!!
Brilliant concepts/Well Delivered/Tangible Results
Things were really on the go last week in Jersey Canadaland!
For the first time in history, the venerable (but pulsing with life!) Manitoba Jersey Cattle Club held an AGM in conjunction with Manitoba Holsteins and Manitoba Milk, the provincial milk marketing agency. What a roaring success this event was! The Manitoba Dairy Conference is one big deal! At the Thursday evening banquet the crowd was a "sold right out" one at 500 people plus! Attendance at the Jersey meeting held on Thursday morning was triple what it had been in 2008!!!
It is so much fun to meet and interact with the scads of new folks we have working with Jerseys these days! It was exciting to see so many young people present! Great for the future! The word Jersey was very high profile on signage and in programs and other materials. Seems like the dairy industry is in robust shape in Manitoba and the same could be said of the Jersey breed. In fact the breed is enjoying the same renaissance in this most easterly of prairie provinces that it is revelling in elsewhere in Canada! Bravo Jersey Manitoba! Super concept, brilliantly actualized!
Meanwhile.....farther east......more Jersey great times were being celebrated in Western Quebec! Jersey Quebec was delivering a two-farm open barn event in that province's fertile Chateauguay Valley! The MacDougall family of Ferme Reyla just north of Ormstown and The Borlands of Rapid Bay Jerseys on the other side of town played host to a very large crowd of Jersey owners and potential Jersey owners. The Borlands estimate that over 200 people were through their barn. Frank Putnam, a writer from Holstein World part of the Dairy Business company in New York state was present and created a great story on the event for Holstein World's All Breeds Blog! The Queen of Rapid Bay, Vandenberg Amedeo Gorgeous EX-97, the two time RAWF Grand Champion, will be featured for the second time on CBC's French language agricultural show La Semaine Verte! There can be no doubt that dairy producers went home both pumped up about the Jersey breed and thinking about how they could integrate Jerseys or more Jerseys into their operations!
Congratulations to all concerned for efforts in getting the word Jersey out there in public! As Gary Bowers, Jersey Canada Past President from 2000 has said: "Our job is to make the word Jersey as highly visible as possible!" Mission in process!
Meanwhile.....farther east......more Jersey great times were being celebrated in Western Quebec! Jersey Quebec was delivering a two-farm open barn event in that province's fertile Chateauguay Valley! The MacDougall family of Ferme Reyla just north of Ormstown and The Borlands of Rapid Bay Jerseys on the other side of town played host to a very large crowd of Jersey owners and potential Jersey owners. The Borlands estimate that over 200 people were through their barn. Frank Putnam, a writer from Holstein World part of the Dairy Business company in New York state was present and created a great story on the event for Holstein World's All Breeds Blog! The Queen of Rapid Bay, Vandenberg Amedeo Gorgeous EX-97, the two time RAWF Grand Champion, will be featured for the second time on CBC's French language agricultural show La Semaine Verte! There can be no doubt that dairy producers went home both pumped up about the Jersey breed and thinking about how they could integrate Jerseys or more Jerseys into their operations!
Congratulations to all concerned for efforts in getting the word Jersey out there in public! As Gary Bowers, Jersey Canada Past President from 2000 has said: "Our job is to make the word Jersey as highly visible as possible!" Mission in process!
Friday, November 6, 2009
Jersey consignments at the Royal Sale of Stars...
There will be some exciting Jersey choices in the 2009 edition of the Royal Sale of Stars, being held on Thursday, November 12th at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto.
These consignments include:
- a 1st choice of two female pregnancies by "On Time" from Arethusa Comerica Dolce Vita, the daughter of "Veronica" that topped the Avonlea Summer Splash in July. Consigned by Avonlea & International Genetics
- a 1st choice female by Rapid Bay Reagan from Lookout Sweet Baby J VG-89-2yr, the 1st place Junior Two Year Old at Madison this fall, and daughter of the EX-94 Drentex Blackstar Baby J. Consigned by Suitor, Vance and McKinven
- a 1st choice female by "Legion" or "Action" from Rapid Bay Jace Carla EX-91, grand-daughter of the legendary Duncan Belle. Consigned by Rapid Bay and Andrew Timbury.
More information on these consignments can be found at www.saleofstars.com.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
We shake our heads in wonder and reflect....
In the very early days of November we gained access to our end-of-October numbers for registry activity. We also assembled a few other stats on activity in the Jersey breed in Canada. Love what we found!
About a quarter century ago, in the early 1980s a gent named Gary Baines was Secretary-Manager of Jersey Canada, then the Canadian Jersey Cattle Club. Gary stated a few times that the association should have goals of 10,000 registrations and 1,000 members per year.
We are still working toward the 10,000 registrations total. On the other hand, as of November 3, 2009 we had racked up a glistening total of 1,009 members for this year!
Can you comprehend that our membership has grown 82% during this current decade?? Can you absorb the fact that our 2009 membership total is the highest we've seen since 1967????
A nice addendum to this good news from the end of October figures is the fact that since January 2004 we have processed registration of exactly 800 new herd names! 800!!!
Did you read our blog posting of October 30th entitled What a Pick-Me-Up?? In that one we noted that numbers of milk-recorded herds in Canada containing Jerseys had grown by 93% over the past eight years and that the number of Jerseys on milk recording in Canada had grown by 16% since 2001!!!
And the great, great news kept coming as we made our way through the various reports!
A few more gems were unearthed:
-Record percentage of electronic registrations for a month of over 73% In October and a year to date percentage of over 58!
-Record transfers of embryos for any year in history and 137% ahead of the total for all of 2008!
-Record number of young Jersey sires entering sampling programs in Canada this year! This is the fifth consecutive year a new record number has been set!
-Fourth consecutive year that we have registered more than 110 new herd names!
-On target to have the highest number of registrations since 1999 and the second best total since 1985! There is a moderate chance we could rack up the best total since 1985, virtually a quarter of a century ago!
We have much to rejoice about and to be thankful for, we have much to celebrate, we have much to think about, AND we have much more work to do!
Enjoy the moment golden as it is!
About a quarter century ago, in the early 1980s a gent named Gary Baines was Secretary-Manager of Jersey Canada, then the Canadian Jersey Cattle Club. Gary stated a few times that the association should have goals of 10,000 registrations and 1,000 members per year.
We are still working toward the 10,000 registrations total. On the other hand, as of November 3, 2009 we had racked up a glistening total of 1,009 members for this year!
Can you comprehend that our membership has grown 82% during this current decade?? Can you absorb the fact that our 2009 membership total is the highest we've seen since 1967????
A nice addendum to this good news from the end of October figures is the fact that since January 2004 we have processed registration of exactly 800 new herd names! 800!!!
Did you read our blog posting of October 30th entitled What a Pick-Me-Up?? In that one we noted that numbers of milk-recorded herds in Canada containing Jerseys had grown by 93% over the past eight years and that the number of Jerseys on milk recording in Canada had grown by 16% since 2001!!!
And the great, great news kept coming as we made our way through the various reports!
A few more gems were unearthed:
-Record percentage of electronic registrations for a month of over 73% In October and a year to date percentage of over 58!
-Record transfers of embryos for any year in history and 137% ahead of the total for all of 2008!
-Record number of young Jersey sires entering sampling programs in Canada this year! This is the fifth consecutive year a new record number has been set!
-Fourth consecutive year that we have registered more than 110 new herd names!
-On target to have the highest number of registrations since 1999 and the second best total since 1985! There is a moderate chance we could rack up the best total since 1985, virtually a quarter of a century ago!
We have much to rejoice about and to be thankful for, we have much to celebrate, we have much to think about, AND we have much more work to do!
Enjoy the moment golden as it is!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Sea Change Coming?
One of the most energizing parts of Jersey Canada Board meetings-and so much of those meetings brings energy these days-is the segment where Board members report on action in the regions they represent.
During the October Board meetings last month Eastern Ontario Board member Robert (Bob) Jarrell made a very interesting comment. He made reference to three young couples who had been active dairy producers but who had sold their quota and in two cases herds in recent years. Bob noted that all three had very recently re-entered the industry and were once again milking Jerseys!
These comments really piqued our interest. In recent months we have been hearing of revived or brand new "new-entrant" programs in various provinces. Jersey breeders are often in contact with the potential new dairy farmers who are interested in these programs. One interacts with these folks at trade fairs, shows, sales, and other agricultural events. It is amazing to learn of how many of these parties are thinking they should start with Jerseys! Often they note an understanding of the milk price per hectolitre they could garner with Jersey milk.
So......do we have a nice little, growing sea change happening here? Is the dairy industry browning?
Can the potential and Jersey hope of the ages be undergoing a transformation to reality?
Just say YES! :-)
During the October Board meetings last month Eastern Ontario Board member Robert (Bob) Jarrell made a very interesting comment. He made reference to three young couples who had been active dairy producers but who had sold their quota and in two cases herds in recent years. Bob noted that all three had very recently re-entered the industry and were once again milking Jerseys!
These comments really piqued our interest. In recent months we have been hearing of revived or brand new "new-entrant" programs in various provinces. Jersey breeders are often in contact with the potential new dairy farmers who are interested in these programs. One interacts with these folks at trade fairs, shows, sales, and other agricultural events. It is amazing to learn of how many of these parties are thinking they should start with Jerseys! Often they note an understanding of the milk price per hectolitre they could garner with Jersey milk.
So......do we have a nice little, growing sea change happening here? Is the dairy industry browning?
Can the potential and Jersey hope of the ages be undergoing a transformation to reality?
Just say YES! :-)
Friday, October 30, 2009
What a pick-me-up!!!
Cloudy, rainy, grey, end of October day......not completely conducive to feeling an explosion of internal energy and joy and light, etc., etc.......and then........news arrives that sure "gets yer motor runnin"!
We've just gained access to some stats that "blow us right out of the water"!
Try these on for size.....
From late 2001 to late 2009 the number of milk-recorded Jersey herds in Canada that contain Jerseys has grown from 607 to 1172!! Were you aware that this kind of growth represents a 93% increase!!??
Were you aware that during the same time period the overall number of milk-recorded herds has declined by 18%?
Were you aware that in the same time period (2001 to 2009) the number of Jersey cows on milk-recording in Canada has climbed by 16%!!?? Yes, 16%!!!! During this same time frame the overall number of cows on milk-recording has stayed essentially the same.
Nice to think about what could happen but infinitely much better to celebrate what has happened!
May we enjoy much more of the same!
We've just gained access to some stats that "blow us right out of the water"!
Try these on for size.....
From late 2001 to late 2009 the number of milk-recorded Jersey herds in Canada that contain Jerseys has grown from 607 to 1172!! Were you aware that this kind of growth represents a 93% increase!!??
Were you aware that during the same time period the overall number of milk-recorded herds has declined by 18%?
Were you aware that in the same time period (2001 to 2009) the number of Jersey cows on milk-recording in Canada has climbed by 16%!!?? Yes, 16%!!!! During this same time frame the overall number of cows on milk-recording has stayed essentially the same.
Nice to think about what could happen but infinitely much better to celebrate what has happened!
May we enjoy much more of the same!
New Website: Jersey West!
Jersey West, the regional Jersey association responsible for the western provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, has created a new website to serve both it's members and anyone interested in Western Canadian Jerseys! You can find the site at:
The site features all the latest news and upcoming events, contact information for Jersey West officers, and an online member directory for all paid members of the association.
Now all four regional associations in Canada have websites. The others are:
Jersey Ontario - www.jerseyontario.ca
Jersey Quebec - www.jerseycanada.com/jerseyquebec
Friday, October 9, 2009
More Excelling by Great Young People from Jersey Farms
We are pleased to report that Melissa Sparling, daughter of Jim and Tammy Sparling of Jaspar Jerseys at Varna in Huron County, Ontario was selected for the prestigious title of Queen of the Furrow at the 2009 International Plowing Match held in Northern Ontario in September!! Melissa will have a very busy year ahead of her as she works hard to assist Elgin County in promoting and delivering the 2010 Plowing Match. More than 80,000 people took part in the 2009 match.
We at Jersey Canada know Melissa well. She's the perfect choice for such a Marketing/ambassadorial role as she was a spectacular Jersey Youth Ambassador at the National Jersey Show at the Royal a few years back. Melissa has a terrific work ethic, is outgoing and well-spoken and organized and knows all about life on the farm. In addition she exhibits the gift of a wonderfully firm handshake just like her mother Tammy and the ability to look a person in the eye when meeting them and a radiant smile!
Have a great year Melissa and congratulations from Jersey Canada!
We at Jersey Canada know Melissa well. She's the perfect choice for such a Marketing/ambassadorial role as she was a spectacular Jersey Youth Ambassador at the National Jersey Show at the Royal a few years back. Melissa has a terrific work ethic, is outgoing and well-spoken and organized and knows all about life on the farm. In addition she exhibits the gift of a wonderfully firm handshake just like her mother Tammy and the ability to look a person in the eye when meeting them and a radiant smile!
Have a great year Melissa and congratulations from Jersey Canada!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Did you notice the banner for our survey?
Jersey Canada is conducting a survey seeking input from Canadians over the months of November and December 2009. The purpose of the survey is to garner input for creation of the next Strategic Plan of the association. In addition we'll use information from the responses to improve our service delivery and set priorities for forward action.
There's an opoportunity to win a Jersey Canada True Type Model Cow if you live in Canada, complete the survey and provide us with your name and contact information!
You'll find the survey on our Jersey Canada website, and in hard copy form in the October/November Jersey Breeder magazine which is just hitting the streets now.
We very much value your input!
Deadline for responses to the survey is December 1!
There's an opoportunity to win a Jersey Canada True Type Model Cow if you live in Canada, complete the survey and provide us with your name and contact information!
You'll find the survey on our Jersey Canada website, and in hard copy form in the October/November Jersey Breeder magazine which is just hitting the streets now.
We very much value your input!
Deadline for responses to the survey is December 1!
Way To Go!!
Sometimes news slips by us and evades us all together! It was only last evening (October 7) that we received an e-mail from the eagle-eyed Carol Murphy in Sauble Beach, Ontario informing us of a significant accomplishment by a keen young Canadian Jersey supporter.
At the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin Tanner Jones, son of Shayne and Val Jones of Woodstock, Ontario excelled. Tanner was on the halter of his 2009 4-H calf Perennial Justice Natasha (bred by neighbour Bryan Weldrick) when she was acclaimed as the Junior Champion female of the 2009 US Central National Jersey Show, triumphing over a large showing of sweet heifers. That we knew...
What we did not know was that Tanner finished a very strong second in a dairy competition involving 74 young dairy people at Madison! In addition to finishing first in a showmanship contest in this massive field Tanner wrote an associated quiz on agricultural matters. To make things even better his brother Trent made the final cut for showmanship in a very large class of younger showmen!
Tanner was also featured in a video clip interview which appeared on the Dairy Agenda today website and Melissa Hart made very special mention of him in her blog on the same website.
Congratulations to the entire Jones family on these golden moments of success!!!
What we did not know was that Tanner finished a very strong second in a dairy competition involving 74 young dairy people at Madison! In addition to finishing first in a showmanship contest in this massive field Tanner wrote an associated quiz on agricultural matters. To make things even better his brother Trent made the final cut for showmanship in a very large class of younger showmen!
Tanner was also featured in a video clip interview which appeared on the Dairy Agenda today website and Melissa Hart made very special mention of him in her blog on the same website.
Congratulations to the entire Jones family on these golden moments of success!!!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
More, more more!
Our most recent posting-just a few minutes ago!!-noted that registry activity levels at Jersey Canada are in very good form for the first nine months of 2009.
On the Genetic Improvement front some more great news arrived this week too!
At an October 5 Genetic Improvement Committee meeting it was reported that a new breed record for young sires entered on test per year would be set in 2009! What makes this news truly significant is that new record totals have been set in the preceding four years!
The owners of young sires for whom CDN fees (for timely releases of official proofs) have been paid reported that we could see upwards of 20 young sires entered for sampling this year!
This is terrific news for breed progress and what makes it even better is that in many cases the new tool of genomics has been used to help increase accuracy of selection!
This kind of growth in sampling activity is a prime target of Jersey Canada's Strategic Plan Jersey Rising. We have more progress to make to reach the overall target of at least 25 high quality young
sires sampled per year but are we ever heading in the right direction!
Thanks to all who are part of this energizing work toward finding future genetic stars and making the Jersey breed even better suited to modern dairying! On we go and grow!
On the Genetic Improvement front some more great news arrived this week too!
At an October 5 Genetic Improvement Committee meeting it was reported that a new breed record for young sires entered on test per year would be set in 2009! What makes this news truly significant is that new record totals have been set in the preceding four years!
The owners of young sires for whom CDN fees (for timely releases of official proofs) have been paid reported that we could see upwards of 20 young sires entered for sampling this year!
This is terrific news for breed progress and what makes it even better is that in many cases the new tool of genomics has been used to help increase accuracy of selection!
This kind of growth in sampling activity is a prime target of Jersey Canada's Strategic Plan Jersey Rising. We have more progress to make to reach the overall target of at least 25 high quality young
sires sampled per year but are we ever heading in the right direction!
Thanks to all who are part of this energizing work toward finding future genetic stars and making the Jersey breed even better suited to modern dairying! On we go and grow!
Elevating our Thinking
One of the most interesting times of each month at Jersey Canada arrives in the very earliest days. Jill Dann, our Registrar, crunches registry activity numbers and computes year to date totals in the early hours of every month.
Some highly significant accomplishments were noted when Jill worked with statistics to the end of September 2009!
And here they are:
In nine months we have processed registration of exactly 100 new herd names! 2009 is now the fourth consecutive year that we have processed 100 new herd names or more! And we have three months to go!
This news means that since January 2004 we have registered 786 new herd names! 786!! Just think about that! We're only 14 shy of 800 new herd names in six calendar years!
Adding new people through registration of herd names flows through to gains in membership as a natural process. Further exciting news can be found in the fact that memberships at the end of September stood at 988!!! Yes, this is 11% ahead of 2008 year to date and as we've noted before represents Jersey Canada's highest membership total since 1967! We're just 12 memberships away from 1,000!
Putting this significant number above in perspective it is appropriate to note that in 1967 there were approximately ten times as many dairy farms in operation in Canada as there are today!
Transfers of embryos are 180% ahead of 2008 year-to-date and are already 116% ahead of all of 2008! We've transferred a record annual total of embryos this year!
Add to this news the facts that our registrations are almost 4% ahead of 2008 to date, transfers are falling in line with 2008 stats after a big burst of export transfers in early 2008 and that electronic registration submissions have moved up to over 56% of all registrations and you have a recipe for true Jersey excitement!
Talk about motivation! Talk about exciting news! Talk about great news!! Talk about encouragement to stay on the job! We are pumped!!
Some highly significant accomplishments were noted when Jill worked with statistics to the end of September 2009!
And here they are:
In nine months we have processed registration of exactly 100 new herd names! 2009 is now the fourth consecutive year that we have processed 100 new herd names or more! And we have three months to go!
This news means that since January 2004 we have registered 786 new herd names! 786!! Just think about that! We're only 14 shy of 800 new herd names in six calendar years!
Adding new people through registration of herd names flows through to gains in membership as a natural process. Further exciting news can be found in the fact that memberships at the end of September stood at 988!!! Yes, this is 11% ahead of 2008 year to date and as we've noted before represents Jersey Canada's highest membership total since 1967! We're just 12 memberships away from 1,000!
Putting this significant number above in perspective it is appropriate to note that in 1967 there were approximately ten times as many dairy farms in operation in Canada as there are today!
Transfers of embryos are 180% ahead of 2008 year-to-date and are already 116% ahead of all of 2008! We've transferred a record annual total of embryos this year!
Add to this news the facts that our registrations are almost 4% ahead of 2008 to date, transfers are falling in line with 2008 stats after a big burst of export transfers in early 2008 and that electronic registration submissions have moved up to over 56% of all registrations and you have a recipe for true Jersey excitement!
Talk about motivation! Talk about exciting news! Talk about great news!! Talk about encouragement to stay on the job! We are pumped!!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
The Great Gift of Gratitude
As a postscript to the posting I made earlier today (October 4) about the Franken family in Seasons of Refreshing I am compelled to write more! So, what else is new?
I set forth into a dark and rainy night to drive the exactly 100 kilometers from their doorstep to mine in Fergus. I knew my mind would be going over lots of things over the next hour and a bit. I had not given much thought to the fact that I'd be drawn repeatedly to the concept of gratitude over the course of the drive. Perhaps the fact that our celebration of Thanksgiving is at hand helped.
I reviewed some of the things that had happened in the previous few days and found a veritable garden of gratitude welling up inside of me!
My experiences in Haiti over the past thirteen and a half years have taught me a world of things about: a) not taking things for granted even though I still do! b) giving thanks for the glorious (and yes, at times crazy!!) lives we in the developed world live c) about understanding that life really, really isn't "all about me"-in fact I should be a useful but side bar player on the stage in the theatre that is my life.
In this season of thanksgiving and harvest we should focus on those words. Our lives are rich. Someone reminded me today that at any given meeting or gathering here in Canada most of those present would be in the top 5% of income earners in the entire world-maybe even the top 1%!
With gratitude comes responsibility-toward others not just yourself.
Immersed in an understanding of overflow I found that I was soon home in Fergus. My conclusion at the end of this trip is that anytime is the time for more thanksgiving and gratitude.
As we expand our practice of thanksgiving we soon discover that the number of things we have to be thankful about has expanded in proportion to our thankful attitude! May the cycle continue!
I set forth into a dark and rainy night to drive the exactly 100 kilometers from their doorstep to mine in Fergus. I knew my mind would be going over lots of things over the next hour and a bit. I had not given much thought to the fact that I'd be drawn repeatedly to the concept of gratitude over the course of the drive. Perhaps the fact that our celebration of Thanksgiving is at hand helped.
I reviewed some of the things that had happened in the previous few days and found a veritable garden of gratitude welling up inside of me!
My experiences in Haiti over the past thirteen and a half years have taught me a world of things about: a) not taking things for granted even though I still do! b) giving thanks for the glorious (and yes, at times crazy!!) lives we in the developed world live c) about understanding that life really, really isn't "all about me"-in fact I should be a useful but side bar player on the stage in the theatre that is my life.
In this season of thanksgiving and harvest we should focus on those words. Our lives are rich. Someone reminded me today that at any given meeting or gathering here in Canada most of those present would be in the top 5% of income earners in the entire world-maybe even the top 1%!
With gratitude comes responsibility-toward others not just yourself.
Immersed in an understanding of overflow I found that I was soon home in Fergus. My conclusion at the end of this trip is that anytime is the time for more thanksgiving and gratitude.
As we expand our practice of thanksgiving we soon discover that the number of things we have to be thankful about has expanded in proportion to our thankful attitude! May the cycle continue!
Seasons of Refreshing
Hm...how do I start explaining all this? You know how sometimes you are having a very good day and then it gets even better?
Well....on Saturday, October 3 I got up early and headed out in rain showers for the Wingham/Teeswater, Ontario farm of Ed and Bonnie Franken and family. Now, yes, the Frankens do have some Jerseys on their farm-only natural since Ed is brother to Paul of Paullor and Mike, formerly of Ken-Fran Jerseys and John who has been involved in the breed. There are a few special brown 4-H heifers penned in their barn. The real mission, however; was the classification of 60 some head of female dairy goats and colourful-smelling bucks.
I was in a great mood heading to Frankens as we had done some goat classification training work at their farm at Easter time this past April. I had been deeply impressed by the enthusiasm, energy, work ethic and smarts of a sampling of Ed and Bonnie's seven offspring who are currently more or less between 20 and 8! And then there was Bonnie's incredible (and HIGHLY edible!!! home-cooking-so much like the food my Mother had prepared during growing up days in Nova Scotia!) They have some nifty goats too!
So my expectations of a good day were high-gloriously they were surpassed by a wide margin!
We got right down to work. Over the course of the day, six of the seven young Frankens were in the barn-working but having fun too! I must say that the younger Frankens would rival anybody in their level of organization and helpfulness. We whipped through 32 head before lunch (have I mentioned the excellence of Bonnie's home-cooking??) took a break and then went back at it. As we finished up later in the afternoon-Ed suggested that we must have done 60 or more head. I figured he was high by 10 to 15 head as it all seemed to have moved along very quickly. Once we counted-sure enough 61 head!
What refreshed me was the work ethic of these young people! Ed explained that many of the family were involved with the concrete forming/foundation business that he and Bonnie own but also pour themselves into farm work as well. I opined that no matter where the young Frankens ended up in careers they would be stand-out workers as they'd not only know how to work but also do their work with enthusiastic attitudes and a mind-set of working efficiently!
Pictures of some of the more special goats were taken, some animals were milked out, ideas for future steps in the breeding program were put out there, text messages to significant others about scores of certain goats were sent, all the while getting the task at hand done with ease!
It is always good to reminded by the example of the younger Frankens that there are many great young people coming on in the Jersey breed and other parts of agriculture. I thought about the challenges any of these young people who decide to work in animal agriculture will face. They'll be radically different challenges than those faced by their parents in their growing up days or even now.
(And did I mention how good Bonnie's home-cooking is? :-)
I suspect that, even if we are unaware of the need, we all need days like our time with the Frankens to elevate our thinking to higher levels! I left with a lot of hope, thankfulness, a nicely filled tummy and a load of new energy even in the latter parts of a full and long day!
Stay ope n to the good moments that will come your way "out of the blue"!
Well....on Saturday, October 3 I got up early and headed out in rain showers for the Wingham/Teeswater, Ontario farm of Ed and Bonnie Franken and family. Now, yes, the Frankens do have some Jerseys on their farm-only natural since Ed is brother to Paul of Paullor and Mike, formerly of Ken-Fran Jerseys and John who has been involved in the breed. There are a few special brown 4-H heifers penned in their barn. The real mission, however; was the classification of 60 some head of female dairy goats and colourful-smelling bucks.
I was in a great mood heading to Frankens as we had done some goat classification training work at their farm at Easter time this past April. I had been deeply impressed by the enthusiasm, energy, work ethic and smarts of a sampling of Ed and Bonnie's seven offspring who are currently more or less between 20 and 8! And then there was Bonnie's incredible (and HIGHLY edible!!! home-cooking-so much like the food my Mother had prepared during growing up days in Nova Scotia!) They have some nifty goats too!
So my expectations of a good day were high-gloriously they were surpassed by a wide margin!
We got right down to work. Over the course of the day, six of the seven young Frankens were in the barn-working but having fun too! I must say that the younger Frankens would rival anybody in their level of organization and helpfulness. We whipped through 32 head before lunch (have I mentioned the excellence of Bonnie's home-cooking??) took a break and then went back at it. As we finished up later in the afternoon-Ed suggested that we must have done 60 or more head. I figured he was high by 10 to 15 head as it all seemed to have moved along very quickly. Once we counted-sure enough 61 head!
What refreshed me was the work ethic of these young people! Ed explained that many of the family were involved with the concrete forming/foundation business that he and Bonnie own but also pour themselves into farm work as well. I opined that no matter where the young Frankens ended up in careers they would be stand-out workers as they'd not only know how to work but also do their work with enthusiastic attitudes and a mind-set of working efficiently!
Pictures of some of the more special goats were taken, some animals were milked out, ideas for future steps in the breeding program were put out there, text messages to significant others about scores of certain goats were sent, all the while getting the task at hand done with ease!
It is always good to reminded by the example of the younger Frankens that there are many great young people coming on in the Jersey breed and other parts of agriculture. I thought about the challenges any of these young people who decide to work in animal agriculture will face. They'll be radically different challenges than those faced by their parents in their growing up days or even now.
(And did I mention how good Bonnie's home-cooking is? :-)
I suspect that, even if we are unaware of the need, we all need days like our time with the Frankens to elevate our thinking to higher levels! I left with a lot of hope, thankfulness, a nicely filled tummy and a load of new energy even in the latter parts of a full and long day!
Stay ope n to the good moments that will come your way "out of the blue"!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
It's Now October and The Royal is at Hand!
One of the absolute highlights of the Jersey Canada calendar is the National Jersey Show held at the venerable (the RAWF was "born" in 1922!!) Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, Ontario.
As we race toward the mid-November dates for this year's rendition of "The Royal" some reminders and requests from Jersey Canada are in order.
A. If you'd like the all-time perfect Christmas or otherwise gift for the Jersey lover in your life we have the answer! Jersey Canada true type Model cows are available for delivery to the Royal upon request.
We can also deliver one or two to the All American Jersey events in Louisville, Kentucky in early November if you let us know in advance. Please contact Phyllis at 519-821-1020, ext. 21 or phyllis@jerseycanada.com for more details and to place your order!
B. Again Phyllis would love to hear from anyone who would be willing to fill a brief three hour shift in the Jersey Canada booth at the RAWF. We are very much looking for willing volunteers! The booth will be staffed from Tuesday, November 10 to Sunday, November 15 so there are many opportunities to serve the breed there! Can you help Jersey Canada out? If so contact Phyllis!
C. Deadline for the three Junior Jersey Showmanship classes is Monday, October 19. Entries will be accepted from anyone 10 to 21 years of age at the time of the RAWF. See the August/Setpember Jersey Breeder (page 42) or access the application form on-line at the Youth Page of our Jersey Canada website. We've already had international entries and Canadian entries are flowing in too! Make your entries today! Thanks to Select Sires Canada for sponsoring this great class!
As we race toward the mid-November dates for this year's rendition of "The Royal" some reminders and requests from Jersey Canada are in order.
A. If you'd like the all-time perfect Christmas or otherwise gift for the Jersey lover in your life we have the answer! Jersey Canada true type Model cows are available for delivery to the Royal upon request.
We can also deliver one or two to the All American Jersey events in Louisville, Kentucky in early November if you let us know in advance. Please contact Phyllis at 519-821-1020, ext. 21 or phyllis@jerseycanada.com for more details and to place your order!
B. Again Phyllis would love to hear from anyone who would be willing to fill a brief three hour shift in the Jersey Canada booth at the RAWF. We are very much looking for willing volunteers! The booth will be staffed from Tuesday, November 10 to Sunday, November 15 so there are many opportunities to serve the breed there! Can you help Jersey Canada out? If so contact Phyllis!
C. Deadline for the three Junior Jersey Showmanship classes is Monday, October 19. Entries will be accepted from anyone 10 to 21 years of age at the time of the RAWF. See the August/Setpember Jersey Breeder (page 42) or access the application form on-line at the Youth Page of our Jersey Canada website. We've already had international entries and Canadian entries are flowing in too! Make your entries today! Thanks to Select Sires Canada for sponsoring this great class!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Having super fun in Madison..and elsewhere!
Sitting here in Guelph, Ontario enjoying an autumn day which becomes increasingly sunnier as the morning moves along it is great to be able to make use of "modern technology"!
Via live streaming video from Madison, Wisconsin we are able to stay right on top of results of the Rockin' US Central National Jersey Show at World Dairy Expo!!
Canadian-bred heifers swept the field in the heifer show on Tuesday and today Canuck girls are doing well with two of the first three milking female classes won by Canadian-bred cows originating in Nova Scotia and Quebec and the winning Futurity cow being by Giprat Belle's Jade and from a cow bred in Quebec! In the other class a Canadian-bred and born heifer who began life in Ontario was second!
The fun goes on and on! Thanks WDE for such great video work!
Lovin' it all!
Via live streaming video from Madison, Wisconsin we are able to stay right on top of results of the Rockin' US Central National Jersey Show at World Dairy Expo!!
Canadian-bred heifers swept the field in the heifer show on Tuesday and today Canuck girls are doing well with two of the first three milking female classes won by Canadian-bred cows originating in Nova Scotia and Quebec and the winning Futurity cow being by Giprat Belle's Jade and from a cow bred in Quebec! In the other class a Canadian-bred and born heifer who began life in Ontario was second!
The fun goes on and on! Thanks WDE for such great video work!
Lovin' it all!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Making It Happen All Across Canada!!
One of the innumerable blessings of being here at Jersey Canada HQs is that we have the golden opportunity to learn about countless projects that Jersey people undertake to inform the rest of the world about the Jersey cow! We appreciate the efforts everyone makes to raise the visibility of the breed in a positive way.
Here are a few good examples of what we've seen and head of late in the realm of Jersey promotion:
And we can't forget all those Jersey folks who show cows, support youth events, create, stage and man Jersey displays at agricultural events. On and on we could go about efforts to capitalize on Jersey strengths like growing production of Jersey dairy products and other Jersey-promoting efforts.
Bottom line is people are making it happen for the breed all across the land and we appreciate every single sincere effort! May the "making it happen" continue! Remember, we're cheering!
Here are a few good examples of what we've seen and head of late in the realm of Jersey promotion:
- Jersey Atlantic is "full speed ahead" in planning for the birth of a Jersey show at the Atlantic Dairy Championship Show in Truro, Nova Scotia in mid-October. National President Dean Sayles will serve as Judge. First Lady Lynda Sayles and their daughter Nancy will accompany Dean to the Maritimes. Organizers of this first-time event are very pleased by the initial response from Jersey owners in the region.
- The Barrett family of Oceanbrae Farm on Prince Edward Island mounted a Jersey and Milking Shorthorn display at the bustling Exposition Agricole et Festival Acadien in the Evangeline region of PEI in early September. They report good interest in the hand-out materials we supplied to them.
- On the other side of this vast land Jersey breeders in both the lower mainland Fraser Valley and the Interior/Okanagan Valley of British Columbia made herculean efforts to stage good Jersey shows at Chilliwack in the Fraser Valley and Armstrong in the Interior. The Armstrong Show is in its second year of revival. Decades ago the Jersey show at the IPE went into hibernation, a hibernation so deep it no longer existed! Then in 2008 the event was born again. With the help of some folks who made the long trip from the Fraser Valley with Jerseys the show increased by about 50% in size in 2009!
- This week Jersey Ontario is mounting a display at the always-heavily-attended Outdoor Farm Show near Woodstock, Ontario. The OFS is a perfect venue for sharing your story with a large agricultural audience. Earlier this year Jersey Ontario participated in the Ottawa Valley Farm Show with great results. Next Monday Jersey breeders in Eastern Ontario will cooperate with their Ayrshire neighbours to stage a consignment sale of both breeds at Winchester, Ontario.
- As noted elsewhere Jersey Quebec held their annual fall sale with overflowing success last Friday. Quebec has been a province where new Jersey shows have blossomed in a wide range of communities during this decade. In some cases the shows are first-time-ever at the local exhibition and in others they mark a revival of Jersey showing at the fair after years and years of dormancy! The list of events that Jersey Quebec is creating like Open Barn/Jersey Development Days and trade show displays is breath-taking!
- Jersey West is enjoying a period of re-structuring for growth and positive interaction with provincial Jersey associations in the region.
And we can't forget all those Jersey folks who show cows, support youth events, create, stage and man Jersey displays at agricultural events. On and on we could go about efforts to capitalize on Jersey strengths like growing production of Jersey dairy products and other Jersey-promoting efforts.
Bottom line is people are making it happen for the breed all across the land and we appreciate every single sincere effort! May the "making it happen" continue! Remember, we're cheering!
Jersey breed is bounding ahead in Europe!
Europe seems to be a very active spot for Jersey happenings of late! Last week we shared news of the first National Jersey Show in France in 23 years. Just days after that historic event an equally historic event took place in South Western England!
The founding meetings of the European Jersey Forum took place in Devon on September 8 and 9. First officers of this new Jersey organization include President Anders Levring of Denmark, Vice-Presidents Charles Reader of the UK and Andrea Trajani of Albania. Roger Trewhella of Jersey UK will serve as Secretary.
We salute this bold move to expand communication amongst growing Jersey associations across Europe. Two big Jersey events coming up soon in Europe are the second World Jersey Cheese Awards in Jersey on June 12 and 13, 2010 and the WJCB visits to Albania and Greece in early June just prior to the delivery of the Cheese Awards.
Bravo European Jersey leaders! May your new efforts be crowned with overwhelming success!
The Jersey breed is taking off everywhere!
The founding meetings of the European Jersey Forum took place in Devon on September 8 and 9. First officers of this new Jersey organization include President Anders Levring of Denmark, Vice-Presidents Charles Reader of the UK and Andrea Trajani of Albania. Roger Trewhella of Jersey UK will serve as Secretary.
We salute this bold move to expand communication amongst growing Jersey associations across Europe. Two big Jersey events coming up soon in Europe are the second World Jersey Cheese Awards in Jersey on June 12 and 13, 2010 and the WJCB visits to Albania and Greece in early June just prior to the delivery of the Cheese Awards.
Bravo European Jersey leaders! May your new efforts be crowned with overwhelming success!
The Jersey breed is taking off everywhere!
What is happening in the home of the Jersey breed?
Steve Le Feuvre is President of the Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society (or as it is often known in Jersey "The RJA"). The Society's roles include serving as the breed association in the home of the breed. Recently Steve and his spouse Suzanne sent us some snippets from a just-released RJA newsletter.
Prior to 2008 no bovine semen from outside the Island was allowed into Jersey. This was in keeping with a centuries-old law of the local government. Since importation of semen from Jersey sires resident outside of the Island began in September 2008 over 7,700 units of semen from 54 bulls have been imported. Inseminations are now running at 75% using imported semen to 25% with Island semen. Since birth of the first calves by imported semen in June 2009 more than 150 calves by "outside" sires have been registered. There are approximately 4,000 milking age females in 25 to 28 herds in Jersey.
Recently The Ontario Dairy Farmer published an article about the birth of the first calves sired by imported semen. My, what a difference a year makes! Almost exactly one year to the day ago imported semen was used for the first time in Jersey! The best part of the whole story is that the story has only begun! The keen Jersey cattle breeders in Jersey have an abundance of exciting days ahead of them!
Prior to 2008 no bovine semen from outside the Island was allowed into Jersey. This was in keeping with a centuries-old law of the local government. Since importation of semen from Jersey sires resident outside of the Island began in September 2008 over 7,700 units of semen from 54 bulls have been imported. Inseminations are now running at 75% using imported semen to 25% with Island semen. Since birth of the first calves by imported semen in June 2009 more than 150 calves by "outside" sires have been registered. There are approximately 4,000 milking age females in 25 to 28 herds in Jersey.
Recently The Ontario Dairy Farmer published an article about the birth of the first calves sired by imported semen. My, what a difference a year makes! Almost exactly one year to the day ago imported semen was used for the first time in Jersey! The best part of the whole story is that the story has only begun! The keen Jersey cattle breeders in Jersey have an abundance of exciting days ahead of them!
Recharging Those Jersey Batteries!!
Moving fast has been known to take a lot of energy. But, moving fast and being around mentally agile people who have a zest for life can also be very enriching and actually renew energy levels! Late last week Dean Sayles, Jersey Canada President, Phyllis Harrington of our staff and I made a truly flying trip to Quebec.
In the 28 hours we were in this spectacular province we kicked things off with a supper meeting with Stephane Deslauriers. Stephane, is an employee of Holstein Quebec. Jersey Quebec has, since June 2009, been purchasing administrative services from Holstein Quebec. Stephane is "point man" for provision of these services to Jersey Quebec. We talked a good deal about the aims and goals and processes of the two Jersey and one Holstein associations. We enjoyed our time at supper so much that we were almost late for an evening meeting with Stephane Marceau, President of Jersey Quebec and Isabelle Roy and Marcel Choiniere, Quebec-resident directors of Jersey Canada!
We then spent four highly energizing hours meeting with this super-keen group of people in the board room of Holstein Quebec. Despite that fact that Thursday had almost become Friday by the time we left the Holstein Quebec offices we were awake and alert and pumped as we dispersed.
The beauty of this meeting was that it was never about "us" and "them" but always about "we" and how we keep the influence of the Jersey breed in Canada's dairy industry growing. Jersey organizations exist not for their own benefit but to bolster and support and improve and promote the Jersey cow! Idea after idea about either how we can do what we do better or how we branch out into new arenas of action flowed from everyone around the table. We have created a report of action points identified or topics meriting further discussion and it has already been circulated to meeting participants and the entire Jersey Canada Board.
Regular meetings between Jersey Canada and the four regional Jersey associations that work in Canada are part of our 2008 to 2010 Strategic Plan "Jersey Rising". This meeting fully proved the value of open and honest communication with the over-riding presence of only one agenda item-"How do we do a better job for the Jersey breed in Canada?"
And by the way these meetings are also great fun because we have so many brilliant Jersey people across Canada who are alive and alert and desire to see the Jersey breed prosper!
While it was a challenge to get to sleep in the early hours of Friday we somehow managed as more "good stuff" awaited us on Friday. We got going early and travelled into the "scenic rolling, verdant hills (and mountains)" of Quebec's spectacular Eastern Townships. Our temporary destination was the Guay family's Hillover Farm near Coaticook. There, 57 head of good Jerseys were being primed for the 10th Edition of Jersey Quebec's Elite Sale.
And what a sale! On a picture-perfect late summer's day a good crowd gathered for a very peppy Jersey sale. We only stayed for about a third of the sale before bogeying back to Montreal to catch a flight to Toronto. However, the overall sale was a roaring success by all measures. The 57 head averaged right at $2600 with four head over $5000 and five over $4500. 30 milking age females exceeded $3100 for average selling price. A nice group of over a dozen bred heifers averaged over $2700. Prices were appropriate and fair for quality on offer. Prices also reflected a need for milk in Quebec this autumn.
I set with a very busy Jean-Marc Pellerin, our National Extension Agent, for a while. Most every time a cow sold I had to ask J/M who the buyer was as their faces were unfamiliar to me. Virtually every time J/M's response was: "New people to the breed". From time to time he noted that the buyer of a lot was someone who had established a foundation Jersey herd in recent years and had now decided to build on that base with a select purchase or two.
Jersey Quebec did so well at staging and hosting this sale! Heading into another full weekend one was rather than exhausted, elated, energized and ready for more! In this world we must grab hold of positive energy wherever we find it!
In the 28 hours we were in this spectacular province we kicked things off with a supper meeting with Stephane Deslauriers. Stephane, is an employee of Holstein Quebec. Jersey Quebec has, since June 2009, been purchasing administrative services from Holstein Quebec. Stephane is "point man" for provision of these services to Jersey Quebec. We talked a good deal about the aims and goals and processes of the two Jersey and one Holstein associations. We enjoyed our time at supper so much that we were almost late for an evening meeting with Stephane Marceau, President of Jersey Quebec and Isabelle Roy and Marcel Choiniere, Quebec-resident directors of Jersey Canada!
We then spent four highly energizing hours meeting with this super-keen group of people in the board room of Holstein Quebec. Despite that fact that Thursday had almost become Friday by the time we left the Holstein Quebec offices we were awake and alert and pumped as we dispersed.
The beauty of this meeting was that it was never about "us" and "them" but always about "we" and how we keep the influence of the Jersey breed in Canada's dairy industry growing. Jersey organizations exist not for their own benefit but to bolster and support and improve and promote the Jersey cow! Idea after idea about either how we can do what we do better or how we branch out into new arenas of action flowed from everyone around the table. We have created a report of action points identified or topics meriting further discussion and it has already been circulated to meeting participants and the entire Jersey Canada Board.
Regular meetings between Jersey Canada and the four regional Jersey associations that work in Canada are part of our 2008 to 2010 Strategic Plan "Jersey Rising". This meeting fully proved the value of open and honest communication with the over-riding presence of only one agenda item-"How do we do a better job for the Jersey breed in Canada?"
And by the way these meetings are also great fun because we have so many brilliant Jersey people across Canada who are alive and alert and desire to see the Jersey breed prosper!
While it was a challenge to get to sleep in the early hours of Friday we somehow managed as more "good stuff" awaited us on Friday. We got going early and travelled into the "scenic rolling, verdant hills (and mountains)" of Quebec's spectacular Eastern Townships. Our temporary destination was the Guay family's Hillover Farm near Coaticook. There, 57 head of good Jerseys were being primed for the 10th Edition of Jersey Quebec's Elite Sale.
And what a sale! On a picture-perfect late summer's day a good crowd gathered for a very peppy Jersey sale. We only stayed for about a third of the sale before bogeying back to Montreal to catch a flight to Toronto. However, the overall sale was a roaring success by all measures. The 57 head averaged right at $2600 with four head over $5000 and five over $4500. 30 milking age females exceeded $3100 for average selling price. A nice group of over a dozen bred heifers averaged over $2700. Prices were appropriate and fair for quality on offer. Prices also reflected a need for milk in Quebec this autumn.
I set with a very busy Jean-Marc Pellerin, our National Extension Agent, for a while. Most every time a cow sold I had to ask J/M who the buyer was as their faces were unfamiliar to me. Virtually every time J/M's response was: "New people to the breed". From time to time he noted that the buyer of a lot was someone who had established a foundation Jersey herd in recent years and had now decided to build on that base with a select purchase or two.
Jersey Quebec did so well at staging and hosting this sale! Heading into another full weekend one was rather than exhausted, elated, energized and ready for more! In this world we must grab hold of positive energy wherever we find it!
Monday, September 7, 2009
Breaking news from Jersey France
On Saturday just past we received a transatlantic phone call from Derrick Frigot of Jersey Island. Derrick was not home on The Island but instead in France. He and Anne Perchard and David Hambrook from Jersey were attending an historic Jersey show. According to our good friend Olivier Bulot, Manager of Jersey France, the organization were holding their first National Show in 23 years! Peter Larson, Manager of Jersey Denmark was there to serve as Judge.
And the reason for Derrick's call to us? Peter had just made a daughter of Canadian-bred sire Glenholme Counciller (Semex) Champion of the show!! Given the proximity of France and Denmark a good percentage of the cattle in France sport Danish genetics and the show featured a lot of Danish-sired cattle.
We'll have more details and photos once Derrick is home. Jersey Canada supported Jersey France by forwarding two prizes for successful exhibitors! Bravo Jersey France and Olivier and Peter and Derrick, Annie and David!
Here is a photo of the Grand Champion cow, sired by Counciller.
And the reason for Derrick's call to us? Peter had just made a daughter of Canadian-bred sire Glenholme Counciller (Semex) Champion of the show!! Given the proximity of France and Denmark a good percentage of the cattle in France sport Danish genetics and the show featured a lot of Danish-sired cattle.
We'll have more details and photos once Derrick is home. Jersey Canada supported Jersey France by forwarding two prizes for successful exhibitors! Bravo Jersey France and Olivier and Peter and Derrick, Annie and David!
Here is a photo of the Grand Champion cow, sired by Counciller.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Still soaring after two thirds of the year
Registry stats and numbers for Jersey Canada to the end of August have just been "crunched" and we like what we see!
Here's an exciting sampler:
Here's an exciting sampler:
- Registrations are UP 4.9% over 2008 year-to-date
- Electronic submission of registrations accounted for over 60% of registration activity in August. This is the third month in 2009 that electronic submissions have exceeded 60%. All since April. We are now at 56% for the year. Could hit a record 60% by year's end!
- Transfers are down 9% from last year. August however, was a very good month for transfer activity.
- Membership totals remain 10% ahead of the very high total in 2008. We are already 5.9% ahead of all of 2008 and 2008 was the best year since 1968! We are now at our highest membership total since 1967, 42 years ago! We creep ever closer to the exciting total of of 1,000 members!
More growth is on the way as we registered an even dozen of 12 new herd names in August. This boosted us to a total of 93 for the year to date. Looks like we'll easily surpass 100 new herd names regsitered for the fourth consecutive year in a row!
Looking at long term growth we have now registered a stunning 779 new herd names since January 2004! Looks like we'll also exceed 800 before the end of 2009!
Embryos sales and transfers continue to be a bright light! 2009 has already seen a record number of embryos transferred for any year in the history of the association! We are already 115% ahead of all of 2008 with four months to go!
Much of the current rising success that the Jersey breed in Canada is experiencing can be attributed to our National Extension Program. This program was established in 2006.
Since then the following accomplisments have been made reached via the program and the hard and smart work of National Extension Agent Jean-Marc Pellerin:
In 2009 to date:
From 2006 to August 2009 the following levels of activtiy have been achieved:
Looking at long term growth we have now registered a stunning 779 new herd names since January 2004! Looks like we'll also exceed 800 before the end of 2009!
Embryos sales and transfers continue to be a bright light! 2009 has already seen a record number of embryos transferred for any year in the history of the association! We are already 115% ahead of all of 2008 with four months to go!
Much of the current rising success that the Jersey breed in Canada is experiencing can be attributed to our National Extension Program. This program was established in 2006.
Since then the following accomplisments have been made reached via the program and the hard and smart work of National Extension Agent Jean-Marc Pellerin:
In 2009 to date:
- 253 herd visits
- 10% of all transfers processed this year
- Just under 3% of all registrations
- 42% of all new herd prefix registrations
- 32 new memberships
From 2006 to August 2009 the following levels of activtiy have been achieved:
- Just under 1,400 herd visits
- 205 new members
- Over 275 new herd prefixes (45% of all new herd prefixes registered in this time period
- Over 800 registrations
- Over 930 transfers
Isn't this awesome?
We use this as a springboard for further growth and progress! Let's see what the final quarter of this rockin' Jersey year brings!
Youthful exuberance
News streams into this office from so many sources. We love that! Recently Angela Masters, Editor of the Atlantic Holstein News and a Nova Scotia resident sent us some photos and a story about adventures that her two young sons have had with Jerseys.
Angela and her husband Brian are the justifiably proud parents of Riley and Linden. Now, Angela has a Jersey heritage in that she showed Jersey calves from the Twin Maples herd of the late Preston Murray and Belle Murray during her 4-H days.
Riley and Linden are thrilled to own their own brown cow Eloc Emblem Kookies, a July 2008 daughter of young sire Hollylane Jade's Emblem. At the tender age of 13 months, Kookies has already made two visits to the famed grounds of the "State Fair" at Middle Musquodoboit, Nova Scotia that we've been writing about lately.
She made a good start in 2008 with two leadsmen as you'll see shortly. This year older brother Riley took control and guided the heifer to a first in class placing and the Honourable Mention Junior Champion placing in the protein breeds show.
There is very little if anything that is more inspiring than to see young people expressing an interest in the breed. We have so many new and young faces showing up at Jersey events today. It is a whole new world! Enjoy the photos of Riley and his bro Linden supplied by their mother Angela!
Angela and her husband Brian are the justifiably proud parents of Riley and Linden. Now, Angela has a Jersey heritage in that she showed Jersey calves from the Twin Maples herd of the late Preston Murray and Belle Murray during her 4-H days.
Riley and Linden are thrilled to own their own brown cow Eloc Emblem Kookies, a July 2008 daughter of young sire Hollylane Jade's Emblem. At the tender age of 13 months, Kookies has already made two visits to the famed grounds of the "State Fair" at Middle Musquodoboit, Nova Scotia that we've been writing about lately.
She made a good start in 2008 with two leadsmen as you'll see shortly. This year older brother Riley took control and guided the heifer to a first in class placing and the Honourable Mention Junior Champion placing in the protein breeds show.
There is very little if anything that is more inspiring than to see young people expressing an interest in the breed. We have so many new and young faces showing up at Jersey events today. It is a whole new world! Enjoy the photos of Riley and his bro Linden supplied by their mother Angela!
Mother Angela says it is a case of older brother Riley saying "you push, I'll pull" to brother Linden when they unveiled Kookies in a wet ring in 2008. Yup, looks like a clear case of "push me, pull me" for Kookies to us!
"Eyes on the Judge"
"That's my girl"....Riley & Kookie growing up fast!
It's a small world after all!
As you can imagine a great deal of our interaction with Jersey owners and industry partners and suppliers relates to people who live in Canada. However, many days we have the privilege of working with and assisting folks who are from other countries, "foreign lands", if you will. Here is a sampler of international people who we've communicated with on Jersey topics during the early part of this week-and it is only Wednesday morning!
From Jersey Island - Suzanne Le Feuvre; Rob Perchard; Derrick Frigot
From the USA - Erick Metzger, Paula England, Sally Stine and Dan Bauer at the AJCA; Bill Maness in Tennessee; Melissa Hart in Michigan-Melissa is a very active farm press writer who works with Holstein International; Dairy Agenda Today and has her own neat blog at http://knolltopfarmwife.blogspot.com. She and her farming family have a Holstein herd and in the latter part of 2008 added two milking Jerseys to the mix! Everyone gets smart sooner or later! :)
From Wales in the UK: Ffiona Jones reported that her sons had become local TV stars while showing their daughters of Canadian sires Bridon Jamaica and Pine Haven Senior. They had had to contend with competition from a descendant of Canadian-born supercow Huronia Centurion Veronica, Ex-97%.
Wikus Van der Merwe from Jersey South Africa sent us a photo of a great young cow that he had seen and photographed in recent days.
Raewyne Collins from one of the New Zealand Jersey groups forwarded a question about the pedigree of a bull - who happened to be from the USA so we sent that on to the AJCA.
Richard Brown from New South Wales in Australia forwarded news about his new role with a local Jersey group. He also commented on the pioneering work that he and his family had done in bringing semen from Canadian Jersey bulls Brampton Sixth Generation and later Meadow Lawn Bright Spot to Aussie. This provoked reflection about the influential Brampton herd at Brampton, Ontario. And we also mused about the Meadow Lawn herd at Markham, Ontario where Bright Spot was born and Wendybrook Farm in Quebec's Eastern Townships where the bull was bred. Then we wandered (on an internal mind trip) over to Prince Edward Island where Edison Mutch had bred a number of the females in the direct line between Bright Spot in his River North herd.
Yes, much of our energy and time is directed to helping Canadian dairy folks with a focus on domestic breed growth. We also have the privilege of working with a bevy of enthusiastic and capable Jersey/dairy people all over the globe-and that is icing on the cake!
From Jersey Island - Suzanne Le Feuvre; Rob Perchard; Derrick Frigot
From the USA - Erick Metzger, Paula England, Sally Stine and Dan Bauer at the AJCA; Bill Maness in Tennessee; Melissa Hart in Michigan-Melissa is a very active farm press writer who works with Holstein International; Dairy Agenda Today and has her own neat blog at http://knolltopfarmwife.blogspot.com. She and her farming family have a Holstein herd and in the latter part of 2008 added two milking Jerseys to the mix! Everyone gets smart sooner or later! :)
From Wales in the UK: Ffiona Jones reported that her sons had become local TV stars while showing their daughters of Canadian sires Bridon Jamaica and Pine Haven Senior. They had had to contend with competition from a descendant of Canadian-born supercow Huronia Centurion Veronica, Ex-97%.
Wikus Van der Merwe from Jersey South Africa sent us a photo of a great young cow that he had seen and photographed in recent days.
Raewyne Collins from one of the New Zealand Jersey groups forwarded a question about the pedigree of a bull - who happened to be from the USA so we sent that on to the AJCA.
Richard Brown from New South Wales in Australia forwarded news about his new role with a local Jersey group. He also commented on the pioneering work that he and his family had done in bringing semen from Canadian Jersey bulls Brampton Sixth Generation and later Meadow Lawn Bright Spot to Aussie. This provoked reflection about the influential Brampton herd at Brampton, Ontario. And we also mused about the Meadow Lawn herd at Markham, Ontario where Bright Spot was born and Wendybrook Farm in Quebec's Eastern Townships where the bull was bred. Then we wandered (on an internal mind trip) over to Prince Edward Island where Edison Mutch had bred a number of the females in the direct line between Bright Spot in his River North herd.
Yes, much of our energy and time is directed to helping Canadian dairy folks with a focus on domestic breed growth. We also have the privilege of working with a bevy of enthusiastic and capable Jersey/dairy people all over the globe-and that is icing on the cake!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Yet Another Jersey Fan Confirmed!!
Big things were afoot at the famed "State Fair" in Middle Musquodoboit in Halifax County, Nova Scotia this year! During a dairy show which filled all available stalls on the grounds, Reggie Dillman of Musqie Valley Farms made a very special presentation. His father Poppa John Dillman received a brilliant-coloured "got jersey cows?" shirt to add to his wardrobe. In an August 20th blog posting we quoted Poppa John when he said with a mixture of trepidation, surprise and "deep concern" that: "Those little brown things are taking over the world!!" Seems John is having quite a job relating to the growth of his family's Jersey herd!
Reggie Dillman presents his Dad John with a new high fashion garment in the "State Fair's" showring
John models his smart new shirt and receives congratulations from neighbour Helena Cole of Eloc and Colstein Farm.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Ambassadors unaware of their role...
I am just recently off the phone from a conversation with Adrian Haeni at Lone Pine Farms in Didsbury, Alberta. Adrian is "home alone" in his house as Vreni and their four sons are at the Western Canada Classic youth show. This year, Saskatchewan plays host to this popular dairy event for the younger set. Adrian noted that he is aware of at least 10 Jersey calves that will be part of the competitions. The brown calves he is aware of come from Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
As we conversed about the WCC program, Adrian noted that some of our very best ambassadors for the Jersey breed are our Jersey youth. He further commented that they don't go out in public thinking of themselves as ambassadors. They simply attend events being the keen, enthusiastic, inquisitive young people they are looking to make friends, grow, learn and tell others what they are do at their home farms.
That got me thinking about some of the other Jersey folks we had heard about in recent weeks. The stories come from the "far East" to the "far West" and points in between. These Jersey supporters are bringing Jerseys out for multi-breed shows, delivering Jersey displays at agricultural fairs and shows, resurrecting Jersey shows or establishing first-time Jersey shows - in short, finding ways to make the breed and the world Jersey much more highly visible. In these cases the Jersey people know they are breed ambassadors. They give of their own time and energy to let their local world know about the breed!
Whether or not you think of yourself as a breed ambassador or even realize that you are, you are. This association appreciates all those who display professionalism and a positive attitude about dairying and animal husbandry and enthusiasm about the Jersey breed. Who knows what seeds your example and attitudes may sow?
As we conversed about the WCC program, Adrian noted that some of our very best ambassadors for the Jersey breed are our Jersey youth. He further commented that they don't go out in public thinking of themselves as ambassadors. They simply attend events being the keen, enthusiastic, inquisitive young people they are looking to make friends, grow, learn and tell others what they are do at their home farms.
That got me thinking about some of the other Jersey folks we had heard about in recent weeks. The stories come from the "far East" to the "far West" and points in between. These Jersey supporters are bringing Jerseys out for multi-breed shows, delivering Jersey displays at agricultural fairs and shows, resurrecting Jersey shows or establishing first-time Jersey shows - in short, finding ways to make the breed and the world Jersey much more highly visible. In these cases the Jersey people know they are breed ambassadors. They give of their own time and energy to let their local world know about the breed!
Whether or not you think of yourself as a breed ambassador or even realize that you are, you are. This association appreciates all those who display professionalism and a positive attitude about dairying and animal husbandry and enthusiasm about the Jersey breed. Who knows what seeds your example and attitudes may sow?
Thursday, August 27, 2009
The Surge Begins!!
Record numbers of young Jersey sires have been sampled within Canada in recent years. Eventually this kind of sampling activity yields fruit. And boy oh boy, did the fruits of young sire sampling ever become evident with the August 2009 proof run!!
There are four new faces on the top 20 list for Lifetime Profit Index (LPI) in our breed! Three are bulls proven first in Canada: On Time, Dice and Valedictorian, all from Semex. The other new sire is Iatola who received his first proof in Canada for ABS Global. This is 20% of the top 20 list!
A close review of the proofs on these four bulls defines their abilities to stimulate genetic advancement. Average proofs for the four are:
+632 milk (this is at the 64th percentile)
+54 milk (87th percentile)
+34 protein (75th percentile)
+.34% fat and +.16% protein
Lifetime Profit Index: +1514 (94th percentile!!!)
Conformation: +6 (80th percentile)
Mammary system: +8 (90th percentile)
Feet and legs: +5 (74th percentile)
Dairy Strength: +1 (52nd percentile)
Rump: +3 (64th percentile)
Somatic Cell Score: 2.81 (69th percentile)
These bulls are from an early crop in the surge in young sire sampling. In later years even more young sires were sampled. We now also have the introduction of the tool of genomic testing. This tool will allow us to focus on those young sires who'll have the best chance of being useful proven sires.
Think what kinds of new breed leaders we'd find with more young sires sampled! Sowing seeds reaps a harvest! For the Jersey breed to remain competitive new genetic resources need to be identified on a regular basis. We are now into a whole new era of both sampling expanded numbers of young sires and seeing many new sires revealed with first proofs during proof release days! That has to be good for Jersey progress! Bravo to all those selecting and sampling young Jersey sires! These results are your reward!!
There are four new faces on the top 20 list for Lifetime Profit Index (LPI) in our breed! Three are bulls proven first in Canada: On Time, Dice and Valedictorian, all from Semex. The other new sire is Iatola who received his first proof in Canada for ABS Global. This is 20% of the top 20 list!
A close review of the proofs on these four bulls defines their abilities to stimulate genetic advancement. Average proofs for the four are:
+632 milk (this is at the 64th percentile)
+54 milk (87th percentile)
+34 protein (75th percentile)
+.34% fat and +.16% protein
Lifetime Profit Index: +1514 (94th percentile!!!)
Conformation: +6 (80th percentile)
Mammary system: +8 (90th percentile)
Feet and legs: +5 (74th percentile)
Dairy Strength: +1 (52nd percentile)
Rump: +3 (64th percentile)
Somatic Cell Score: 2.81 (69th percentile)
These bulls are from an early crop in the surge in young sire sampling. In later years even more young sires were sampled. We now also have the introduction of the tool of genomic testing. This tool will allow us to focus on those young sires who'll have the best chance of being useful proven sires.
Think what kinds of new breed leaders we'd find with more young sires sampled! Sowing seeds reaps a harvest! For the Jersey breed to remain competitive new genetic resources need to be identified on a regular basis. We are now into a whole new era of both sampling expanded numbers of young sires and seeing many new sires revealed with first proofs during proof release days! That has to be good for Jersey progress! Bravo to all those selecting and sampling young Jersey sires! These results are your reward!!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
The Jersey Cheese Revolution
The Jersey cow has been known as "The Cheesemakers' cow". Lately the art and practice of making cheese from Jersey milk has been enjoying renewed attention and recognition. We salute those determined and capable souls who have been making high quality Jersey cheeses for years and even decades. Steps have been taken to make their efforts and successes even more high profile.
The World Jersey Cattle Bureau hosted the first World Jersey Cheese Awards on Jersey in May of 2008. The Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society took the lead in delivering this exciting first-time event. Encouraged by the success of this event the first North American Regional Jersey Cheese Awards program was presented in Syracuse, New York in July of 2009. We congratulate and thank the American Jersey Cattle Association for their leadership and finesse in staging the awards. This event also enjoyed a strong successful maiden voyage. In June of 2010 the second World Jersey Cheese Awards will take place, again in Jersey, home of the breed. Other regions under the WJCB umbrella are planning their own regional Jersey cheese awards programs.
These new events amplify and build upon the great work that is being done on Jersey farms and in processing plants/dairies around the globe!
Here in Canada we appreciate the long term work that Jersey cheese producers based in British Columbia have done in refining their craft and building markets. We are aware of some small scale Jersey cheese production in Nova Scotia. Jerseys have also migrated into the herd of an established cheese production company in that province.
Our National Extension Agent Jean-Marc Pellerin has been discovering and reporting upon a growing number of Jersey cheese-making businesses in Quebec. This past weekend Jersey Canada Director Isabelle Roy reported on a plant using Jersey milk in the Bois-Franc region of Quebec. Jean-Marc told us about two 2009 start-up Jersey cheese companies in recent days.
The effort of establishing a cheese production facility and the accompanying marketing and distribution arm is not for everyone. There are however, those who flourish with such challenges. The results of their hard work provides a powerful statement about the added value of Jersey milk in cheese processing! There is ample wind in the sails of the breed with regard to Jersey cheese. This is one more way to highlight the versatility of Jersey milk ane the Jersey breed!
The World Jersey Cattle Bureau hosted the first World Jersey Cheese Awards on Jersey in May of 2008. The Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society took the lead in delivering this exciting first-time event. Encouraged by the success of this event the first North American Regional Jersey Cheese Awards program was presented in Syracuse, New York in July of 2009. We congratulate and thank the American Jersey Cattle Association for their leadership and finesse in staging the awards. This event also enjoyed a strong successful maiden voyage. In June of 2010 the second World Jersey Cheese Awards will take place, again in Jersey, home of the breed. Other regions under the WJCB umbrella are planning their own regional Jersey cheese awards programs.
These new events amplify and build upon the great work that is being done on Jersey farms and in processing plants/dairies around the globe!
Here in Canada we appreciate the long term work that Jersey cheese producers based in British Columbia have done in refining their craft and building markets. We are aware of some small scale Jersey cheese production in Nova Scotia. Jerseys have also migrated into the herd of an established cheese production company in that province.
Our National Extension Agent Jean-Marc Pellerin has been discovering and reporting upon a growing number of Jersey cheese-making businesses in Quebec. This past weekend Jersey Canada Director Isabelle Roy reported on a plant using Jersey milk in the Bois-Franc region of Quebec. Jean-Marc told us about two 2009 start-up Jersey cheese companies in recent days.
The effort of establishing a cheese production facility and the accompanying marketing and distribution arm is not for everyone. There are however, those who flourish with such challenges. The results of their hard work provides a powerful statement about the added value of Jersey milk in cheese processing! There is ample wind in the sails of the breed with regard to Jersey cheese. This is one more way to highlight the versatility of Jersey milk ane the Jersey breed!
What about water? What about land?
Last week we posted comments on the need for a doubling of global food production over the next four decades. Such growth would be needed to keep up with a constantly growing global population of humanoids. Recently we became engaged in conversations about the pressures surrounding the hunt for both usable land and water to support expanded food production.
It is time for a serious re-think of how we act as a world! Paving over highly productive farm land and delving into and using finite supplies of water is already very much catching up with us! And would you like to add polluting water supplies to the mix?
The need for food will grow. The question is: How are we going to produce it? Where will the fundamental resources needed to produce more food be found? When people say water is already the new oil are they hitting the nail on the head?
It is time for a serious re-think of how we act as a world! Paving over highly productive farm land and delving into and using finite supplies of water is already very much catching up with us! And would you like to add polluting water supplies to the mix?
The need for food will grow. The question is: How are we going to produce it? Where will the fundamental resources needed to produce more food be found? When people say water is already the new oil are they hitting the nail on the head?
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