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Pasture Jerseys

Pasture Jerseys. Experience with Jersey cows from 1965/66 at the age of 6 years old My father milked 15-20 Jersey cows once a day by hand from natural pastures in a dry area with rainfall of about 500 mm/annum Production between 5-15 lit/cow/day. Own farming career.

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Pasture Jerseys

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  1. Pasture Jerseys

  2. Experience with Jersey cows from 1965/66 at the age of 6 years old • My father milked 15-20 Jersey cows once a day by hand from natural pastures in a dry area with rainfall of about 500 mm/annum • Production between 5-15 lit/cow/day

  3. Own farming career • Own farming career started in 1981 together with my father – sheep farming • Bought 10 cows in Feb 1981 • Bought cheapest cows available, any breed • AI with relevant purebred sires from the start • Sold milk in cans to Nestle – no bulk tanks

  4. Slowly build numbers to about 50 cows in milk by end 1982 • Turn to dairy only in 1983 • Build 8 a side switch over herringbone parlour • Increase to 150 cows by 1986

  5. Bought own farm in 1986 • Increase numbers to 250 cows • Bought present farm in 1994 • Milk 800 cows – 90% + purebred Jerseys • 36 unit rotary • 125 ha centre pivot irrigation • 250 ha dry land pastures

  6. My Jersey Experience • Grow up with Jersey cows • Join Albany Jersey cattle Club in 1982 • Register with Jersey SA in 1984 • Production was about 4000lit/cow/year • Local AI bulls - mostly sons of Milestone Generator, Marlu Fashion Legend

  7. Import first semen from USA in 1984 – A Nine Top Brass • Daughters started to milk in 1987 • Lowest first lactation production was more than that of mother – six daughters average over 5000 lit compared to herd average of 4000 lit • Best daughter did 6000 lit

  8. Top Brass daughters 1000-1500 lit better then local progeny • Importation quota's • Used maximum allowed • Lion Pride Lynx, Brass Major, Brass Top, Mills Homestead, Be Magic, JS Quicksilver Royal, Opportunity, Hermitage, Lester, Yankee Chief, Boomer Sooner, Malcolm • Althea sons – Alf, Dunker, Adonis

  9. Highlight • Picked Lester as a young bull in 1990/1 • 30 Lester daughters born in 1992 • Sold two Lester sons out of Royal daughters to AI • Kamma widely used • Sold 4 Lester daughters at 1994 National Sale for highest average price • Herd production 5700 lit • Adonis/Sooner/Opportunity 8000 first lactation

  10. The system • Started off as “cow” farmer. • Focus on cow - production • Visited NZ in 1993 • Become a “grass” farmer • Focus on grass – cow “harvester” to turn grass into milk/profit • From about 2010 – pasture yields dropped

  11. Now a “soil” farmer • Focus healthy sustainable soil – Grow quality pastures and use cow to convert to profit • Not organic – rather environmental friendly • Compost, chicken manure, combinations of pastures, clovers etc. – less chemical fertilizer • Soil health and sustainability high priority

  12. Feeding system • 11-12 kg’s DM from pastures • 4-5 kg’s concentrates • Maize and minerals • Add silage when pastures not enough • Add protein Jan – Apr – supplement pasture quality

  13. Right cows for the system? • 1981- 1993 High “genetic merit” • Focus on production and type -mostly USA • 1994- 2010 Focus changed – cow must utilize pastures • Feeding to much concentrates- not healthy for the cows • Find that 2.5- 3 kg’s of concentrate/milking is maximum for healthy rumen. • Lower concentrate feeding – High producers lost to much weight • Cows milked to “much” – Fertility problems increase

  14. Turn more towards NZ genetics • Import Judds Admiral and Parkwood Casper semen • Ernest, Senator Sam , Panache, Charlie’s Lad, Rivers Imperial, Erect, Mans Man • Lost to much production from third generation NZ • “Cross” between NZ and “High merit”

  15. “High merit” genetics not enough strength. • 2006 – Aus - Badger very good. • Select NZ semen for high production/good type • Manhatten , Murmer • Aus - Larfalot, Gainfull • Balance between production and strength

  16. Profit drivers • Pasture utilisation • Reduction of costs

  17. Pasture cows • Production • Medium production • First lactation – 4000- 4500 • Second lactation – 4500 – 5000 • Mature lactations – 5000-5500 • Not more than 6000-6500!!!!!!! • Peaks – First lactation 18 – Mature 25

  18. Reduce replacement cost • Average of 5 lactations • Rear 25 % - 25 heifers/100 cows • Type • Health traits

  19. Strength – must not lose to much condition at peak – fertility • Good udders • Low somatic cell count • Feet and legs

  20. Bulls • Most impressive • Top Brass • Royal • Lester • Judds Admiral • Badger • Manhatten

  21. Biggest disappointments • Great Magic • Squire • Jas Byg

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