What a wondrous thing it is when a local Jersey organization reaches its 75th anniversary and is still full of life and vibrancy and doing good things!
This club has held an annual harvest sale for decades, holds regular club meetings throughout the year, has hosted some excellent Provincial annual meeitngs, has been and is home to leading breeders, world famous Jersey herds and individuals who've done so much for the breed not only close to home but nationally as well.
Today, there are many young people working hard on Jersey farms in the Perth-Huron area in South-Western Ontario. Lots of great Jersey cows live in the region. Sales selectors and others seeking good Jerseys delight in touring this area. A regular stream of new faces to the breed are investing in Jersey genetics within the club's boundaries! Production leaders and show champions originate there and often spend their working careers in this fertile two county region.
Jersey Canada salutes all the members of this dynamic club on three-quarters of a century of leadership to and support for the breed. May the next 25 years leading up to your centennial be even more successful! Congratulations on reaching such an impressive milestone! You have accomplished a giant bundle of good things!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Quotable quote
When in my home province of Nova Scotia at the very begnning of August I had occasion to visit with the Dillman family of Musqie Valley Farm. (Now, Musqie must be one of the very few words in the English language where q is not followed by a u but we'll skip the off-topic spelling chat for the moment!)
As we stomped around seeing Holsteins and Jerseys and Ayrshires it became obvious that the senior partner Poppa John Dillman was having some challenges with the increasing "browning" of the family's dairy herd. Finally he proclaimed: " Those little brown things are taking over the world!!" I was ready to pounce! My fast reply was: "And can I quote you on that?" In a split second he responded: "Yes, you can!"
So, Poppa John your words are listened to and they are heard!
You said it. We dare not argue. We shall simply report! :-)
As we stomped around seeing Holsteins and Jerseys and Ayrshires it became obvious that the senior partner Poppa John Dillman was having some challenges with the increasing "browning" of the family's dairy herd. Finally he proclaimed: " Those little brown things are taking over the world!!" I was ready to pounce! My fast reply was: "And can I quote you on that?" In a split second he responded: "Yes, you can!"
So, Poppa John your words are listened to and they are heard!
You said it. We dare not argue. We shall simply report! :-)
A few powerful words....
Consider this African proverb, if you will.
"The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is today."
What more need be said?
"The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is today."
What more need be said?
Or.....Buy Canadian!
Hm...I was arriving back in my current hometown of Fergus, Ontario one recent evening and thought: "I'm ready for some healthy food!" So, I parked at a large supermarket and went on the hunt for some fresh food. Right outside the store new green and yellow beans from Ontario were on offer. I bought a bunch. Blueberries from British Columbia? Not exactly next door (or within 100 mile diet parameters!) but they looked great (and proved to be so!) and were on sale. Eggplant? Love it! A little searching to find some local.
As I went through this process it was patently obvious that much of the "fresh" food on offer was far from local and much was from outside Canada! I was musing about the fact that we are in mid-August and not far from the famed fruit-growing region of the Niagara Peninsula. The thought came to mind: "So how about snagging some fresh peaches or plums to finish off this selection of foods chock full of vitamins and minerals and other forms of goodness?" Hm.....we're in high season for local ripe fruit and everything is imported??
I took my bag of purchases and headed for the checkout counter confused and concerned. Once there and dealing with a really pleasant lady there the feeling that I had to say something rose up within me! I knew she was in no way responsible but did ask why in a Canadian supermarket in high season for fruits and veggies it was so hard to find Canadian produce. She noted that the question was out of her area of responsibility but did ask if I wanted to speak to a manager. As a regular follower of the principle that you might as well be "in for a sheep instead of just a lamb" I noted that I would like to speak with a manager. She paged one. In short order the Assistant Manager was present and accounted for. We began our chat. He noted that he had fresh Ontario produce on display right at the front door. I agreed. I then asked about the whole peach and plum thing and the fact that there was so much imported produce in the store. He did suggest that there were baskets of Ontario peaches available. Of course, I came quickly back with the comment that I only wanted one to three of each or less and wasn't touching the imported ones!
We kept it all civil and calm. I did leave with the comment that I was involved with the Canadian agricultural industry. I noted that I was a regular customer. As a conclusion I noted that I'd appreciate seeing more local and more Canadian produce on their shelves especially in seasons when it was so readily available.
It is important to be true to yourself and your beliefs. This is far from earth-shattering stuff. I'm pretty sure I didn't change the world with tihs small offering of comments. However, so much of life is about sowing seeds and there's no better time to sow some than today!
If silence reigns anything can happen. If we speak in enough numbers with a loud enough collective voice things can change!!
As I went through this process it was patently obvious that much of the "fresh" food on offer was far from local and much was from outside Canada! I was musing about the fact that we are in mid-August and not far from the famed fruit-growing region of the Niagara Peninsula. The thought came to mind: "So how about snagging some fresh peaches or plums to finish off this selection of foods chock full of vitamins and minerals and other forms of goodness?" Hm.....we're in high season for local ripe fruit and everything is imported??
I took my bag of purchases and headed for the checkout counter confused and concerned. Once there and dealing with a really pleasant lady there the feeling that I had to say something rose up within me! I knew she was in no way responsible but did ask why in a Canadian supermarket in high season for fruits and veggies it was so hard to find Canadian produce. She noted that the question was out of her area of responsibility but did ask if I wanted to speak to a manager. As a regular follower of the principle that you might as well be "in for a sheep instead of just a lamb" I noted that I would like to speak with a manager. She paged one. In short order the Assistant Manager was present and accounted for. We began our chat. He noted that he had fresh Ontario produce on display right at the front door. I agreed. I then asked about the whole peach and plum thing and the fact that there was so much imported produce in the store. He did suggest that there were baskets of Ontario peaches available. Of course, I came quickly back with the comment that I only wanted one to three of each or less and wasn't touching the imported ones!
We kept it all civil and calm. I did leave with the comment that I was involved with the Canadian agricultural industry. I noted that I was a regular customer. As a conclusion I noted that I'd appreciate seeing more local and more Canadian produce on their shelves especially in seasons when it was so readily available.
It is important to be true to yourself and your beliefs. This is far from earth-shattering stuff. I'm pretty sure I didn't change the world with tihs small offering of comments. However, so much of life is about sowing seeds and there's no better time to sow some than today!
If silence reigns anything can happen. If we speak in enough numbers with a loud enough collective voice things can change!!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Delivery Room Photography
One of the neat things that has happened in the Jersey breed globally of late is the arrival on Jersey Island of calves sired by international sires from outside the Island. After decades and centuries a ban on use of outside semen was over-turned last July. Genetics from the larger Jersey world arrived in Jersey in mid-September and bingo-bongo, calves started arriving in mid-June.
As you can imagine an event like this has completely energized keen dairy cattlle breeders in Jersey. They are so excited to have access to a cornucopia of good genetics from leading Jersey sires! Such is the excitement that photos are popping up on Jersey websites of calves that are just born!
Take for example the Avonteur website of the LeFeuvre family. Their cattle are housed at Trinity Manor Farm managed by Rob Stevenson. Steve LeFuevre and Rob Stevenson own some cattle together under the Imagine Jerseys herd name. At www.avonteur.com you can see material on the Avonteur, Imagine and Trinity Manor herds with many photos and lots of interesting text.
Late last week Suzanne Le Feuvre encouraged me to visit their site to see some of "the very latest crop". Hm? I soon found what she meant. On August 9, 2009 I was looking at photos in the Imagine Jerseys section of the site of Imagine Sambo Christina, a Lester Sambo daughter of a 95% dam. Christina was born July 31, 2009 and was three hours old when first she had her photo taken! Or one could view Imagine Sultan Daisy, born August 5, 2009 and a "few hours old" (still wet) when photoed!
It is great to see such excitement about things Jersey and especially when they originate on that glorious Island where the Jersey breed originated!
The only question is, what next? One of Vicki LeFeuvre's heifers is carrying an ET calf by the famed Sooner Centurion...will we soon be seeing ultrasound photos of said calf?
All great fun but also very inspring for the Jersey breed worldwide! We commend the folks at Trinity Manor, Imagine and Avonteur Jerseys for their passion for the breed adn all things related to the Jersey cow!
As you can imagine an event like this has completely energized keen dairy cattlle breeders in Jersey. They are so excited to have access to a cornucopia of good genetics from leading Jersey sires! Such is the excitement that photos are popping up on Jersey websites of calves that are just born!
Take for example the Avonteur website of the LeFeuvre family. Their cattle are housed at Trinity Manor Farm managed by Rob Stevenson. Steve LeFuevre and Rob Stevenson own some cattle together under the Imagine Jerseys herd name. At www.avonteur.com you can see material on the Avonteur, Imagine and Trinity Manor herds with many photos and lots of interesting text.
Late last week Suzanne Le Feuvre encouraged me to visit their site to see some of "the very latest crop". Hm? I soon found what she meant. On August 9, 2009 I was looking at photos in the Imagine Jerseys section of the site of Imagine Sambo Christina, a Lester Sambo daughter of a 95% dam. Christina was born July 31, 2009 and was three hours old when first she had her photo taken! Or one could view Imagine Sultan Daisy, born August 5, 2009 and a "few hours old" (still wet) when photoed!
It is great to see such excitement about things Jersey and especially when they originate on that glorious Island where the Jersey breed originated!
The only question is, what next? One of Vicki LeFeuvre's heifers is carrying an ET calf by the famed Sooner Centurion...will we soon be seeing ultrasound photos of said calf?
All great fun but also very inspring for the Jersey breed worldwide! We commend the folks at Trinity Manor, Imagine and Avonteur Jerseys for their passion for the breed adn all things related to the Jersey cow!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Super Choice for Trip to Aussie
Over the recent weekend - how short they seem to be!! - we received news from Reggie Dillman at Musqie Valley Farms in Nova Scotia's Musquodoboit Valley. Reggie informed us that his neighbour Sandy Cole of Colstein and Eloc Farms has been selected for the Semex Alliance/Holstein Canada award trip to Australia. One of the things we like in this business is when dairy people rejoice in the success of others. Even better are the instances where close neighbours respect each other and are more than neighbours but very good friends too! And let me tell you the Dillmans and Coles are close neighbours!
When I visited both farms on August 1 it took me less than five minutes to get from Dillmans to Coles!
If you'd ever like to see reps of numerous dairy breeds without driving any distance at all the Cole and Dillman establishments are good choices - Dillmans have Holsteins, Ayrshires and Jerseys and Coles have Holsteins, Jerseys, Brown Swiss and Milking Shorthorns!
Both sides of Sandy's "extended pedigree" have deep roots in the NS dairy industry and so his passion for our industry is fully understandable-it is basically like he was born to it! Sandy'll be a good rep for Canada as he is very keen about cows and managing them and genetics and does know four different breeds very well. It will also be wonderful for the Aussies to glean information from such "a noted historian" of the Holstein breed! When we were going over the cows at Colstein/Eloc my eyes lit upon a barn card above a Holstein cow claiming that she was none other than the iconic Glenridge Citation Roxy, Queen of the Breed and not too far down the row was Springbank Snow Countess, now well over 100 years old! I think we've found Canada's answer to Mr. Horace Backus! Sandy's rather colourful Dad Dean simply smiled and pointed his ever-present pipe at Sandy and confirmed that he was the card-maker and budding historian! I have let Sandy know via his Uncle David that on my next visit to Eloc I expect to experience the ressurection of both the sainted Brampton Basilua and the unforgettable Duncan Belle!
Not only will the Aussies love Sandy I know from personal experience that he'll love and be capitvated by this amazing and variable land and her terrific people! As I have often said Aussies have to be amongst the toughest people on the face of this earth-in a very good way! So Canada is sending forth one of our finest and friends, family and neighbours are rejoicing! Can we say anything more than "It's all good!"
When I visited both farms on August 1 it took me less than five minutes to get from Dillmans to Coles!
If you'd ever like to see reps of numerous dairy breeds without driving any distance at all the Cole and Dillman establishments are good choices - Dillmans have Holsteins, Ayrshires and Jerseys and Coles have Holsteins, Jerseys, Brown Swiss and Milking Shorthorns!
Both sides of Sandy's "extended pedigree" have deep roots in the NS dairy industry and so his passion for our industry is fully understandable-it is basically like he was born to it! Sandy'll be a good rep for Canada as he is very keen about cows and managing them and genetics and does know four different breeds very well. It will also be wonderful for the Aussies to glean information from such "a noted historian" of the Holstein breed! When we were going over the cows at Colstein/Eloc my eyes lit upon a barn card above a Holstein cow claiming that she was none other than the iconic Glenridge Citation Roxy, Queen of the Breed and not too far down the row was Springbank Snow Countess, now well over 100 years old! I think we've found Canada's answer to Mr. Horace Backus! Sandy's rather colourful Dad Dean simply smiled and pointed his ever-present pipe at Sandy and confirmed that he was the card-maker and budding historian! I have let Sandy know via his Uncle David that on my next visit to Eloc I expect to experience the ressurection of both the sainted Brampton Basilua and the unforgettable Duncan Belle!
Not only will the Aussies love Sandy I know from personal experience that he'll love and be capitvated by this amazing and variable land and her terrific people! As I have often said Aussies have to be amongst the toughest people on the face of this earth-in a very good way! So Canada is sending forth one of our finest and friends, family and neighbours are rejoicing! Can we say anything more than "It's all good!"
Friday, August 7, 2009
WE ARE LOVIN' IT ALL!!
July 31st activity stats for Jersey Canada's registry work processing really got our motors running! Once we did some number-crunching with the raw data and put it all in historical perspective we were flying!
After seven months of 2009 we are at our highest membership level since 1967, 42 years ago!! Can you believe it? Well, believe it! And even better is the fact that our membership count in closing in on the golden figure of 1,000!!
Pretty neat when one considers that in 1967 there would have been more than ten times the number of dairy farms in Canada that there are today!
Then, we looked at the related stats on number of new herd names registered! 81 so far in 2009 and adding 11 in the month of July alone! That puts us at 767 registered since January of 2004! Furthermore we'll likely cross over the "800 since January 2004" line before the end of 2009!
We almost fell off of our chair when we looked at the stats for number of embryos transferred this year to date! Over 440 in seven months this year compared to just over 215 in all of 2008! For those who love percentages that's an increase of 104% over all of 2008!
Can you say "On Fire'!!??
Our new Canadian Jersey Embryo Program launched in late October of 2008 in conjunction with The Semex Alliance has moved embryos to nine foreign countries along with some domestic activity and growing doemstic interest! And this in a "down time" for the global economy!
All of this makes us look forward to the remaining five months of 2009 with great anticipation!
There is no telling what the Jersey cow and her dedciated owners can make happen next!
After seven months of 2009 we are at our highest membership level since 1967, 42 years ago!! Can you believe it? Well, believe it! And even better is the fact that our membership count in closing in on the golden figure of 1,000!!
Pretty neat when one considers that in 1967 there would have been more than ten times the number of dairy farms in Canada that there are today!
Then, we looked at the related stats on number of new herd names registered! 81 so far in 2009 and adding 11 in the month of July alone! That puts us at 767 registered since January of 2004! Furthermore we'll likely cross over the "800 since January 2004" line before the end of 2009!
We almost fell off of our chair when we looked at the stats for number of embryos transferred this year to date! Over 440 in seven months this year compared to just over 215 in all of 2008! For those who love percentages that's an increase of 104% over all of 2008!
Can you say "On Fire'!!??
Our new Canadian Jersey Embryo Program launched in late October of 2008 in conjunction with The Semex Alliance has moved embryos to nine foreign countries along with some domestic activity and growing doemstic interest! And this in a "down time" for the global economy!
All of this makes us look forward to the remaining five months of 2009 with great anticipation!
There is no telling what the Jersey cow and her dedciated owners can make happen next!
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