Our Right Balance Field day being held at the Donalds Farm on Thursday the 3rd of April is an on-farm discussion day, designed to bring together like-minded farmers who are interested about sustainability in agriculture. The day promises to be more than just a learning opportunity – it’s a chance to connect with fellow farmers who share our commitment to a sustainable future. Enjoy a BBQ lunch, insightful talks, discussions and a community that values the future of farming.
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THE SUSTAINABLE BREED
Jersey is the most sustainable of the common dairy breeds.
Jerseys produce more profit (approximately 8%) than Holstein Friesians when stocked at optimal stocking rates. Jerseys are kinder on the environment at the cow, whole farm and industry level. More dry matter consumed goes into milk and less into maintenance reducing the greenhouse gas emission and urinary nitrogen excretion per kg DM consumed.
Nationally, Jerseys have higher genetic merit (BW), which means greater profits and lower GHG emissions and urinary N excrection. Jersey herds require fewer replacements because of less mastitis, lameness and anoestrus. This increases profit and reduces GHG emissions and urinary N excretion at the farm level.
THE JERSEY ADVANTAGE
The economic difference between dairy breeds has never been greater. At a $7.30 payout the average Jersey herd will make a 73-cent margin over their Holstein Friesian counterparts. The margin is a combination of higher milk price, more milk solids per unit of feed and lower replacement costs. Longer term stabilising of the VCR to 0.7-0.8 as many analysts are predicting, will still see Jerseys retain a 60-cent margin.
BENEFITS OF JERSEY GENETICS
Feed conversion efficiency
Jerseys have been proven conclusively as the most efficient of the three main breeds. Jerseys produce an average of 8% more milk solids per kilogram of dry matter – 1-2% more protein and 11-13% more fat – than Holstein Friesians.
Genetic gain & crossbreeding
A strong Jersey breed is critical for crossbreeding programmes and to maintain genetic diversity. Genetic diversity will allow the New Zealand dairy industry to sustain genetic improvement and dairy farmers to adapt their livestock to changing environments and demands.
Heat tolerance
Jersey cattle display superior heat tolerance, through their ability to maintain feed intake, milk production and reproduction under warm temperatures.
Environmental sustainability
Research by DairyNZ has concluded that methane emissions and urinary nitrogen excretions are linked to dry matter intake with, on average, 22g methane emitted per kgDM eaten. Jerseys require less feed to achieve the same milk solids output as other breeds. This, coupled with lower replacement rates due to superior fertility, as well as lower milk volumes requiring less milk cartage and drying, combine to deliver significant environmental advantage. We estimate that Jerseys have a 12% carbon efficiency advantage.
Animal welfare and longevity
The Jersey breed provides animal welfare advantages in the form of longer cow life expectancy through reduced feet and leg problems, fewer collapsed udders, less mastitis, less calving difficulty and significantly lower empty rates due to superior fertility. Jerseys on average require a significantly lower replacement rate than their Holstein Friesian counterparts – 17% compared to 22%.
POTENTIAL
What would happen if your herd changed from black/black & white to golden brown
- You keep the same number of cows
- You feed the golden brown cows so they produce the same kg MS
- By breeding lower liveweight cows, your farm would decrease its methane emissions by 9.5% and will produce the same amount of milk solids but would require less supplement or nitrogen to do this.
COMPARISON
Jersey’s outperform all other breeds in terms of higher kg milksolids/kg LWT. It is also known that Jersey’s are 9% better than Friesian and 3.7% better than cross-breed on a per kg LWT basis using the genetic base cow data.
THE BREED FOR VARIABLE MILKING SYSTEMS
Better udder conformation and higher milk solid percentages make Jerseys more adaptable to the shift from Twice a Day to Once a Day milking according to the findings of Project Dairy 1 at Massey University, Manawatu.
- The level of milk production drop for Jerseys going onto OAD is always less, with up to 9% less decline for Jersey than Holstein-Friesian.
- Kg MS/kg LWt is significantly higher for Jersey, with a 13% advantage over Holstein-Friesian and a 6% advantage over Jersey Fresian cross.
- Jersey in OAD herds are less likely to be culled due to udder breakdown, therefore fewer replacements are needed, creating a sustainable system.
The Jersey’s ability to carry 24 hours milk production (with high milk solids %) is a key attribute. If you are considering changing to a OAD system, then Jersey is your breed of choice as they are best able to cope with the increased milk volume.
FERTILITY
On average, Jerseys have the highest fertility breeding value. Fertility breeding values gauges a cow’s genetic potential for fertility. DairyNZ findings revealed high Fertility BV heifers reached puberty sooner and had better reproductive outcomes than their low BV counterparts. Additionally, they show superior survival rates and had more favourable calving patterns.
Reference: DairyNZ
https://www.dairynz.co.nz/research/science-projects/fertility-bv-animal-model/
Eight individual predictor traits are currently used to estimate the fertility breeding value:
- Calving rate in the first 42 days after the planned start of calving (CR42) in lactation 1, 2 and 3
- Presented for mating within 21 days of the planned start of mating (PM21) in lactation 1, 2 and 3
THE SCIENCE
Jerseys have a slightly different metabolism compared to Holstein Friesians. Jerseys have more SCFA and MCFA’s (short and mid-chain fatty acids). More de novo fat synthesis is found with Jerseys in early lactation. Selecting cows with strong de novo fat synthesis can ensure healthier, longer-living, and more productive animals. Higher milk fat percentages can give farmers better returns from milk sales. Efficient metabolism can mean less health problems, reducing vet costs and improving overall herd sustainability. So when breeding dairy cattle, looking for good fat metabollsim traits helps create a more profitable and resilient herd.
BREEDING VALUE
The Jersey cow consistently outperforms other breeds in delivering superior breeding values
Regional Ambassadors 2024 – Contact our JerseyNZ Ambassadors today
Graeme Collins – NORTHLAND – 027 426 1172 / 09 423 7058 – waiteitei243@gmail.com
Des Hickey – WAIKATO – 027 450 9346 / 07 828 5902 – 2deshickey@gmail.com
Tony Luckin – TARANAKI – 027 540 0130 / 06 752 4192 – leithlea@xtra.co.nz
Karen Fitzgerald – LOWER NORTH ISLAND – 027 408 0098 / 06 329 3224 – karenfitz@xtra.co.nz
Norm Atkins – LOWER NORTH ISLAND – 027 374 1005 / (06) 374 1808 – kohitiata@gmail.com
Robert Hall – CANTERBURY – 027 431 8610 / 03 348 8406 – 8raro8@gmail.com
Ted Ford – UPPER SOUTH ISLAND – 027 444 2805 / 03 544 2805 – westbourne@xtra.co.nz
Brian Nesbit – UPPER SOUTH ISLAND – 027 225 9969 / 03 525 9969 – chardonnay.nz@gmail.com
Our Right Balance Field day being held at the Donalds Farm on Thursday the 3rd of April is an on-farm discussion day, designed to bring together like-minded farmers who are interested about sustainability in agriculture. The day promises to be more than just a learning opportunity – it’s a chance to connect with fellow farmers who share our commitment to a sustainable future. Enjoy a BBQ lunch, insightful talks, discussions and a community that values the future of farming.