PROFIT POWER!

Fall 2006
From coast to coast, Canadian dairy producers are re-examining the bottom line of
their dairy operations, in order to ensure efficiency of production and a strong return
on investment. Increasing numbers of dairy producers are taking a look at the Jersey
cow as an addition to their operations due to the unique package that the breed can
make to almost any operation, regardless of size and nature. The Jersey cow pres-
ents a valuable package of production and type with efficiency of production that will
flourish in most dairy herds across Canada.
MILK PRODUCTION - THE COMPONENT QUEEN!
The Jersey breed has long been the undisputed champion for production of high
percentages of butterfat and protein in a concentrated and nutritious package.
National breed averages for butterfat and protein percentages are 4.9% and 3.8%,
respectively.
Having a breed that produces such a high level of fat and protein is bound to have
certain advantages. These include:
1. No problems with SNF Ratios. With enforced ratios of Solids Non Fat to Fat
across Canada now in effect, it is prudent for dairy producers to ensure that they are
producing within the ratio caps set in their province, as non-fat solids produced above
the ratio cap will not be paid for. As it is very inefficient to put money into producing
a product with no value, it becomes imperative to ensure that your herd meets SNF
ratio commitments. While changes to feed composition and schedule can help to a
certain degree, there is no more immediate or effective way to bring your herd SNF/F
ratio down: Jerseys! Breed average SNF/F ratio for Jerseys is 1.97, comfortably
below benchmarks set by any province in Canada. By adding cows to your herd
which can regularly test in excess of 5% fat, this can make an immediate impact on
your herd SNF, and ensure that you arent losing income to over production of protein
and other solids.
2. Milk price. With most provinces making the necessary changes to milk pricing
to help reduce the over-supply of non-fat milk solids, the price for fat has risen above
the price for protein. For Ontario in May 2006, the average price per hectolitre for
Jersey milk at breed average was $84.02, compared with $70.34 for the industry aver-
age. It is worth noting that this $84 milk is sufficiently below SNF/F ratios in all 10
Canadian provinces, meaning no loss of revenue from milk.
3. The benefits of a concentrated product. As Jerseys produce a more concen-
trated product with more fat and protein per litre of milk, there isnt the need to pro-
duce as high of volume of milk in litres. This can have its benefits. For one, on-farm
bulk tanks for new or expanding operations may not have to be as large, saving equip-
ment cost. Perhaps more important are the cost savings from transportation. As
transportation cost is charged per hectolitre, it makes sense to ship a product that is
more concentrated. Given that transportation costs will likely continue to rise to
reflect the cost of fuel, this becomes an important consideration when examining your
monthly milk cheque.
Ferme Prs Verts in St-Gabriel de Rimouski, Qubec now milks 14 Jerseys in their
45 cow herd. They are relatively new to the Jersey breed, but after their first two
Jersey purchases are sold on the profitability of milking Jerseys. Luc Deschnes of
Ferme Prs Verts notes that they Jerseys fill the quota at about the same level as the
Holsteins, but require much less feed to do so!
Canadian Jerseys - Show Me The Money!
On the cover:
Golden Hallmark Glisten VG-88
3-2 9734M 563F 5.8% 391P 4.0%
Owned by La Presentation Holsteins
& Jerseys, the Blanchette family,
La Presentation, Quebec.
Bred by Glenn & Sheila Burgess
and Family, Mildmay, Ontario
Jerseys make the perfect dairy
cow for young families, and make
great project calves for 4-H proj-
ects! Jersey Canada also has an
array of programs for youth from
across Canada - check out our
website for more details!
JERSEYS - THE RIGHT FIT FOR ANY SITUATION!
One of the most common questions from producers interested in introducing
Jerseys to their herd is how well do they co-exist with larger breeds? Well, the ver-
dict is in - no problem! Whether you have a tie-stall, free-stall, or loose housing oper-
ation, Jerseys should thrive in any housing arrangement with cows of other breeds.
The Mueller family of Roswitha Holsteins and Jerseys of Steinbach, Manitoba
note that the Jerseys and Holsteins mix very well together, requiring no special
treatment for the Jerseys in comparison to the Holsteins. In fact, Friedel Mueller
notes that when we started with Jerseys, we thought that we should sort the heifers
by size rather than by age, so the Jerseys wouldnt be bullied by the Holsteins.
However, we quickly found out that the Jerseys were not only holding their own, but
were pushing around the younger Holstein heifers, and therefore we went back to
sorting by age. The Muellers also note that the Jerseys are always the first into the
parlour, and have been very easy to integrate into the operation. Future plans are to
increase the Jersey population to 50% of the milking herd, currently numbering 180
head.
Paul Ruigrok of Canfield, Ontario notes that Jerseys have adapted well to his free-
stall operation that employs a robotic milker. He notes that the Jerseys are com-
pletely competitive with the Holsteins. After the Jerseys adapt to the robotic milk-
er, the seem to even use it more than the Holsteins do.
Of course, one of the most important times in the daily life of a dairy cow is the
time spent eating. Here again, Jerseys regularly show no competitive disadvantage
when it comes to feeding time. Dick Friesen of Marksview Farms in Warman,
Saskatchewan relates that when first introducing Jerseys to their existing Holstein
herd, we were concerned that the Jerseys might have a problem competing with the
Holsteins for room at the feed bunk, but this hasnt been a problem whatsoever. The
Jerseys are aggressive feeders in our free-stall barn, while being quiet and well tem-
pered cows. While we are going to keep milking Holsteins, we would like to move to
about 50% Jerseys.
Introducing Jerseys to a tie-stall housing environment is likewise simple, and due
to the breeds smaller size, may help solve headaches facing many producers who
have cows that are much too large for their existing stalls. With older barns, it may
be quite expensive to renovate the barn to accommodate larger cows. It may be sim-
pler and less expensive to look at a smaller breed such as the Jersey that still pro-
duces a high return, but decreases the need for barn renovation.
Regardless of housing environ-
ment, Jerseys can compete with
larger breeds for room at the feed
bunk.
The quiet temperament of the
Jersey cow makes them a pleas-
ure for the whole family to work
with, and reduces un-necessary
labour time dealing with ill-tem-
pered animals.
CANADIAN JERSEYS - THE PERSONAL TOUCH...
In the spring of 2006, Jersey Canada welcomed two more regional marketing organizations
to the Jersey landscape - Jersey West and Jersey Atlantic. These two groups are expanding
Jersey presence at industry events in their respective regions, as well as doing on farm visits to
new or prospective Jersey breeders. Both groups are following the lead of Jersey Ontario and
Jersey Quebec which have been performing similar functions for many years in those provinces.
If you would be interested in receiving a farm visit from personnel from one of Jersey Canadas
regional marketing organizations, please consult the back page of this brochure to find contact
information for the organization in your area. We would love to meet with you and explore with
you how Jerseys can add to your dairy operation!
JERSEYS = REPRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY!
Maintaining a high level of reproductive efficiency is essential on any dairy farm,
as it minimizes time that cows arent in production, and likewise minimizes cost on
semen, insemination costs, animal health issues, and labour. In this vein, there are
many ways that Jerseys show advantages in reproductive efficiency.
The average age at first service for Canadian Jerseys is 15.5 months, almost an
entire month less than the industry average. This amounts to one less month feed-
ing an animal before it enters its productive life. With a 1999 study from Virginia Tech
estimating that each month in excess of 24 months at calving having a cost to the pro-
ducer of $55 per animal, this is significant. For a 60 cow herd calving 30 heifers per
year, that equates to savings of $1650 per year for just shaving a month off of average
calving age! Also, heifers bred at 14-17 months are at the most fertile months of their
lives, and should catch to the first breeding more often than heifers bred a few months
later. Therefore, the earlier maturing Jersey heifer should help to get your herd pro-
ducing earlier and returning profit from investment in their first two years of life!
At an average of 1.8 breedings per cow, the Jersey breed has the lowest value
for this trait of the major dairy breeds in Canada. This means fewer days out of pro-
duction, and less wasted semen and insemination costs. As a result, Jerseys average
8 fewer days open than the industry average. With an estimated cost to the produc-
er of up to $2 per day open past 100 days, this could mean savings in excess of $950
on a herd of 60 cows just by having cows like Jerseys that are bred back more quick-
ly. This value doesnt even include the savings from reduced semen wastage, labour,
and insemination costs. Recent figures from the Canadian Dairy Network note that the
56 day Non-Return Rate for Jersey cows is 68%, 7% higher than industry average,
giving credence to the fact that Jersey cows catch to earlier breedings, and require
fewer re-breedings.
BETTER WAYS TO SPEND TIME THAN PULLING CALVES!
A study from USDA in 2005 showed Jerseys in the United States to show almost
a 20% superiority in the number of easy calvings (with very low incidence of very dif-
ficult calvings) than other, larger dairy breeds evaluated in the same study, regardless
of lactation. Likewise, figures from the Canadian Dairy Network in 2005 show first lac-
tation Canadian Jerseys to have 96% unassisted or easy pull calvings, while cows in
subsequent lactations have 99% unassisted or easy pull calvings. It is very easy to
see that calving Jerseys can involve a lot less labour time, and produce more healthy
calves and healthy cows free of dystocia. With a 1994 study from the University of
Guelph estimating that a hard pull can cost approximately $150 more on average than
an easy pull, and with a surgery costing on average up to $535 more than an easy pull,
the financial aspects of calving ease are easy to envision!
According to Adrian and Vreni Haeni of Lone Pine Jerseys, milking over 100 cows
in Didsbury, Alberta, they say that in our minds, Jerseys, fertility, and calving ease go
together like three peas in a pod. Over the past few years, we have had a calf survival
rate of 98.5%, with the large majority being unassisted calvings. Calving ease and fer-
tility are guaranteed on our farm, because we have Jerseys!
Jersey cows show definite
advatanges in reproductive effi-
ciency and calving ease, meaning
more healthy Jersey calves for
your herd!
An excellent example of a cow
combining production, type, and
reproductive efficiency is Avonlea
Renaissance Kookie EX-92-4E.
Despite being an accomplished
show cow and being actively
flushed to produce embryos,
Kookie has gained only 3 months
in 5 completed lactations, calving
at 1-10, 2-11, 3-11, 5-1, and 6-1.
In this time she has produced
39,835 kgs of milk, 2,013 kgs of
fat, and 1,514 kgs of protein!
JERSEYS DEFINE LONGEVITY!
Study after study in the North American dairy industry clearly shows that the
Jersey breed has a distinct advantage in length of productive life. For instance, a
USDA study recently pegged American Jerseys as lasting 0.59 lactations longer than
Holsteins (2.87 lactations to 2.28). In a similar fashion, data from the Canadian Dairy
Network pegs Jerseys as having an average productive life of 3.61 years, notably
higher than Holsteins at 3.08 years. The same difference is seen in age at culling, with
Jerseys at 6.22 years compared to 5.63 for Holsteins.
Why is this advantage in productive life important? It means that cows will have
more days in mature productive form, when a dairy cow is in the best condition to
produce return on the investment of raising or purchasing her. It also decreases the
need for replacement animals just to maintain herd numbers, allowing for flexibility to
grow herd size internally or have replacement animals available for sale.
David & Tracy Morey of Unique Valleystream Genetics in Rochester, Alberta com-
ment that in our herd of over 200 cows milking, we currently have 10% of the herd
over 10 years of age. Jerseys continue to surprise us, how they remain productive at
advanced ages!
JERSEYS CAN COMPETE IN RETURN OVER FEED!
Despite being smaller in stature and size, the Jersey cow packs a lot of production
power into a smaller package. On a liveweight basis, Jerseys have a 39% greater vol-
ume of rumen and 18% greater dry matter intake (DMI) than Holsteins, according to
studies researched by the World Jersey Cattle Bureau (WJCB). This means that
despite a smaller frame, the Jersey cow is efficient in accessing feed and utilizing that
feed to maximum efficiency. Another study accessed from the WJCB notes that the
ratio of produced energy in milk to the energy used in maintenance of the cow is 2.46
for the Jersey breed, compared to 1.85 for Holstein, a 33% advantage to the Jersey
breed. This means the Jersey puts more of its energy intake toward production
rather than maintenance - dairy efficiency defined!
Alain and Claudine Poirier of Ferme Cavalait in Lefaivre, Ontario can attest to the
feed efficiency of the Jersey breed, after adding their first Jerseys in 1999. Their herd
was recently awarded as the top herd for management score from CanWest DHI in
their county, and furthermore placed among the top 12 herds in Ontario. Along with
advantages in herd health and animal temperament, Alain notes that the Jerseys
require less total feed cost to produce the same amount of milk components. In turn,
we then require less land to produce the feed we need, and less labour to produce
the feed. The Cavalait herd is now about 60% Jerseys.
Curious as to how his Jersey herd pencilled out on return over feed as compared
with the industry average, John Vander Wielen of Grayclay Jerseys in Elmwood,
Ontario used feed prices applicable to his area in South Western Ontario and industry
average statistics to compare feed cost per kilogram of butterfat for Jerseys against
the industry average. He found that at breed average Jersey butterfat levels, it costs
64 cents less in feed cost to produce a kilogram of butterfat for Jerseys than for the
industry average, a difference of 19% from industry average. Extrapolated over a
herd with 50 kilograms of quota, this equates to $12,240 less feed costs per year for
the herd! As Jerseys eat less, they also produce less manure - this is a biological fact.
In a modelling study done at the University of Guelph in 2001, it found that a 57 cow
Jersey herd with the same quota investment as a 50 cow Holstein herd had about
$740 less cost from manure spreading, and over $7400 less in manure storage costs.
Both old and new Jersey breed-
ers find that Jerseys are very pro-
ductive on less feed than other
breeds, saving money on feed
cost and labour!
Few cows in any breed define
productive longevity like Rexlea
Performing Hostess. She is clas-
sified EX-92-7E, is an Eight Star
Brood Cow, and has lifetime pro-
duction of 111,201 kgs of milk,
5039 kgs of fat, and 4366 kgs of
protein in 11 lactations!
Many commercial dairymen across Canada have been
experimenting with crossbreeding, particularly with Jersey
crosses. Jersey-cross animals are extremely popular in New
Zealand, and are becoming more commonplace in the United
States. If you have crossbred progeny, these can still be
recorded. In the future, anima movement will be highly
dependant upon unique indentification and verifiable birth-
dates, so it is prudent to have papers on all dairy animals
whether they are purebred or not. Also, requirements for offi-
cial milk recording require 80% of first lactation animals to be indentified to maintain publishable status for the
herd.
Therefore, if you have progeny of a known Jersey sire, or a grade Jersey with breed characteristics, Jersey
Canada can record that animal and issue a paper for her for only $8. This recordation program extends also to
progeny of Semexs Repromax program which exhibit Jersey characteristics. For more information on cross-
bred recordation and Jersey Canadas Grade-Up Program, contact Jersey Canada Registrar Jill Dann at
(519) 821-1020 ext. 22 or at jill@jerseycanada.com.
Use of Jersey embryos is an effective way to grow
the number of Jerseys in your herd with some of the
highest quality genetics to be found. These four first
lactation heifers to the right from Drentex Jerseys,
Russell, Ontario are all full sisters from the same
flush, yielding a productive, consistent animal!
Embryos allow you to grow the Jersey part of your
herd in a cost effective manner, while choosing only
the top quality genetics to introduce to your herd!
There are several producers new to the Jersey
breed who are using Jersey embryos to a great
extent. Luc Deschnes of Ferme Prs Verts , St-Gabriel de Rimouski, Qubec notes that they use Jersey embryos in
a large proportion of their Holstein heifers to avoid calving difficulties. This yields more Jerseys, as well as allows
those Holstein heifers to avoid dystocia problems, therefore making them more productive on average. Likewise, the
Muellers of Roswitha Farms in Steinbach, Manitoba note that they purchased some brood cows in their first Jerseys
purchases which they are now flushing with good success. They then implant most of their Holstein heifers and old
cows with Jersey embryos. This has the dual benefit of letting them grow their Jersey herd from within with home-
bred Jerseys, but also ensures the Holstein half of the herd is more productive due to fewer problems in delivering a
calf.
If you would be interested in purchasing Jersey embryos for your herd, contact us at Jersey Canada, and we can
forward you to individuals and groups who can offer you the selection of embryos you desire!
GROW YOUR HERD AND
REDUCE CALVING DIFFICULTY
WITH JERSEY EMBRYOS!
Win some money! Jersey Enhancement Award:
Ages 12-25. Contact us for more details!
EMBRYO CALVING EASE PROGRAM
www.jerseycanada.com/ojc/embryo.html
Guelph Office: Stuart Roxburgh
9-350 Speedvale Ave W Guelph, ON N1H 7M7
Tel: (519) 766-9980 Fax: (519) 766-9981
Email: ontario@jerseycanada.com
Eastern Ontario Rep: Kerry Fraser
easternontario@jerseycanada.com
It s not just a cow...
...It s a business decision!
DO YOU HAVE JERSEY-SIRED
CROSSBREDS TO REGISTER?
The radical expansion of activity sweeping the Jersey
breed in the USA is surely becoming an exciting part of
being involved with Jerseys in Canada as well. In very
recent years this association has racked up activity levels
that are among the highest in its history! Some key sta-
tistics to note:
- 2005 was the third year in a row that domestic
Jersey semen sales in the USA topped 1,000,000 units,
setting a new record of more than 1,300,000 units, an
exciting 13.1% increase over 2004! Only a decade ago,
Jersey semen sales were a steady 500,000 to 600,000
units a year. Current growth projections indicate potential
sales of over 2,000,000 units of Jersey semen in the USA
within three to four years!!
- The last four years worth of Jersey registrations have
all ranked within the top ten annual totals for the entire
AJCA history. Totals are now at the highest levels theyve
been at since the 1950s!
- Classifications and number of cows and herd
enrolled in AJCA performance programs were also at
their highest levels in history in 2005, increasing 13.1%
over 2004!
- New production records are being set regularly, and
a new record average for value of cattle sold by the
AJCAs Jersey Marketing Service was set in 2005!
- A group of forward-looking Jersey producers estab-
lished Hilmar Cheese in California, which has grown to be
the largest single site cheese plant in the world. Hilmar is
now constructing a new second plant in Dalhart, Texas,
which has ignited tremendous additional demand for
Jersey milk and therefore Jersey genetics in this area!
Dramatic Increase in Demand
for Jerseys in the USA...
The United States is not the only market seeing
growth in Jerseys! Jersey Canada is posting some
spectacular numbers, indicating growth in activity and
interest in the breed! Some indicators of note:
- Registrations in 2006 are almost 9% higher for the
first half of the year compared to the first half of 2005.
January and May 2006 were the best months for regis-
trations processed by Jersey Canada in over 36 months
since January 2003!
- Transfers of ownership have essentially returned
to pre-BSE levels, despite the fact that back then there
was a raging export demand for Jersey bred heifers
from the USA and Mexico of approximately one in four
registered heifers! This rebound indicates a dramatic
increase in domestic demand for Jersey genetics with-
in Canada!
- Membership totals for Jersey Canada are certainly
moving in the opposite direction to the overall industry!
Memberships in 2006 to date are 9% higher than in
2005 and even more importantly are now at their high-
est level in a decade and a half, since 1990! In an indus-
try where numbers of producers is shrinking this is
extraordinary news!!
- An even brighter sign for future growth is that the
number of new prefix registrations used in naming
calves is skyrocketing! In 2005, this measure was 24%
higher than in 2004, and in 2006 the number of new pre-
fixes registered is the same as all of 2005 in just the first
six months of the year! This is a 90% increase over 2005
to date! Obviously there are a lot of new owners of reg-
istered Jerseys! You should be amongst their midst!
... Which Is Being Replicated
Here in Canada!
1891
M
E
A
D
O
W
LAW
N
F
A
R
M
S
Meadow Lawn Farm
Registered Jerseys since 1891
Barry G. Little
6472 Steeles Ave., Markham, Ontario L3S 3J5
Ph: (905) 294-1611 bl_cd@sympatico.ca
Deep-pedigreed cattle combining type
and production are always available!
Herd Ave. BCA: 284-236-283
Average Milk Value: $6471
Want to know more about the Jersey breed?
The first 25 dairy producers who fax us at (519) 821-2723 or email us at
ryan@jerseycanada.com and have never been members, will receive a 1 year
FREE MEMBERSHIP TO JERSEY CANADA
This includes lower rates on registry work, a subscription to the Jersey Breeder
magazine, and a comprehensive information kit on the Jersey breed!
Gary & Maureen Bowers & Family
1530 Chemin May
Coaticook, Quebec J1A 2S4
Tel: (819) 849-3196
Fax: (819) 849-4799
Cell: (819) 820-4029
Email: lencrest@abacom.com
Quality Embryos and Cattle of all
ages available for sale at all times!
Unique Stock Farm
David & Tracy, Casey and Lee Morey
Box 27, Rochester, Alberta T0G 1Z0
Tel/Fax: (780) 698-2267
Email: uniquestock@telusplanet.net
www.jerseycanada.com/unique
Unique Valleystream Genetics
We can help you find the
Jersey genetics you seek!
Specializing in deep pedigreed cattle
with unlimited potential!
Cattle of all ages and Embryos available!
The time is NOW to let Jerseys make money for you!
For information on all aspects of the breed, or for assistance
in locating quality Jersey genetics in your area, contact us at:
JERSEY WEST
Box 847, Grunthal, Manitoba R0A 0P0
Ph: (204) 434-5030 Email: ajrem@mts.net
JERSEY ONTARIO
9-350 Speedvale Ave W, Guelph, Ontario N1H 7M7
Ph: (519) 821-1020 Fax: (519) 821-2723
Email: ontario@jerseycanada.com
JERSEY QUEBEC
4865 boul. Laurier-Ouest, St-Hyacinthe, Quebec J2S 3V4
Ph: (450) 774-2775 Fax: (450) 774-9318
Email: sberthiaume@csrlinc.com
JERSEY ATLANTIC
20 MacLeod Rd, Tower Hill, New Brunswick E5A 3N3
Ph: (506) 466-2090 Fax: (506) 465-8040
Email: acparker@nb.sympatico.ca
JERSEY CANADA
9-350 Speedvale Ave W, Guelph, Ontario N1H 7M7
Ph: (519) 821-1020 Fax: (519) 821-2723
Email: info@jerseycanada.com
Web: www.jerseycanada.com
or contact one of our four regional marketing organizations: