The Jersey Advantage

Average
Canadian Farm
Typical
Problem Herd
Ratio-Right Herd
Milk kg 9458 10500 8500
Fat kg (Fat %) 348 (3.72%) 373 (3.45%) 340 (4.0%)
Protein kg (Protein %) 302 (3.22%) 336 (3.20%) 289 (3.4%)
SNF / F Ratio 2.43 2.52 2.29
Gross Milk Value / kg BF $17.29 $17.58 $16.99
Loss to unpaid SNF / kg BF $0.27 $0.57 0
Net Milk Value / kg BF $17.02 $17.01 $16.99
The time is now to address our industrys overproduction of non-fat milk solids. We
have all heard of the SNF surplus that exists, but many do not realize that mainte-
nance and disposal of this surplus is costing each and every Canadian dairy producer
on their monthly milk cheque. In a recent article by Dairy Farmers of Ontario, it was
noted that over 1.1 million kgs of surplus solids non-fat were not paid for in 2004-2005,
tallying a gross loss to Canadian dairy farmers of more than $4.875 million. Recent
estimates have been that the cost of disposing of the surplus SNF equates to over
$2.50 per hectolitre of milk for all dairy producers, and this has grown phenomenally
in just the past two years. Provincial target ratios will continue to drop, so if this sur-
plus isnt addressed on-farm, it will continue to impact dairy farmers.
Not only are producers not getting paid for product that has input costs to create,
but the return on the rest of their production is lowered by the overall creation of the
surplus. Why should producers be paying to create something which they must then
pay to dispose - this is a tragic inefficiency in the system that is finally being
addressed. Therefore, NOW is the time to start adjusting our herds to comply with
these initiatives, and reap full possible return on the monthly milk cheque.
Depending on your province, several provinces have taken the progressive step in
creating provincial SNF ratio caps in an effort to slow the growth and eventually elim-
inate the solids non-fat surplus. In this case, SNF production above the ratio cap will
not be paid for. As a result, there is a tremendous incentive to be under that ratio
benchmark, as creation of product with no value is not a sustainable situation. For
most herds, increasing butterfat percentage is the necessity. With fat now being more
valuable than protein on a per kilogram basis, this should be an achievable and prof-
itable possibility. The average producer is not to be blamed for breeding cattle with
lower fat percentages - this was a result of the marketing policy at the time. However,
producers must be proactive in ensuring that their herds meet SNF ratio standards so
as to maximize profitability. As breeding for higher fat production is a long-term proj-
ect, more immediate solutions should be sought.
Below is a table showing milk value per kilogram of butterfat for three herds: the
average Canadian herd, a typical problem herd, and a herd with a compliant SNF ratio.
A basic equality is shown between the three net milk prices; however, the ratio-right
herd does not have inputs into unpaid SNF, and is not paying to create a product with
no value - the optimal circumstance in following policy regulations. The ratio-right
herd has no increase in quota needs, and will also pay fewer deductions due to lower
total milk volume.
(Milk component values are from Dairy Farmers of Ontario, September 2005)
Jerseys - Ratio Right!
On the cover:
Piedmont Declo Belle EX-94
3-5 9469M 534F 5.5% 367P 4.0%
Intermediate Champion,
Royal Winter Fair 2003
Sixth Generation Excellent cow
Owned by Gary & Maureen Bowers,
Coaticook, QC
Jerseys make great cows for the
whole family to work with. They
also make great 4-H project ani-
mals.
Are you interested Jerseys as
a 4-H project animal? We
have breeders across the
country that can help you find
a calf for that keen 4-H mem-
ber. Jersey Canada, as well as
many of its provincial groups,
have numerous youth oppor-
tunities, including scholar-
ships, youth shows, and travel
exchanges. Contact Jill at
jill@jerseycanada.com for
more information!
How can producers quickly and economically increase their production of butter-
fat relative to protein and other solids production? The answer is simple....
JERSEYS! The breed with the natural ability to efficiently and economically produce
large amounts of butterfat in all production systems. Producers all across Canada are
adding Jerseys to their herds to maximize their milk revenue and net income in a very
immediate way.
While there are other ways to increase butterfat percentage in your herd, none are
as immediate as the addition of animals with the genetic ability to produce milk with
a higher fat percentage. Feeding of longer forages, sodium bicarbonate, and a host
of other possibilities work to various levels of effectiveness to increase fat percentage
in milk, but will require changes to your feeding system or may not have a large
enough effect with respect to input cost. Conversely, addition of Jerseys to your herd
will have an immediate impact on bulk tank fat levels, and does not require the same
adjustments to your production system.
Using national industry average and Jersey production statistics, and assuming no
increase in quota requirements, Jersey Canada calculated what percentage of herd
composition you would require of breed average Jerseys to bring SNF ratio to 2.30.
The starting herd is comprised of 100% Holsteins. Average Jersey component per-
centages are 4.85% butterfat and 3.77% protein. The results are below:
With no need to increase quota holdings, a producer can effectively and rapidly
bring his/her SNF ratio to compliant levels by adding Jerserys to your herd. Purchase
of cows with higher fat producing ability will effect this change even faster and with
less head. Many Jerseys have fat percentages in excess of 5.0%; in fact, the achiev-
able goal of Jersey Canada is to have a national average fat percentage of 5.0% with
8000 kgs of milk by 2010.
Among the ranks of new Jersey breeders in Canada is Ferme Fermar, owned by
Mario Leblanc of Ste-Monique, Quebec. Mario saw the need to change the make-up
of his herd, and chose Jerseys in part due to their advantages in producing a good
ratio of fat and protein. His herd of 60 milking cows currently produces 4.9 % fat and
3.9% protein, giving him a very healthy ratio that doesnt result in any loss of payment
on solids non-fat. Mario also comments that the Jerseys are easy to work with, very
fertile, and are easy calvers, to go along with their advantages in milk solids produc-
tion.
Another relative newcomer to the Jersey breed has been Marksview Farms of
Warman, Saskatchewan, owned and operated by the Friesen family. They comment
that they first took in a herd of Jerseys two years ago as a housing arrangement.
They were so impressed with the Jerseys that they subsequently purchased those
cattle, and now have 15% of their herd as Jerseys. Dick Friesen notes that from a
pure income standpoint, the Jerseys average approximately $600 dollars more per
lactation than the Holsteins (about 9 cents more per litre). While we are going to keep
milking Holsteins, we would like to move to about 50% Jerseys. 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 very quiet and well tempered cows.
The time has come to ensure that your herd is in line with milk marketing policy
directives, while maximizing profit. To this end, take a look at the modern Jersey cow,
a versatile breed engineered to make high quality milk and profit for you!
Current
SNF Ratio
Proposed
SNF Ratio
% Holstein % Jersey
2.40 2.30 75 25
2.50 2.30 60 40
A mixed herd of Holsteins and
Jerseys is a more common reality
in Canada. Jerseys can easily
compete with Holsteins in the
feed bunk, as well as in solids
production.
Jerseys are easily managed in a
variety of production environ-
ments: tie-stall or free-stall, stan-
chion or parlour, including the flat
parlour shown here.
Do you have some daughters
of Jersey sires from grade or
other breed dams? Jersey
Canada can record those ani-
mals and provide you with a
recordation certificate for
only $8, and those animals
can then become the base for
future Jersey breedings.
Contact Jill at jill@jersey-
canada.com for more infor-
mation.
What is the average SNF - Fat
Ratio for Canadian Jerseys?
1.97
What are average component
percentages for Canadian Jerseys?
4.9% Butterfat
3.8% Protein
What is the current price for Jersey
milk per hectolitre, based on current
pricing (Ontario, September 2005)
$78.91
Ratio Rationale
Capping provincial ratios for SNF:Fat makes
perfect sense because:
1. Those who are responsible for creating the
SNF surplus should bear the cost of disposing
of it. Conversely, those who are not contribut-
ing to the surplus should not be saddled with
costs of disposal
2. Setting provincial caps on ratios sends cor-
rect market signals to all producers
3. All producers benefit greatly when the over-
all surplus of solids non-fat is diminished and
brought under control.
4. Supply Management needs to extend
beyond fat production alone.
In short - it is simply the right thing to do!!
Dare To Compare?
Interested in comparing industry average milk price in your province versus what you could
be making with Jerseys? Well log on to:
www.jerseycanada.com/whyjersey/compare.php
to see what the $/hectolitre price is for Jerseys in your province! Values are calculated from
industry average production statistics and up-to-date provincial milk component prices.
There is also some other valuable information on why Jerseys can thrive in any herd, and
why you should think about adding Jerseys to yours!
1891
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Page sponsored by:
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 with type
and production are
always available!
The Services of Jersey Canada
Jersey Canada has a wide array of services for the prospective, new, or estab-
lished owner of Jersey cattle. You can approach us on a variety of subjects,
including:
Registry Services
- Registrations and Transfers of Jersey cattle
- Crossbred Recordation
- Online Pedigree Search / Internet Registration
- Electronic Registration with DHI organizations
Promotional Services
- Publications (Canadian Jersey Breeder magazine, Jersey Insider newsletter)
- Sale Catalog Preparation, Custom Advertising Services
Advisory Services
- Information Source on breeding, feeding, and managing Jerseys
- Communications link to breeders near you.
Contact us by phone at (519) 821-1020, email us at info@jerseycanada.com,
or check out our website at www.jerseycanada.com
Introducing Jerseys through Embryo Transfer
An increasingly popular method to introduce Jerseys to your herd is
through purchase of high-quality Jersey embryos. Implanting heifers of
larger dairy breeds with Jersey embryos will maximize calving ease in your
heifers, as well as leaving you with Jersey calves of high genetic potential to
improve your herd. According to Jenn Peart, a new Jersey breeder from
Peartome Holsteins and Maple Leaf Jerseys in Hagersville, Ontario:
After my first homebred cow was classified Excellent, I convinced my father
to let me flush her and implant the embryos into Holstein heifers. We
implanted five embryos into our smallest Holstein heifers, and one into a
cow that was having reproductive problems. All caught, and we had five
unassisted births. Four of the heifers and the cow had hardly any swelling, with two being able to be classified
when only four days fresh! In addition, the small Holstein heifers grew a lot while pregnant, and are now average
size. The best part is that we got 4 heifers out of 6 pregnancies! We are already planning for the next flush, so
that we can implant more Jersey embryos into Peartome Holstein heifers!
Interested in Jersey embryos for your herd? Talk to Kerry Alexander at Jersey Ontario about their Calving Ease
Embryo Program. Embryos come in three different price ranges, and now come from herds across Canada. You
can call Kerry at (519) 766-9980 or email her at ontario@jerseycanada.com. You can view the embryo list at
www.jerseycanada.com/ojc/embryo_list.html.
Page sponsored by:
Marshfield Jerseys
Visitors Always Welcome!
Wayne & Linda, Matthew and Amanda Boswell
14290 St. Peters Hwy, Marshfield, PEI C1A 7J7
Ph: (902) 629-1580 Fax: (902) 566-5164
Email: wboswell@islandtelecom.com
One of the soundest methods to improve overall net profit is to lower un-neces-
sary input cost, improving total cow efficiency. Often times, producers pay close
attention to production levels, but overlook many of the other factors which con-
tribute to a cows overall profitability. In many of these areas, the Jersey breed
shows a definite advantage.
Reproductive Efficiency
According to recent information from the Canadian Dairy Network, Jerseys are
industry leaders in many indicators of reproductive efficiency.
From these statistics, we see that Jerseys are reaching productive life at an earli-
er age, breed back more quickly after calving, have fewer days open, and have eas-
ier calvings than other Canadian dairy breeds. These all mean dollar savings for
the producer through more live calves, fewer breedings, fewer culled cows for
reproductive performance, and less down time for productive cows.
John Brand, a purebred Jersey producer from Huron County, Ontario, remarks: I
had an interesting experience at our local dairy management club meeting.
Discussion turned to protocols for managing fresh cows. Many of the comments on
protocols were quite detailed and involved drenches and injections, in some cases
for up to ten days post-partum. When my turn came my comments were the follow-
ing: Once the calf has been delivered put the cow in the milking group, if she is a third
or later lactation calver monitor her for hypocalcemia then watch for heats and breed
back at 60 days. The response to my brief words were, "and...so...what else do you
do?" The truthful answer is: that's it. Later it dawned on me that the brevity of my
answer relates to the fact that my 100 cow-plus herd is entirely Jersey!"
Likewise, Dr. Paul Tummon, DVM from Bay of Quinte Veterinary Services com-
ments that from a fertility standpoint, the Jersey cow appears to have about a 15%
higher conception rate than other dairy breeds. The smaller body size of the Jersey
results in lower heat stress than larger breeds, helping to improve reproductive effi-
ciency.
Jerseys - The Problem-Free Cow
Trait HO AY JE BS GU
Age at first service for heifers (months) 16.3 16.9 15.5 16.7 16.5
Number of Services (Cows) 2.2 2.0 1.8 2.0 2.1
56 day Non-Return Rate for Cows 61 59 68 65 60
Calving Ease at 1st Calving (% Unassisted or Easy Pull) 87 94 96 93 87
Calving Ease for Cows (% Unassisted or Easy Pull) 95 97 99 98 94
Days Open (Cows) 123 117 115 120 120
With Jerseys, look forward to many
more live, healthy calves. These will
either help your herd as replacements
in a couple years, or will provide an
additional income from sale of high
quality Jersey heifers.
Few cows exemplify production and
reproductive efficiency as does
Avonlea Perimiter Karen EX-90-2E. In
her first five lactations, she has only
gained two months (calving at 2-0, 2-
11, 3-11, 4-11, and 6-2), while produc-
ing 36,300 kgs of milk, 1765 kgs of fat
(4.8%) and 1442 kgs of protein (4.0%).
Looking for Jersey cattle or
embryos or semen for sale?
Want to let others know that
you have Jerseys for sale? Go
to our online, free classifieds
at www.jerseycanada.com.
Just send a note to Ryan at
ryan@jerseycanada.com to
post a listing.
Productive Life
In both Canada and the United States (studies by CDN and AIPL), the Jersey
breed has shown a distinct advantage in length of productive life over the industry
average.
In both countries, Jersey cattle show a marked difference in length of productive
life. This results in more days in mature productive form, the point where the cow
begins to return the investment made in raising or purchasing the animal. There is
also less need for replacement animals, as cows are lasting in the herd longer, and
are producing more calves. This all adds up to some dramatic savings for the dairy
producer with Jerseys!
David and Tracy Morey of Unique Stock Farm, Rochester, Alberta, comment that
they milk between 200 and 220 cows at all times, and 13% of our productive cow
herd is over the age of 10. Jerseys continue to surprise us - how they just keep going
and going, and are productive at an old age.
Decreased Animal Health Costs
Several studies have shown Jersey cattle to have lower incidences of acute health
problems. For instance, at 2002 DRMS report from the USA showed a much lower
rate of involuntary culling for Jerseys (24%) then for the Holstein breed (31%).
Another study of Florida dairies showed Jersey heifers to have marked advantages
with less dystocia, less metritis, and fewer stillbirths than Holstein heifers in the same
herd conditions.
Many producers accept high incidence of health problems and the associated costs
as a necessary part of a productive dairy operation. This does not have to be the case.
Cows can be highly productive and have fewer health costs - Jerseys are proving this!
A healthy cow will in turn produce more, and will have fewer associated problems
with fertility or structural breakdown. More immediately, they will require less visits
from the vet, and less cost due to medication or other treatments. The hard, black
hooves possessed by most Jerseys is also more resistant to wear, and will produce
fewer feet and leg problems and lessened need for frequent hoof trimming.
Alain and Janna Rmond of Grunthal, Manitoba, switched to the Jersey breed a
few years ago, milking approximately 80 cows in a free-stall herd. They comment that
the Jersey cow fits our system well. They are a low-maintenance cow that utilize a
lot of forage, and are lovely to work with, especially with our children. They have
exceptionally strong feet and legs, with their hard, black hooves giving no hoof health
problems. We have found Jerseys to be tough, hardy cows, that when they do get
sick, recover very quickly.
Canadian Dairy Network Holstein Jersey
Age at Culling (yrs) 5.63 6.22
Productive Life (yrs) 3.08 3.61
AIPL-USA
Productive Life (lactations) 2.28 2.87
An excellent example of Jersey
longevity is this four generation fami-
ly of Excellent classified cows at
Grayclay Jerseys in Elmwood,
Ontario. All four are currently milking,
with the oldest cow at 15 years old,
who is classified EX-91-8E!
Jerseys are well suited to free-stall
barns, due to their hard, dark hooves,
which resist wear and infection. They
also have structurally sound legs suit-
able for walking around on concrete.
Interested to know more
about Canadian Jerseys?
Contact at Jersey Canada for
breeders or contact persons
near you. The first 25 respon-
dants to the Jersey Canada
office get a one year free sub-
scription to the Canadian
Jersey Breeder magazine!
Ph: (519) 821-1020
Fax: (519) 821-2723
ryan@jerseycanada.com
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
Avonlea Genetics Inc.
Here to service all of your Jersey needs:
Cattle of all ages
Embryos
Bulls / Semen
Sales Services
Andrew & Jennifer Vander Meulen
Jim & Liz Livock
1925 County Rd 26, RR#7 Brighton, Ontario K0K 1H0
Tel: (613) 475-2627 Fax: (613) - 475-2623
avonlea@on.aibn.com
www.cyr-designs.com/avonlea
Contact us!
Fieldperson:
Marie-Claire Girod
Tel: (450) 774-1141 ext 2300
Fax: (450) 774-9318
girodm@ciaq.com
Advisor:
Hugh MacDonald
Tel: (450) 562-5942
Fax: (450) 562-8284
Adminstration
Sandra Berthiaume
sberthiaume@csrlinc.com
Jersey Quebec
4865, boul. Laurier Ouest, St. Hyacinthe, QC J2S 3V4
Tel: (450) 774-2775 Fax: (450) 774-9775
Specializing in deep pedigreed cattle
with unlimited genetic potential!
Home of the
#1 LPI cow
in Canada!