Universal winning

As we go about our daily work at Jersey Canada we are increasingly drawn to the topic of embryo transfer. As noted in an earlier blog posting the Canadian Jersey Embryo Program has taken off like a bullet these past ten months. This year Jersey Canada has set a new all time annual record for transfers of embryos. And that in only seven months!

In preparing some material I had reason to review the listing of embryos on our website. I started to think about the opportunities that the list presents. I thought about new Jersey owners wanting to begin on the right foot with quality genetics. I thought about established owners of the breed wanting to add a new cow family and up the calibre of their herd at the same time. I thought of how working from the list would be a great way for dairy producers to launch into their first venture with the Jersey breed.

Implantation of Jersey embryos is a top way to ensure easy calving for animals of larger breeds. You start off with the easy caving and a healthy surrogate mother for the embryo calf. You then have a valuable Jersey calf loaded with superior genetics on the ground. The Jersey breed grows. Those with seed stock to create embryos have a steady market for their product line. Genetic progress happens in gigantic leaps and bounds on a herd basis.

Folks in foreign lands can tap into some of the leading Canadian cow families they have read about and researched. In virtually any country of the world you can own the same genetics as the most famous and proven superior cows of the breed.

Choice is abundant with often close to 500 embryos from 40 or 50 donor dams or more and often by 20 or 30 different sires or more. It is like a mile long salad bar full of so much of what you like!

On June 30th I had occasion to stop at Avonlea Genetics Ltd. near Brighton, Ontario. I was sure I was at the right farm as I've been there "many a time". However as I pulled ever closer to this famous Jersey breeding establishment all I could see were heifers of that other well-known larger breed.

Before long the scenario dawned on me-nobody ever said I get everything in the twinkling of an eye - and then was confirmed by the good folks at Avonlea. The heifers were "black and white on the outside and Jersey brown on the inside" to put it succinctly!

Never before have their been tools to forge ahead with dramatic vigour as there are today! Mouth-watering packages of the best Jersey genetics in the world are right at one's fingertips! You can start in a very good position and roar ahead into an even more excellent one with speed! And the best part is everyone can win from your success!!