the australian jersey journal october 2009

JERSEY JournalAUSTRALIAN

October / November 2009Print Post Approved 325550-009

— JerseyJournal October / November 2009 JerseyJournal October / November 2009 —JerseyJournal October / November 2009 — 1

CONTENTS

Volume 62 No. 24 — October / November 2009

Jersey AustrAliA BOArd MeMBers

PresideNt:trevor saunders495 Araluen Rd,Yarragon 3823Telephone: (03) 5626 [email protected] PresideNt:Milton Johnston118 Edinburgh Drive, Taree, NSW 2430Telephone: (02) 6552 5915secretAry:scott JoynsonPO Box 292, Ascot Vale, Vic 3032Telephone: (03) 9370 [email protected]. treAsurer:Peter NessPO Box 93, Mt Compass, SA 5210Telephone: (08) 8556 [email protected]

Graham Hoey77 Warner Street,Warwick QLD 4370Telephone: (07) 4661 4157don FryMitchell Rd, Benger, WATelephone: (08) 9726 [email protected] HeazlewoodPO Box 87 Latrobe Vic 7307Telephone: (03) 6426 1169Noel Furze “Holmecotte” 555 Ryans Lane Balintore Vic 3249 Telephone: (02) 6027 [email protected] Jeff Parker 142 Moy Pocket Rd Kenilworth Qld 4574 Telephone: (07) 5466 [email protected] MacKenzie859 Cooriemungle Rd Timboon Vic 3268 Telephone: (03)559 [email protected] MaugerThe Willows Willawa Rd Jerilderie NSW 2716Telephone: (03) 5885 9294 [email protected]

AJBs Website: www.jersey.com.au

Editorial & Advertising to:Scott JoynsonPO Box 292, Ascot Vale VICTORIA 3032Ph. (03) 9370 9105 Fax. (03) 9370 9116 Email: [email protected]

ADVERTISERS INDEXABS IFC

Adadale Jerseys FC

Adadale 4

Agrigene 25

Bungendore Show 23

Central Gippsland Jersey Breeders Club 19

Colac District Jersey Breeders Club 23

Goulburn Murray Jersey

Breeders Club 24

Meldan Jerseys 3

Northern District Jersey Breeders

Club 22

Semex BC

WWS IBC

Agrigene Jersey Highlights 10

Behind the Scenes 2

Benlee Park 26

Brisbane Show results 5

Letter to Editor 28

Melbourne Show results 15

Office Matters 28

On Time is On Money 18

Queensland Couple Celebrate 6

South African Farmer Impressed 12 with our Bulls

Warrion Jerseys 20

Youth Challenge a Success at RNA 11

Youth Profile 9

CO

VER

Featured on Cover:

Ad. Barber Rowena 4Prod: 9164L, 433kg F, 367kg P,388 days1st 6-7 years in milk Brisbane RoyalReserve Champion Cow-Brisbane-N.S.W Dairy SpectacularHer yearling Maternal Sister sold toBlack & Gold Dairies

Ad. B.J Rowena1st under 3 years in milk (fresh 5days) Brisbane Royal1st under 3 years in milk1st Junior Udder

CHAMPION INTERMEDIATE JERSEYSUPREME INTERMEDIATE UDDER -N.S.W Dairy SpectacularRESERVE INTERMEDIATE SUPREMECHAMPION to Adadale’sHolstein exhibit.


behindthescenesAt the risk of putting the mozz on the weather it is a pleasure to observe that most of our membership can actually claim to have had some sort of a Spring this year. Of course things are still very tight for our members but a number of factors such as; slightly improved global milk prices, improved Spring rainfall in catchment areas and forecasts predicting lower grain prices make year to date 2009 an improvement over the corresponding period last year.Taking into account the improved environmental factors I can’t help hoping that the final quarter of our Jersey business year will see some sort of flow on effect. Our traditional barometer of how the Jersey business is travelling sees year to date registrations at almost the same level as the previous year. Drought effected Victoria is currently 340 registrations ahead of last year while NSW, Queensland and South Australia are on par with or slightly higher year to date while mud effected Tasmania is 500 registrations less than the same time last year. At time of writing Tour 2 classification applications received from the membership appear a little stronger which is encouraging while the office has to wait several weeks to see what AB Company LTE nominations are received via ADHIS in the first week of November. The Board have met with or contacted all AB Companies along with ADHIS to discuss 2yr old LTE collection in response to rumours that industry wanted one LTE service earlier this year. Jersey Australia has been assured that our classification panel enjoys the ongoing support of all major progeny testing companies, which I must say may well have been due to the overwhelming response from the Jersey Australia membership via the Jersey Forum online and direct calls to AB Companies – people power pays! While on the Jersey Forum (www.jersey.com.au) 349 people are currently registered users and regular visitors to Jersey Forum. Currently the Forum and website has around 200 visitors a day on average discussing everything from Jersey Bulls, the Online Poll Question of the moment through to Diary industry politics. To be part of this dynamic discussion you can contact the Jersey Office supply a username & password and we can get you registered on the Forum in under 10 minutes.Classification sees one of very few major changes in many years with the introduction of the new award system ie. Fair (F), Good (G), Good Plus (GP), Very Good(VG), Excellent (EX) and Superior Type & Production (STP). The new

awards bring Jersey Australia classification in line with other major Jersey organisations around the world and reduces the the international and domestic confusion associated with the traditional award system. Members will see the new awards added to all animals classified from September 1st 2009. At the recent Jersey Australia Board meeting a decision was made on the Classification Herd Visit Fee for breeders with animals across more than one herd. Members will be charged a Classification herd visit fee (multi herd fee) for each herd visited where the owners animals are the only ones being classified, this fee is effective from October 1st 2009.The Board has discussed the fact that several AB Companies are marketing semen which contains more than one bull in each straw ie. Repromax (Semex Australia). The Board has responded to the new products by requiring members who use the multi-sire products to DNA test all resultant calves prior to registration. Jersey Australia research committee have also been busy discussing several projects with Ben Hayes and Jenni Pryce of DPI Victoria. Watch this space for more information regarding a Jersey Cow Genome collection trial, Jersey’s possible inclusion in Rutherglen Feed Efficiency trials and several other projects that are currently at discussion stage. Thank you again to all who have contributed to the Jersey Australia Research Fund and for those who might wish to do so please contact the office.Finally I would like to thank Jersey Australia (QLD) for the invitation to attend the Royal Brisbane Show, a full wrap up of the event appears later in the magazine but I would like to say how much I enjoyed seeing the event first hand. After years of putting Brisbane Show reports together for the Journal it was fantastic to be part of the event. Great cows, fantastic weather and the Exhibitor’s Dinner was a lot of fun as the people gathered were so positive about the Dairy Industry their enthusiasm was infectious - a much needed shot in the arm thank you all.

DNA TESTING:Jersey Australia supports the world wide move toward DNA testing, by randomly selecting one animal in every 500 registrations throughout the year. Aside from these Jersey Australia funded random tests members are reminded that ET donors and subsequent ET calves need to be DNA tested before calves can be registered. The preferred DNA testing laboratory is University of Queensland please contact the office for special Jersey Australia discount.

BULL MOTHERS:A reminder that all bulls registered on the Jersey Australia registrar must come from a fully registered dam that has been classified.

INELIGIBLE SIRES:Members are advised that the Board have deemed the following New Zealand Sires ineligible for registration on the Jersey Australia registrar;South Land Capstan SJ3 (Sept 2009)NZGOpiateNZImperiNZHydeNZLRiversNZQuickwitNZGJubilantNZGFlatNZGAptitudeNZGTightsNZLikabullNZGJoshuaNZGAmuletNZG CapstanLynbrook Theo GRHast River HI Density*Note progeny from these bulls can only be registered via the Jersey Australia Genetic Recovery Program.

CongratulationsOn behalf of all Jersey Australia members, Board and staff here at Jersey House, congratulations to Pat Nicholson & Carmen Patterson on their engagement - all the best for the future!


A Manhatten to make you weak at the knees

Brendan & Melissa Scott 1080 Promontory Rd Foster 3960

Web www.jersey.com.au go to studs select meldan. Email [email protected]

Bushlea Manhatten Fernleaf

87pts @ 2yr. Currently the top PI Jeresy in the Herd.

Manhatten x B. Jace Fernleaf 92pts (champion cow Melb) x Berretta x

Jude

Calved with a Valerian bull – Meldan Valerian Forge offered to GA for team

2010 Three pregnancies x Navara or

Larfalot, bred to Action

Nowell American Kelli

Ex 90

A modern day cow by a bull of yesteryear

A full US Pedigre: All-American x Noorat 90pt x Alf x Bold Venture x

Boomer SoonerCalved in the Autumn with a Gannon

Heifer. Embryos x T-Bone

— JerseyJournal October / November 2009 JerseyJournal October / November 2009 —JerseyJournal October / November 2009 —

The PAULGER family

Adadale B.J. Rowena

JerseysPremier Breeder and Most Successful Exhibitor

Queensland Royal Show

Adadale Barber Rowena 4

... more Rowenas

Some of our award winning Royal TeamSome of our award winning Royal Team

Gold Crest T.P Gaynor2nd to Ad. Barbers Rowena 4 in 6-7 in milk

Prod: 6596L 305days

Adadale Sambo Eileen2nd 4-5 years

Prod: 7219L 318 days

Adadale Iatola Rowena 23 (right)Another of the Great Rowena’s, an

outstanding yearling heifer, being exhibited 3 times for 3 first places.

Dam: Ad Astound Rowena 23

Thanks to our great crew Andrew Cullen, Mark Pattulo and Stewart Robertson.

Job Well Done!

Introducing the genetic giant…..Brunchilli B.R.C Passion (left)

The complete package, backed by pedigree and performance. 2 shows for 2 supremesHer Dam the amazing Brunchilli Jetson Passionfeatured on last months Journal cover. We atAdadale feel privileged to have this amazing heifer join our breeding program. We are over the moon about our other Brunchilli purchase J.S Eileen daughter of the current grand champion I.D.W

Adadale – Paulger FamilyShane, Sharyn, Lachlan, Nicola & Julia

Phone: (07) 54460391, Email: [email protected]


Heifer 6 to 10 months1st: Justinvale Barney Surprise (sire: Justinvale Barber Barney, JB Wenzel)2nd: Nobbyview Flash’s Daisy (sire: Nobbyview Pam’s Flash, Nobbyview partnership)3rd: Ardylbar Comerica Riley (sire: Bridon Remake Comerica, AD and WJ Barron).

Heifer 10 to 15 months1st: Adadale Iatola Rowena 23 (sire: Iatola, Paulger family)2nd: Ardylbar Ringmaster Delilia (sire: Family Hill Ringmaster, AD and WJ Barron)3rd: Braeburn Malicious Melys (sire: Sunset Canyon Militia, R and R Verrall).

Heifer 15 months and under 20 months1st: Braeburn Justa Victress (sire: Rapid RP Bay Just Wait, R and R Verrall)2nd: Nobbyview Lester’s Pam, Nobbyview partnership)3rd: Adadale RP Maree (sire: Adadale Rowena’s Prize, Paulger family).

Heifer 20 months and under 2 years dry1st: Brunchilli BRC Passion (sire: Bridon Remarke Comerica, Paulger family)2nd: Braeburn Astounding Very-Ferny (sire: Mollybrook Beretta Fabulous, R and R Verrall)3rd: Brunchilli J Mecca III (sire: Valleystream Julian, Kevin and Sharon Smith).

JUNIOR CHAMPIONBrunchilli BRC Passion (sire: Bridon Remarke Comerica, Paulger family)

RESERVEBraeburn Astounding Very-Ferny (sire: Mollybrook Beretta Fabulous, R and R Verrall)HONOURABLE MENTIONJustinvale Barney Surprise (sire: Justinvale Barber Barney, JB Wenzel)

Cow or heifer 2 to 3 years dry1st: Nobbyview Incomparable’s Petal (sire: Sunshine Farm’s Incomparable’s, Nobbyview Partnership)2nd: Carnation Graces RitzSox (sire; Kathliegh Graces Graffiti, S Spresser and son)3rd: Carnation Graces Bubba(sire: Kathleigh Graces Graffiti,W Spresser and son).

Heifer 2 years and under in-milk1st: Kathleigh Comerica Daisy (sire: Bridon Remake Comerica, A and C Kath)2nd: Glen-Echo Pinnacle Roberta (sire: Glen-Echo Golden Pinnacle, Chad Parker)3rd: Carnation Graces Lilikin (sire: Kathleigh Graces Graffiti, W Spresser and son).

Heifer 2 to 2.5 years in-milk1st: Ardylbar B Jade Emmee (sire: Giprat Belles jade, AD and WJ Barron)2nd: Glen-Echo Jace Nicole (sire: Windy Willow Montant Jace, Chad Parker)3rd: Adadale Duaiseoir Olivia (sire: Shamricj Duaiseoir, Paulger family).

BRISBANE ROYAL SHOW RESULTS 2009 Judge: Robert Reid - Huon Victoria

Junior Champion Interbreed female at Brisbane show 2009 with Ross McInnes, QDO, Harrisville, Qld and Brad Gavelock, Berri, NSW

Supreme Champion Interbreed Juvenile at Brisbane 2009 with Geoff Brown, Ipswich, Qld Unice Scott, Oceanview, Qld and Julia Paulger, Kenilworth, Qld .

— JerseyJournal October / November 2009 JerseyJournal October / November 2009 —JerseyJournal October / November 2009 —6

Making the decision when to show and when not to go is sometimes a power struggle between the dream and the reality.

This year, that was true for Andrew and Cassandra Kath, of Gowrie Junction, who had an exciting two-year-old heifer calve just 19 days out from the Jersey judging day at the Brisbane Royal Show. Ideally, it was too close for her to have a shot at settling into the herd, let alone being in form for show day.

“We would have loved to seen her in a few more weeks prior to the show, but when a heifer looks that exciting it’s hard to leave them at home,” Andrew Kath said.

Andrew and Cassandra’s in-milk numbers will peak at 175 this

spring on 220 acres (fully irrigated). With a new 10,000 milk vat on the way and progress towards a Total Mixed Ration feeding regime, deciding to show was a weighty move.

The young couple decided to take the heifer, who is one of the first Semex-sired Bridon Remake Comerica heifers to calve in Australia. She was barely two years old and already milking 21 litres a day.

Not only did Kathleigh Comerica Daisy win her class. She won intermediate Jersey champion and supreme intermediate champion of all breeds.

“Winning was a great feeling because we have stepped away from showing a little in the last few

years as we have concentrated on working hard on developing the farm,” Andrew said. “We have always believed type and production go hand-in-hand and we love breeding quality cows. Daisy is an example of this and we feel rewarded for the effort we have put in.”

They showed Daisy’s dam, Claydon Park Bens Daisy, at the Centenary Jersey show in Brisbane 2006 under Canadian judge Callum McKinven, who advised them at the time to join Bens Daisy to Comerica. They did – and Comerica Daisy was the result.

“We only have three Comerica daughters because we used the bull selectively on cows that needed some strength through the front end and who are super dairy,” Andrew said. “We love what Comerica has transmitted in terms of strength, capacity and udder quality, we will continue to use him now that we have seen the results.”

The Daisy family is an emerging cow family for the Kaths with Daisy’s sister, YD Daisy VHC90 winning reserve junior champion at the 2008 Toowoomba Royal and reserve champion cow at the 2009 Toowoomba Royal.

Comerica Daisy and Bens Daisy are now being lined up for an embryo transfer program.

Semex is the exclusive distributor of livestock genetics marketed by the Semex Alliance, the world’s largest artificial breeding organisation. Although traditionally associated with Canadian genetics, Semex now conducts formal progeny testing programs throughout the world, including Canada, US, Europe, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

For more information:David MayoMarket Development ManagerMobile: Aus + 0439 343 121Email: [email protected]: www.semex.com.au

Queensland couple celebrate

The moment Andrew Kath realised his Jersey had been named intermediate champion at the Brisbane Royal while he was competing with a Brown Swiss.


Cow 2.5 and under 3 years in-milk1st: Adadale BJ Rowena (sire: Giprat Bells Jade, Paulger family)2nd: Glen-Echo Parabel Connie (sire: Glen-Echo Parabel, Chad Parker)3rd: Nobbyview Boy’s Polly (sire: Denson Dale Kay’s Boy, Nobbyview Partnership).

INTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONKathleigh Comerica Daisy (sire: Bridon Remake Comerica, A and C Kath) RESERVEArdylbar B Jade Emmee (sire: Giprat Belles jade, AD and WJ Barron) HONOURABLE MENTIONGlen-Echo Jace Nicole (sire: Windy Willow Montana Jace, Chad Parker)

Cow, 3 years and over dry1st: Gold Crest Judes Wattle (sire: Curtsey Duncan Jude, Paulger family)2nd: Braeburn Sambo Victress (sire: Lester Sambo, R and R Verrall)3rd: Carnation Graces Katelyn (sire: Kathleigh Graces Graffiti, W Spresser and son).

Cow 4 to 5 years in-milk1st: Yandavale Tidy Fayre 2 (sire: Bancrest Mals Tidy, Darrin and Jeanette Grevett)2nd: Adadale Sambo Eileen (sire: Lester Sambo, Paulger family)3rd: Kenare Pepper Wise (sire: Kenarie Sultan Pepper, PG and PM McDonald). Cow 5 to 6 years in-milk

1st: Kenarie Remake Cluster (sire: Rock Ella Remake, PG and PM McDonald)2nd: Kenarie Remake Eloquence (sire: Rock Ella Remake, PG and PM McDonald)3rd: Kenarie Extreme Syria (sire: Kenarie Extreme, PG and PM McDonald).

Cow 6 to 7 years in-milk1st: Adadale Barbers Rowena 4 (sire: Gilprat Bells Jade, Paulger family)2nd: Gold Crest Topprize Gaynor (sire: Glenamore Top Prize, Paulger family)3rd: Brunchilli S Sileen (sire: Lester Sambo, AD and WJ Barron).

Cow 7 years and over in-milk1st: Robinvale Imps Wynne (sire: RV Vanitys Imperial, Darrin and Jeanette Grevett)2nd: Willowdell Fancy 444 (sire: Highland Duncan Lester, AD and WJ Barron)3rd: Kathliegh Sambo Waitup (sire: Lester Sambo, A and C Kath).

Juvenile champion Heifer at Brisbane 2009 with Steve McCarthy Greenmount Qld and handler Julia Paulger Kenilworth Qld.

Reserve Champion Juvenile heifer at Brisbane 2009 with Steve Mc Carthy Greenmount Qld and Rod Verrall Gowrie, Qld.

Nicola Paulger, Kenilworth, Qld Senior Handler winner at Brisbane 2009

7


CHAMPION COWKenarie Remake Cluster (sire: Rock Ella Remake, PG and PM McDonald) RESERVEAdadale Barbers Rowena 4 (sire: Gilprat Bells Jade, Paulger family) HONOURABLE MENTIONRobinvale Imps Wynne (sire: RV Vanitys Imperial, Darrin and Jeanette Grevett)

MOST SUCCESSFUL BREEDERS: The Paulger Family – Adadale Jerseys

Champion Jersey Cow with David Matthews, Kilcoy Qld and judge Robert Reid Wodonga Vic and exhibitor Pat Mc Donald Murwillumbah, NSW and the Brisbane show 2009.

Reserve Champion Cow with exhibitor Shane Paulger, Kenilworth Qld and Judge Robert Reid with handler Lachlan Paulger Kenilworth at Brisbane 2009

Julia Paulger, Kenilworth, Qld winner of the Junior Paraders at Brisbane 2009.

Renee Anderson Gympie Qld came 2nd in the Junior Paraders class at Brisbane 2009

Best Vessel Line Up Brisbane 2009


By Linda Houghton

Going to High School proved to be the unlikely spark that ignited Trent Bormann’s love of cows and farming life.

Living in the suburbs, and with no previous experience of cows or farming, Trent’s interest in cows started when he was encouraged to learn about and care for them at school. ‘My older brother was studying the agriculture subjects and he really enjoyed it, and got me interested. I found that I loved working with animals and being outside’ Trent said.

Trent’s High School had a unique history; it was a boarding school back in the 1960’s called ‘Ravenshoe’- located 2 hours southeast of Cairns in Queensland. As a sideline, Ravenshoe ran beef cattle and a dairy enterprise. When the property was established as a High School, the farm enterprise was retained, and provided Year 8 – 12 students with the opportunity to study subjects such as Animal Husbandry and Agriculture.

After completing Year 10, Trent went to work fulltime for Ray and Donna Graham, who run a 600 cow dairy farm at Millaa Millaa, which is in pretty rain-forest area about 25 minutes drive from Atherton. ‘I must admit that I really struggled with the early morning starts for a while, but I soon got used to it!’ Trent said.

The Graham’s supply Dairy Farmers and run a mixed herd, consisting of Holsteins, Brown Swiss,

Cross-bred and Jerseys. ‘The Jerseys make up around 25% of the herd – and while they aren’t Donna and Ray’s favourites, they do admit they notice how well the Jerseys cope with the heat, plus how easy they are to handle’ Trent said.

It is a busy farming enterprise, with the Graham’s employing 14 people. Trent is the second main milking hand – and each milking takes around 4 hours in the herringbone 15 a-side double-up dairy. ‘I help with the calving as well, but we have a lady that comes in to feed the calves – she does an amazing job, and we hardly ever lose a calf’ Trent said.

Trent also enjoys showing, and was thrilled to be invited to join Pat McDonald’s team for this years Brisbane Show. ‘I was offered the chance to be part of Pat’s team, and I jumped at it, as I had learned how to lead and prepare cows for shows at school. We won Champion Cow with ‘Remake Cluster’ – with Pat leading her. It was a great experience, and I would love to breed cows just like Pat’s one day. We will be going to the shows next year, with a local one in July, and then Brisbane in August and Bangalow in September – so I’ll be busy’ Trent said.

‘Ray and Donna have a good commercial herd, and they’re not really into showing, but they have been great about giving me time to go and show with Pat, which is fantastic’ Trent said.

‘Dairying has been a good career choice for me, and my Mum is pleased that I have found something that I love doing, and Dad is really excited about it too. Mum often comes and visits me on the farm, where I live in a house on the property”. Trent said.

‘While I don’t have any cows of my own just yet, I would like to start a stud and eventually have my own farm one day, but I am also realistic about how difficult that might be. I would like to breed strong, tall cows - which combine high production ability with good traits. Features I will breed for include openness throughout the front-end, a sound hip/pin ratio, plus high attachment and depth in the udder, with good teat placement’.

‘My ultimate dream would be to have one of the top dairy farms in Queensland, with a 100% Jersey herd, located on the southern coast area – near the Noosa hills. That would be an ideal area – but also a very expensive one! It is hard for young farmers to get started, and in addition, as I left school quite early, it is difficult to find scholarships/sponsorship,

as most of the programs are geared towards fulltime students’ Trent said.

When Trent is not working on the farm, he enjoys visiting his mates, going to the movies and swimming in the local lakes and creeks. ‘I’m also looking forward to travelling and seeing a bit of the world – and checking out the Jerseys in other countries. They are just beautiful cows, with good temperaments and everything going for them’ Trent said.

Youth Pro le

Trent Bormann

Trent was thrilled to be part of Pat MacDonalds 2009 Brisbane Show team. Pat photographed here having just won Champion Cow.


Agrigene Jersey Highlights


Youth Challenge at RNA - Huge Success

The Stan Paulger Memorial Dairy Youth Team Challenge event was held for the first time at the 2009 RNA Brisbane Exhibition on Sunday, 9th August, with outstanding support and participation.

Never before has an event such as this been held in Queensland, so the Paulger family initiated this to commemorate the achievements of the late Stan Paulger, who showed at the EKKA for more than fifty years and created a record that will be hard to surpass – 21 years as most successful exhibitor. Stan strongly believed and encouraged the support and opportunities for the youth in the industry to demonstrate and refine their skills and to establish networks to acquire new ones and pass on knowledge to others for the betterment of the dairy industry. The opportunity for the youth to showcase their skills accepting that they are the future of the dairy industry both in the show ring and on the farm.

Seven teams, consisting of up to six members under twenty-one years of age contested the event. These teams were formed by the organizers after the participants nominated, with an emphasis on balancing the teams according to the individual members experiences as well as their backgrounds, so as to enhance the cooperation between youth from all dairy breeds as well as to necessitate effective communication and team work skills applying their knowledge with others they may not have worked with previously.

The challenge consisted of three elements - clipping, parading and judging. Each component having a time limit and points were allocated for each accordingly.

Lisa Thompson (Tasmania), current owner of IDW Holstein Friesian Champion Cow, herself a national winner of Paraders competitions, and Darren Hartwig, mentored from a young age by the late Stan Paulger and now an accomplished breeder and exhibitor himself, were the presiding Judges on the day.

There were concerns from some exhibitors about the structure of the teams being mixed and matched (something not done in similar competitions elsewhere). However the purpose of this event was to materialize the long standing desire of Stan Paulger to nurture the inexperienced and to provide opportunities for the youth to learn from those who have experience and the opportunity to apply and extend their skills.

The Paulger family would like to express their gratitude to Semex, 21st Century Genetics, World Wide Sires, ABS, Agrigene, NAB and Elders Limited for their sponsorship of shirts and caps to the teams for this event.

Thanks to the exhibitors who provided heifers and equipment for use during this event.

Congratulations to all the teams who participated.

The RNA and the Paulger family were extremely pleased with the outcome of the inaugural Youth Challenge and the enthusiastic acceptance by the youth who participated and look forward to continuing with it into the future. This year has set the scene for future events to be even bigger and better and to become “a real spectacle at the RNA”.

We look forward with great anticipation to next year’s event.


A South African dairy farmer who milks 900 Jersey cows has been extremely impressed with the ‘hands-on’ management style of Australian dairy farmers, and the quality of Australian bulls that he has seen during a visit here in April.Rob Walker runs ‘Watermead’’ at Underberg in partnership with his brother-in-law, Anthony Palframan, in one of the country’s major dairy farming regions, supplying to Nestlé for baby formula. Their Jerseys average 4500 to 5000 litres per year, and like Australia, the focus for their milk payments is on components, and they also have deductions for transporting the bulk milk.Rob looked at more than 25 Jersey and Holstein farms across Victoria, in company with Tim Arnot of Semark, the South African agent for Genetics Australia.Admiration for Australian farmersRob commented, “I have huge respect for the dairy farmers here – the fact that they are genuine farmers struck me more than anything else. I came across hard working, humble folk who were on top of their game. They are under huge stress from drought. In South Africa our farms have had higher yields through higher temperatures,

without the reduced rainfall.”The major difference between the way Australian dairy farmers operate and the South African way, Rob says, is that dairy farmers here are more ‘do-it-yourself’. “In South Africa we employ a lot more labour; on our 1090 ha property we have eight workers employed in the dairy, three on general duties around the place and nine on farm activities.”South African owner/managers are focused on strategic planning, farm management and finance and leave the day-to-day hands-on work to the employees.“It’s an entirely different management style. The workers have little financial or strategic responsibility and are normally supervised. There is more reliance on owners to manage the operation and make the decisions,” Rob added.Dairying in South Africa has most farms located in the eastern and northern Free State, North West, the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, Eastern and Western Cape, Gauteng and the southern parts of Mpumalanga. The four major dairy breeds in South Africa are Holstein, Jersey, Guernsey and Ayrshire. Their dairy industry has about 3,500 milk producers employing 60,000 farm

workers - that’s an average of seventeen employees per farm, a far cry from the typical Australian operation.

Impressed with GA bullsRob Walker says that he was here in Australia to look for Jersey cows ‘with capacity’. “We are looking for a commercial cow that will eat our silage. We need good honest cows. And we are not necessarily finding that with other countries’ genetics. It’s been surprising! The Genetics Australia-based herds show lovely cows with good spring of rib, chest width and capacity. The Australian cow types are absolutely better for our system and will give us longevity.“The other important factor is that we can have confidence in the progeny testing system. If we choose a Genetics Australia bull, it’s in the knowledge of the integrity of your system, and it is properly tested on significant numbers of daughters across several herds.“These are some of the best Jersey herds in the world. In South Africa, we need to get to know our cows better, to identify the families to breed from for better productivity. We need to have a more careful look at breeding selection.

South African dairy farmer Rob Walker has previously used 750 doses of ‘BADGER’ in his herd, and now has 500 straws to use in his autumn joining. He and Genetics Australia agent Tim Arnot had the chance to see the famous bull in the flesh during their visit here.

South African jersey farmer

Impressed with our bulls


“The herd I would have liked to take back with me to South Africa, if I could, is Bernie and Carol McManus’ Jersey herd from Bamawm. They are just nice quiet cows, exactly what we’re aiming for.”The Watermead’ farm has 122 ha of pivot-irrigated paddocks, 95ha of maize silage and 15ha of meadow hay, which he called ‘eragrostis’. Their 5500 tonnes of maize silage is cut in early April each year and harvest was going on just before Rob left for Australia. They need to get the silage in before the first frost around April 15. “In winter we feed the dairy cows 4kg grass, 4 to 6kg meal, plus maize silage,” says Rob, explaining that ‘Watermead’ practises concentrate feeding according to production on a DeLaval rotary using electronic eartag ID.“We’ll feed silage at night for the next five months, with the cows coming off it in September when the ryegrass gets going. “We have just gone through two very good seasons, climate-wise, and we had a milk price increase of 3% last year.” “But how long will it last”, Rob wonders aloud.

Putting in the juiceRob has previously used 750 doses of BADGER in his herd, and says that the first daughters are now one year old and he will use VALERIAN over them. “Using Valerian will bring more milk. We have a good foundation and using the words of Greg Tiller, the Genetics Australia representative who showed me around some of the northern Victoria farms, we’ve got the ‘grunt’, Valerian should put in the ‘juice’.”He was looking at arriving back in South Africa right on joining time from May 1. He has 500 straws of each of Valerian and Badger to use with the autumn joining. “Badger carries a trademark,” says Rob Walker, “his open rib seems to be stamped on the daughters I have seen. There is a real continuity of type, like peas in a pod. We have confidence in his breeding – it’s a true-to-type classification. Each one is almost a photocopy of his other daughters.”Rob is particularly excited about the latest Genetics Australia graduate, ‘LARFALOT’, which he believes will have the potential to put the finishing

touch into the Watermeade herd. “I just can’t wait to see his next proof”, says Rob.The farm also runs 250 ‘Bonsmara’ beef cows under Anthony’s supervision. These are a home-grown breed for the domestic market which was developed through cross-breeding of the indigenous Afrikaner-type cattle with Hereford and Shorthorns. The result is a beef breed which produces economically in the sub-tropical regions of the Transvaal and Natal.The dairy calf rearing arrangement on ‘Watermead’ is very interesting through Australian eyes; they rear the heifers on eight DeLaval CF150 automatic calf feeders in the open - even in winter with odd snow falls and night time temperatures below freezing – not in sheds. “That allows us to run 200 calves with one labour unit,” Rob explains. “We are pushing them up to 6 litres of milk formula per calf, from day 10, which is generally unheard of in Jerseys. We wean at 55 days, and the calves get ad-lib calf meal. We have no blind quarters through cross suckling, and we have minimised our losses to approximately 3%”.

The vulture restaurantA particularly remarkable facet is that there are no bull calves raised as there is no local market for Jersey bull calves.

They are culled and consigned to what Rob calls the ‘vulture restaurant’. A certain place on the farm is allocated for the carcasses and the vultures feed on them, so that there is virtually nothing left. This is becoming a more widespread practice and environmentalists are very supportive as it has boosted a dwindling native vulture population.An interesting sidelight of this is that if cows are treated with Diclofenac, which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug to reduce inflammation (marketed in Australia as Voltaren) their progeny cannot be fed to the vultures. Diclofenac causes kidney failure in vultures that eat treated domestic animals and in India it has led to a sharp decline in the vulture population.So the Watermead herd is self-replacing and growing at a rate of about 25% per year. They join at 250kg and 15 months to calve at 24 months in a strict split calving pattern, 60% calve in spring when there is most grass growth and thus most profit, and 40% in autumn. However, they are moving to a 50/50 calving split as they cannot obtain a water permit to carry the extra spring calving cows. Watermead will need more dryland silage to carry the cows over winter, so feeding will be more expensive, but they can do this without a water permit.


Top 20 Sires By Registration01/03/09 - 08/10/09

Rank Nasis ID Name #Offspring 1 VALERIAN KAARMONA VALERIAN 186 2 7J590 FOREST GLEN AVERY ACTION 172 3 ASTOUND MOLLY BROOK BERRETTA FABULOUS 171 4 FLOWERPOWER CLAYDON PARK FLOWER POWER 156 5 SPIRITUAL RIVERSIDE SPIRIT 147 6 29JE3301 SC GOLD DUST PARAMOUNT IATOLA 126 7 ALTASABER O F MONTANA SABER 122 8 BWCOUNTRY BW COUNTRY 113 9 BADGER BEULAH TARANAK BADGER 102 10 JEBLACKSTONE LENCREST BLACKSTONE 99 11 7J605 SUNSET CANYON MECCA 78 12 JECOMERICA BRIDON REMAKE COMERICA 72 13 7J472 BW PARADE-ET 70 14 JESULTAN SHF CENTURION SULTAN 70 15 7J535 WINDY WILLOW MONTANA JACE 61 16 JEBROOKBI BUSHLEA BROOK BIESTAR 61 17 DNKIMPULS Q IMPULS 60 18 JEPINE PINE HAVEN SENIOR 57 19 BARTPOWER DARAWAY FLOWERPOWER SATIRA 57 20 ALTACARRIE BW CARRIER 53

Husbandry practicesRob says that on their farm there hasn’t been much culling of cows generally as they are still growing the herd. The main reason for culling, when it does occur, is fertility, followed by udder problems, and death by disease.“Mastitis may present issues in the future. There are traits that we will have to look at, such as milking speed; we need cows that milk out quickly to reduce mastitis.” Running a separate mastitis herd is not a practice used generally in South Africa.The farm has a scheduled vet visit once a month to pregnancy check and identify any ‘dirty cows’, 14 days post-calving. A hoof trimmer calls in every two weeks and Rob selects problem cows for him to treat. He says that the distance that cows have to walk is similar to Australia; “…. but there is no rock on our lanes, they are 90% mud in the wet season! The Australian laneways are infinitely better; they must be easier on cows’ feet. It is something we can improve on and I will take the lesson learned home.”He vaccinates for anthrax, botulism and three-day stiff sickness, as well

as a routine 3-in-1 clostridial disease vaccine. Vaccination against contagious abortion is mandatory in calves at six months of age. They recently had a big scare with Rift Valley Fever.Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is a viral zoonosis that primarily affects sheep, cattle and goats but also has the capacity to infect humans. It is spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes and infection can cause severe disease in both animals and humans, leading to high rates of disease and death. Rob says that they don’t routinely drench their cows, but the heifers do get an initial ivermectin dose and are sprayed monthly in summer for ticks.For the future, Rob Walker says that he is aiming to be milking 1200 cows within three years, and that will entail putting in another 50ha pivot irrigation system.

Very best genetics for South AfricaTim Arnot accompanied Rob Walker on his trip to Australia. He runs a company called Semark based in Kwa Zulu Natal Province – a major dairy area in South Africa. He advises farmers like Rob on bull selection, and is the Genetics Australia agent for South Africa.

“The big difference is the way that you develop your breeding bulls in Australia”, Tim says. “South Africa progeny-tests just 40 bulls per year, in Australia it is 130 per year, so you are selecting from a wider genetic base.“The young bulls coming to South Africa from Australia totally vindicates the Genetics Australia selection program. It helps us to be able to present the very best genetics suitable to our customers’ breeding programmes.”“15 years ago the average South African herd had 150-200 cows, now it is 750 cows.We have bigger herds, but the overall number of cows has declined in the last year.”Peter Thurn, specialist geneticist at Genetics Australia says that the message he would like Rob Walker and Tim Arnot to take back with them to South Africa is that Genetics Australia bulls are progeny tested under Australian commercial conditions that very closely match those of South Africa. “Both are pasture-based production, plus grain and conserved fodder, with component-based pricing. The two countries are very close in style.”

14


HEIFER, 7 to 9 months (dry), born on or between 1/1/2009 and 28/02/20091 Finley High School: Pasadena

Govenor Wish

HEIFER, 9 to 15 months (dry), born on or between 1/7/2008 and 31/12/2008 1 Finley High School: Buffel Vale

Summer Pride 2 C Swindlehurst: Speedwell

Brookbi Choice 3 Deniliquin High School: Willow

Dell Linda 240

HEIFER,1.1/2 years old (dry), born on or between 1/1/2008 and 30/6/2008 1 C Swindlehurst: Speedwell

Golden Noella 8th 2 S R & R F Chant: Warrion Lilac

Bloom 23 3 J Fisher: Yandavale Country

Wynne HEIFER, 2 years old (dry), born on or between 1/7/2007 and 31/12/2007

1 Elmsdale Pty Ltd: Elmsdale Star Fingers (Dylan Jewell)

2 G & D L Robertson: Willow Downs Joy 4

3 Elmsdale Pty Ltd: Elmsdale Futurity Cowslip

4 Deniliquin High School: Willow Dell Fancy 590

HEIFER, 2 years old (in milk) born on or between 1/7/2007 and 31/12/2007 1 J Fisher: Waterloo Farms Man

Jacinta 2 Carson Farm Holdings: Glenbrae

Jaces Virginia

HEIFER, 2 1/2 years old (in milk) born on or between 1/1/2007 and 30/6/2007 1 D Weel: Cairnbrae Resurection

Daisy (E.T) 2 D Weel: Royal Jamaica Baby

Jane 10th 3 Wallacedale Jerseys:

Wallacedale Badgers Melaine 2

4 Deniliquin High School: Willow Dell Blonde 270

COW, 3 years old, (in milk), born on or between 1/7/2006 and 31/12/2006 1 S R & R F Chant: Wanstead

Augustus Myra 2 Deniliquin High School: Willow

Dell Linda 216 3 G & D L Robertson: Ivanhoe

Bramble 25 4 Deniliquin High School: Willow

Dell Fancy 567 5 Elmsdale Pty Ltd: Elmsdale Furor

Sam

COW, 3 1/2 years old (in milk), born on or between 1/1/2006 and 30/6/2006 1 J Fisher: Waterloo Farms Country

Shirley 2 Collins Farms: Mangarra Astound

Victoria 3 G & D L Robertson: Ivanhoe

Illusion 56

COW, 4 years old (in milk), born on or between 1/7/2005 and 31/12/2005 1 Wallacedale Jerseys:

Wallacedale Jace Lynette (E.T)

2009 MELBOURNE ROYAL RESULTSJUDGE: Roger Heath – Wanstead Jerseys Camperdown Victoria

Judge Roger Heath Camperdown with the Intermediate Cow at Melbourne show 2009 being sashed by Jack Rae Narre Warren North paraded by David Weel Simpson.

Best Vessel winner at Melbourne show 2009 with judge Roger Heath and Paul Ackerley, Irrewillipe and Scott Joynson Executive Officer Jersey Australia.

Junior Champion Heifer with M i c h a e l V a l l a n c e , Terang and William Paterson, Boisdale the great grandson of the of Alfred Nicholas at Melbourne show 2009


2 J Fisher: Waterloo Farms Astound Mable GR1

3 Elmsdale Pty Ltd: Rolma Tee Fingers 21 (TW)

COW, 5 years old (in milk), born on or between 1/7/2004 and 30/6/2005 1 Carson Farm Holdings: Glenbrae

Astound Dolichos 4 2 S R & R F Chant: Warrion Velvet

22 3 S R & R F Chant: Warrion Ditto

60 4 C Swindlehurst: Eurarie Lestro

Serene 5 Elmsdale Pty Ltd: Elmsdale

Brookbi Gabby 2 GR1

COW, 6 years old (in milk), born

on or between 1/7/2003 and 30/6/2004 1 Elmsdale Pty Ltd: Rolma Hot Del

Noella 11 2 Wallacedale Jerseys:

Wallacedale Willows Belle (E.T)

COW, 7 years old or over (in milk), born on or before 30/6/2003 1 Collins Farms: Stonehenge

Fanclub Pal 2 Wallacedale Jerseys:

Wallacedale Peris Marie 3 G & D L Robertson: Ivanhoe

Illusion 45

BEST VESSEL (cow or heifer to be of good breed type)1 Carson Farm Holdings: Glenbrae

Astound Dolichos 4

2 D Weel: Cairnbrae Resurection Daisy (E.T)

3 Collins Farms: Stonehenge Fanclub Pal

NOVICE CLASS, COW OR HEIFER, any age. 1 Finley High School: Buffel Vale

Summer Pride 2 Finley High School: Pasadena

Govenor Wish

THE JOCK & BERT ANDERSON MEMORIAL BREEDERS GROUP PRIZES, 3 females, any age. 1 Wallacedale Jerseys: 2 G & D L Robertson: 3 Deniliquin High School: 4 Elmsdale Pty Ltd:

Senior Champion Cow at Melbourne show 2009 with Judge Roger Heath and Melissa Anderson, Athlone lead by Paul Ackerley .

Reserve Champion Jersey Heifer at Melbourne show 2009 with Tony Nicholas and Megan Campbell, Finley High School NSW.

Reserve Champion Intermediate female at Melbourne show 2009 with judge Roger Heath and Jack Rae and leader Emmy Scott Wonthaggi.

Reserve Champion Interbred female (exhibited by Jim Carson Glenbrae Jerseys) with Frank Stephens, Benalla and Paul Ackerley Melbourne show 2009


GROUP PRIZE - DAM AND DAUGHTER or alternatively 2 daughters of the one dam. 1 Elmsdale Pty Ltd2 G & D L Robertson

JUNIOR CHAMPION JERSEY HEIFER, 2 year or under (dry)Elmsdale Pty Ltd: Elmsdale Star Fingers (Dylan Jewell)

RESERVE JUNIOR CHAMPION JERSEY HEIFER. Finley High School: Buffel Vale Summer Pride

INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION JERSEY HEIFER D Weel: Cairnbrae Resurection Daisy (E.T)

RESERVE INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION JERSEY HEIFER J Fisher: Waterloo Farms Country Shirley

SENIOR CHAMPION JERSEY COW Carson Farm Holdings: Glenbrae Astound Dolichos 4

RESERVE SENIOR CHAMPION JERSEY COW Collins Farms: Stonehenge Fanclub Pal

SUPREME JERSEY EXHIBIT Carson Farm Holdings: Glenbrae Astound Dolichos 4

FEMALE HAVING THE HIGHEST PRODUCTION AND TYPE JUDGING SCOREWallacedale Jerseys: Wallacedale Peris Marie

MOST SUCCESSFUL JERSEY EXHIBITORElmsdale Jerseys – Michael & Des Vallance

Reserve Champion Cow at Melbourne show 2009 with exhibitor Chris Collins Yinnar, and RAS and Cattle Coordinator Zoe Moroz placing the ribbon .

Interbreed Best Vessel with judge David Paterson, Larpent and Paul Ackerley, Irrewillipe at Melbourne show 2009

Reserve Intermediate Champion at Interbreed judging with Des Valence Shepparton and handler Kaye Williams Meningie, SA at Melbourne show 2009.

Best Vessel line up at Melbourne show 2009


Lencrest ON TIME stormed into No.1 position for the Jersey breed in Canada – more than 100 points clear of his nearest rival in the August proofs.

The people ahead of the game in Australia already have calves on the ground by this LPI (Lifetime Profit Index) leader. Two noted breeders include Lara Jerseys (Andrew and Fleur Ferguson) in Northern Victoria and Merseybank Jerseys (Geoff and Anne Heazlewood) in Tasmania.

On Time is sired by SHF Centurion Sultan from the high profile EX94-pointed Piedmont Declo Belle x EX-93 Brass x EX3-3E Duncan Belle herself. He is also the maternal brother to successful Semex sire Lencrest Blackstone.

Canada’s Jersey program manager Harley Nicholson says the No.1 result comes as no surprise and he sees the bull as a special package that will hold his position for some time.

“His ranking is justified in my mind,” Harley said. “His pedigree says he should be a great one. New No.1 sires of his calibre do not come along every year. He will create a lot of excitement within the breed and more importantly, he has the credentials to be a significant impact sire for breed progress – allowing all breeders in many countries to benefit from his superior genetic potential.”

Harley said talk of On Time’s metoric arrival had been on the grapevine since early this year.

“As more daughters calved out and obtained projections in production and as some of the earlier ones became classified, it became apparent that

this sire was destined for greatness. Since May we have been using On Time as a sire of sons, and even in the absence of an official proof, the fine performance and reputation of the Belles down through the years, made it an easy task to sell breeders on the idea.”

On Time’s Sultan sire has been the most heavily exported Semex Jersey sire in recent years. His signature legacy was siring beautiful frames and udders. On Time leaves the same udder quality, but he includes much higher levels of production and protein test. On Time daughters also have an advantage over Sultan in both foot and rump angle.

“This bull delivers the complete package – high yields of fat and protein, balance and completeness in the type pattern of his daughters, including a frequent fancy one that makes your blood race. The daughters I have seen are very true to his proof. So a cow-man can use this sire with confidence. And the dairymen I have spoken to about On Time daughters are uniformly pleased with their milk letdown, and quiet milking temperament.”

Harley said this proof round is just the start.

“The gratifying aspect for me is that we are aware of daughters who have gained in their production and/or others who classified favourably after the cut-off date for the most recent genetic evaluations in Canada.

“This leads us to feel quite comfortable saying On Time should remain at or near the top of the Canadian list for some time to come.”

On Time is on the money

An On Time daughter Silverdene On Time Pixie VG85-2YR-CAN

On Time daughter Chasena On Time Gala GP84-2YR-CAN


Steven Chant’s parents ran a mixed farm about 17km out of Colac – near the Warrion township, which is where Steven and Roslyn Chant’s Jersey stud of today got its name - back in 1973. In the mid 1970’s, Steven’s parents decided to improve their grade Jersey herd, and began looking for good Jersey bulls to purchase. ‘I would have been in my late teens when we first visited the McIlroy family’s famous EDI stud in the northern district, and purchased a bull. Their cows really blew me away, and I was lucky to be asked to join their preparation team before the stud annual sales. I saw some amazing cows along the way, and really enjoyed the preparation work, grooming and leading. I had some good times doing that, and it was a lot of fun’ Steven said.Inspired by EDI and the quality cows they had seen, Steven’s parents s t o p p e d g r o w i n g p o t a t o e s and onions in the early 1990’s due to poor returns to focus on b u i l d i n g a quality dairy herd. “The grade cows were g e n e t i c a l l y recovered in 1997 and my parents dream of having a 100% registered herd of Jersey cows was realised”, Steven said. Today, Steven and Roslyn run a 410 acre dairy farm near the original stud, with an additional 90 acre out-paddock on the other side of Warrion, used for running young stock, hay and silage. In 2003, the family partnership of Steven’s parents and their two sons dissolved and Steven & Roslyn began leasing their half of the farm. In June this year Alan & Isabel retired and Steven and Roslyn purchased their farm outright. The Chant’s have three children, Andrew 24 – who is running his own property, with his wife Shahna and their two boys Tyson 3 and Joseph 1. Chris 22 – who is in his final year of Civil Engineering at

Monash, and Sarah 18 – who is currently working with a local herd improvement company. ‘Sarah really loves Jerseys and the Brown Swiss breed, and is starting up her own stud – Fearah (at the moment she has six, after starting out with just one calf that she was given for helping out at IDW). Steven and Roslyn milk the cows backed up by a relief milker and a school-based apprentice. ‘We know we are fortunate to have 2 good workers, as good help is really hard to find’ Steven said.The property has heavy volcanic soil, and is undulating to hilly country. 150 Acres is under irrigation – with water supplied by bores and delivered via ‘travellers’ and spray-lines. The dairy

is a 15 aside double-up herringbone, with milking taking around two

hours. ‘Some of our favourite

cow families are our Patsy’s, Velvets,

Lady Jane’s and Heatherbe l l s

as well as our C a n a r y ’ s . They are our s t a n d o u t f a m i l i e s , and the fertility of the Canary line is

exceptional. We breed

for both milk flow and

temperament – they have to work,

and pay the bills. I believe you can breed for

production and ‘looks’ - and a good ‘type’ is essential’ Steven said.

‘About 7 years ago, we started to correctively breed with the help of Amy Wright of World Wide Sires, and have been doing it ever since. We began using AI bulls in the early 1990’s. Since 1997 most heifers reared have been AI. Our favourite bulls used would be Storm, Parade and Augustus. In the last few years we have done ET on a few of our older cows, mainly those that traditionally have bull calves themselves. We have noticed a massive improvement in our herd, and can see that we are really on the way to having the type of herd we want’ Steven said.

Warrion Jerseys By Linda Houghton


The Chant family has always enjoyed all aspects of showing their cows, and have had a lot of family fun since the children started entering calves in the children’s section at the Colac Show, 15 years ago. Their interest continued as they got older which lead to Steven joining the Show Committee. We love the on farm challenge too - when we first started we were always in the bottom half of the field - and now we’ve improved quite steadily. We won the Colac Jersey Breeders Club Champion Cow in 2007, and were runners-up in 2008 with “Warrion Patsy 56”. In 2008 we also won Champion Heifer with “Wanstead Augustus Myra” - purchased from Roger Heath at the AGM Colac Classis Sale that same year” Steven said. Both Patsy and Myra represented the Colac Club at the Semex Great Southern Challenge and we were thrilled when Patsy came third in the aged cow class in 2008. We are also fortunate to have an active local Jersey Club - when we first started out, Jim Parker invited us to a club farm walk, and we really enjoyed it. Joining the club gave us the opportunity so see other farms and learn from breeders such as the Parkers, Carsons, Codlings and Murrays. We have made some great friends and have had the opportunity to share knowledge, and learn about how to feed and manage your cows which is very helpful. The club also organises interesting trips to other farms. I also like attending judging day at IDW as it’s a great way to catch up with other breeders and see great cows” Steven said.‘Sarah has also recently enjoyed some success, taking a team of cows to this years Melbourne Show; Wanstead Augustus Myra, Warrion Ditto 60, Warrion Velvet 22 and Warrion Lilac Bloom 23 (yearling). She won a First, two Seconds and a Third placing. Each cow got a ribbon, and she went on to get Second in the Junior Judging Competition – so she was really stoked’ Steven said.‘Jerseys are just great cows - I just love milking them,

and they are small enough for me to handle – and I’m not a tall bloke! They’ve been really good to us, and are highly productive, quiet and hardy – everything you need in a good dairy cow. ‘For now, we’ll keep going along as we are – I’m only 48 and too young to retire just yet, plus there is a chance that the kids might be interested to come in and get involved. The current low prices are the hardest part – we supply Murray Goulburn, and just a bit more money would help a lot, but at least it looks promising for our fodder this year, which helps. It’s looking really good for a great spring so far – and we prefer pasture as the main source of feed though we rely on irrigated turnip crops in summer. However, to back that up, we are also feeding 5 – 6 kg of pellets per day/per cow for the entire lactation period. I mostly use Barastoc products, and get nutritional advice from them when I need it.’‘Feeding the herd is very time consuming, and in the dry conditions we have been flat-out for the last 10 years. I remember the year 2006 very well, because we had just invested in renovating the dairy, putting in an auto-feed system and doubled-up. Then, because it didn’t rain, we had to buy-in hay and try to make ends meet – it was a very bad year’ Steven said.‘We do try to get a couple of weeks off every year, and mostly head to the coast where we can relax and I can fish’, Steven said. ‘However, my belief is that if you want to get milk, you’ve got to feed your cows – I think it’s that simple. Balance your budgets and make cost savings elsewhere – but don’t cut corners with feed - because a poorly fed cow won’t give you much. If you feed your Jerseys well, they’ll produce the milk’ Steven said.‘Right now, we are doing fairly well, and just need to focus on keeping our spending under control, while also looking ahead to the future’ Steven said.

PO BOX 292, ASCOT VALE, VIC 3032 Telephone: (03) 9370 9105

Fax: (03) 9370 9116

Email: [email protected]

Compiling Editor:Scott Joynson

Designed and Printed by:Numurkah Leader

(03) 5862 1034Email: [email protected]

NEw SOuTh wALESState Secretary - Milton Johnston

Phone: (02) 6552 5915Fax: (02) 6552 5915

QuEENSLANDState Secretary - Diane Reeves

Phone: (07) 5485 4585work: (07) 3221 3182Fax: (07) 5485 4575


SOuTh AuSTRALIAState Secretary - Amy McDonaldPO Box 313 Greenock SA 5360

Phone (08) 8562 8113 Fax (08) 8562 8520


VICTORIAExecutive Offier - Scott Joynson

79 Munro StreetAscot Vale VIC 3032

Phone: (03) 9370 9105 BhFax: (03) 9370 9116

[email protected] Recovery Officers

Chris MacKenzie (western Districts)Phone: (03) Phone:(03) 5598 7222Margaret Cockerell (Northern Vic)

Phone: 0407 641 132 (03) 5864 1133Barry Monson

(03) 5625 3176 or 0429 343 903

wESTERN AuSTRALIASusan Lutey

Feast Rd, Serpentine 6125Ph: (08) 9525 [email protected]

TASMANIAState Secretary - Max McCormack

PO Box 1258Devonport TAS 7310

Phone: (03) 6424 1250Mobile: 0409 252 232


Opinions expressed in The Australian Jersey Journal are not necessarily those of Jersey Australia Inc or its Board of Management or Compiling Editor, and no responsibility whatsoever is taken for their authenticity. while every effort will be made to publish advertisements as ordered, no responsibility is taken for the failure of an advertisement to appear as ordered.


Bercar Jersey StudBernie and Carol McManus

252 Bamawm Rd Bamawm. 3561Ph. 03-54832245

e-mail [email protected]

Jimann JerseysTrevor & Julie Campbell

286 Lowe Rd Rochester 3561(03) 5484 1621

[email protected]

EURARIE JERSEYS Charles & Carolyn Smith

80 Rathbone Road St Germains 3620 03 5826 0325

[email protected]

SUNSHINE FARM JERSEYS

Neville & Janelle McDonald715 Andrews Rd Kyabram 3620

Ph: 03 5855 [email protected]

SHENSTONE JERSEY STUDGordon & Lyn Emmett

12 Curr Rd Stanhope 03 5857 [email protected]

.....breeding since 1930

Brookbora JerseysRobert and Sandra Bacon

Tennyson Vic 357203 5488 2323 0429 333 [email protected]

www.brookbora.com.au

Silhouette JerseysRichard & Ann Worboys

Echuca Mitiamo Rd • Kotta03 5483 7500

[email protected]

Sybilgrove & Summer Spirit Jerseys

Collins Family3710 McColl Rd Rochester 3561

Ph/Fax 03 5486 5393

Benlock Jersey Stud

Bryan & Lee Rushton79 Brooks Rd Rochester 3861

03 5484 [email protected]

NortherN District Jersey BreeDers cluB

President: Bill Cochrane

Secretary: Lisa Broad

Gailee JerseysNorm & Dawn Stone489 Hill Rd Stanhope

03 5857 [email protected]

Craigielea Jerseys

Bill, Kaye and Andrew Cochrane836 Hansen Rd, Bamawm, 3561

03 5486 5474 [email protected]

Dalbora GeneticsRobert & Sandra BaconDaryl & Maria CollinsTennyson Vic 3572

0427 882 227 0429 333 [email protected]

Lincolndell JerseysRon and Val Read & Family

167 Panoo Road Lockington 3563

Rockleigh Park JerseysStewart Mancer

2/1 Moama Court, MoamaPh: 0429 88 22 01

[email protected]

BROADLIN JERSEYSLynton and Lisa, Toni, Gavin and Cassie Broad

388 Johnson Road, LOCKINGTON 356303 5486 2624 042786 [email protected]

PANACHE ZOE—ET HC+87 6-1 5869 292 5.00%F 222 3.80%P 305D, Due Feb sexed Gannon

Descends from AU Twinkies Duncan Tiffany via Berretta x Alf x Finale

Tiffany top price 1990 US National Heifer Sale, sold to Cal-A-Nan Jerseys

G. Dtr x Badger 1-11 828 43 5.19%F 34 4.11%P 53D with Spiritual heifer

PARAMOUNT MELBA HC+88 5-11 6560 270 4.12%F 252 3.84%P 293D, Fresh Aug 6th Lactation

From the Denison Park Melba’s, Daughters by Doubled 87-2yr, Badger, Parade

ASTOUND FUSCHIA VHC90 3-0 5505 295 5.36%F 210 3.81%P 303D, Fresh July 4th Lactation

Daughters by Augustus 86-2yr, Foundation and Bartpower

Jared & Courtney Ireland 53 Hewlett Lane, Lockington

Ph/Fax 0354862694 [email protected]

JUGIONG JERSEYSNicholson Family

Curr Rd Girgarre 3624Ph/fax 03 5854 6393

Pat 03 5854 [email protected]


COLAC & DISTRICT JERSEY CLUB IS CELEBRATING THEIR 60TH

ANNIVERSARYWe’d love you to join in on some wining and dinning and

reminiscing.WHERE: YEOWARRA HILL WINERY, 152 Drapers Rd Colac.

WHEN: Wed 2nd DEC 2009, 7 pm.Bookings essential for catering by 23rd November, with the Sec: Kerry McGarvie

on [email protected] or 03 55 939 347.

The Colac & District Jersey Breeders Club would like to thank out going Secretary Ted Codling for his wonderful contribution to the Club over many years. Seen here with incoming Secretary Kerry McGarvie.

Our cattle club is going through plenty of change and is proud of its very active membership...

...although some of our club events can be tough going,

like the recent day cruising the Hopkins River.

The Bungendore ShowThe Bungendore Show starts the show circuit - Sunday 31 January 2010 - and is recognised as the best of the one-day shows, this year drawing record crowds and entries. As a feature item I proposed a “Dairy Spectacular” which not only has a dairy breeds schedule (following) but also milking demonstrations, a display of dairy equipment and also specialty stalls with cheeses and other dairy products.

Roberta Ibbott has consented to be the judge and Barry Gwyther the chief steward. I have also been promised valuable support for prize money and trophies. I will also be putting on a BBQ for members using specialty cuts of Jersey beef. It promises to be a fun day as well as giving prominence to the Jersey breed in what otherwise is seen as a beef area and I look for for your support

Classes are:Heifer under 12 monthsHeifer under 24 months

JUVENILE CHAMPION and RESERVE CHAMPION

Cow 3 years and under dryFemale under 36 months in milk

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CHAMPION COW and RESERVE CHAMPION

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PresidentGrant Baker (03) 5864 6246 SecretaryMargaret Cockerell (03) 5864 1133

GoulburnMurrayJerseyBreedersClub

GMJBC

GLENARRON JERSEYSRon, Glenyss & Grant Baker14 Hutchins Lane Katunga(03) [email protected]

YENOLAM JERSEYSNeil, Wendy, Dick & Lyla1119 Boals Rd Numurkah 3636Ph (03) 58641064 Fax (03) [email protected]

GRAGLEN JERSEYSGraham, Glenyce, Tim & Jon PearceKerrs Rd Tallygaroopna 3634(03) 58298334 [email protected]

EARLDENE JERSEYSDick & Barb Scoones2720 Rendells Rd Numurkah 3636(03) [email protected]

FRESH START JERSEYSToni Adams & Mark Norman(03) 586550600427229505

BEULAH JERSEYSDaryl & Lani Hoey160 Christies Rd [email protected](03) 58646473

BERNBRAE JERSEYSMcMillan FamilyHawkers RdNathalia 3636(03) 58641303

YALCARA JERSEYSPeter & Lyn Sprunt926 Sandmount RoadKatunga 3640(03) [email protected]

KADDY JERSEYSAndrew Younger 50 Zeerust School Rd Zeerust 3634 (03) [email protected] www.jersey.com.au/jweb/uploads/kaddy/kaddy_intro.html

HOMELANDS JERSEYSPhil Hentschke & Warren Schutz142 Youanmite Rd Invergordon 3636(03) 58655171

GENTEEL JERSEYSBrad Adams553B Mywee/Koonoomoo Rd Strathmerton 3641(03) [email protected]

LOXLEIGH JERSEYSGeoff AkersVictoria Rd Tallygaroopna 3634(03) [email protected] WARRAIN JERSEYSJohn & Margaret Cockerell1219 Rendells Rd Numurkah 3636(03) [email protected]

GLENFERN JERSEYSPeter & Bev Farrell579 Healesville-Kooweerup Rd, Healesville 37770409 503 [email protected]

WAIANIWA JERSEYSLindsay Hamilton1045 Hawkers Rd Nathalia 3636(03) 58641380

KAARMONA JERSEYSGraeme & Robyn, Rohan & Claire Sprunt228 & 235 Kaarimba Hall Rd Kaarimba 3635. (03) [email protected]

HAZELVALE JERSEYSJason Hayes0410135420

VAMOS JERSEYSKelly & Warren BarnettAmaroo Park Solly Rd Mathoura 2710(03) [email protected]

FROGLANDS JERSEYSBen Pedretti 51 Victoria StreetTallygaroopna 3634(03) 5829 8339

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• AtGMJBCwearecommitted toour jersey journalbyadvertising togetherandsharing the cost of the ad. It must be time to get your jersey club into the journal, keeping your stud out there.

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As a classifier, Les Bennett has had some memorable experiences – and often for unexpected reasons.

‘It was a whole new experience for me back in 2005 when I went to Maroochydore in Queensland – I had never been there before. We were classifying Jeff Parker’s herd and it was about 2.00pm in the afternoon – we did 50 cows, and the heat and humidity was absolutely unbelievable – it was just stinking hot, and sticky. Plus, there was a huge storm brewing, so the humidity was just getting worse by the minute. When I finished, I thought I was literally melting - a trough full of water had never looked so good. Luckily, Jeff suggested I just get into a cold shower and have a beer instead! I can’t imagine working in those conditions all the time – they reckon you get used to it – but I’m not so sure!

‘There is certainly no shortage of interesting characters in QLD, when I classified at one place near Biggenden, all of the neighbours turned out to watch, which was a bit different. Plus, the flies were unlike anything I’ve ever seen before – the cows had their ears chewed by them’ Les said.

‘I enjoy classifying, it provides the chance to travel to new places, meet new people and I am continually surprised and blown away by the diversity and quality of the cows that I see. Lately, I’ve just done a few day-trips here and there – because it is more difficult to get away from the farm during the dry conditions. However last year I did the Illawarra Breed Victorian On-Farm Challenge over four days. Jim Parker encouraged me to do it for the experience, and I really enjoyed doing it. A good cow is a good cow – regardless of the breed – you can appreciate quality when you see it’ Les said.

‘I never get tired of reading about or looking at dairy cows – and I enjoy reading the Journal, and all of the catalogues – I can’t get enough of it’ Les said.

Born and bred a Jersey breed fancier, Les’s parents established and ran the Toora Stud in 1961, at Murrabit (in Victoria) after leaving the Mallee area. As a twenty year-old Les established his own stud; Benlee Park Jerseys, and after marrying Ann, they moved over the NSW border to work on a large-scale dairy farm at Tullakool (near Moulamein).

In 1994, they moved ‘Benlee Park’ to Macorna, south of Kerang in the Tragowel Plains – which features salt affected areas. ‘We have 320 acres here, and about 20 of those are salt affected, and the soil is a red/grey clay type. It hasn’t improved in the dry conditions. We used to get around 375mm of rain per year – and now we are heading into our 13th year of drought and getting nowhere near that. Since 1997 it’s been dry - north of the divide, it’s all the same’ Les said.

‘The ongoing dry conditions are very tough, and along with that is the worry about when it is going to end. I’m secretary of our local cattle club, and a lot of our members have simply had enough and moved south. It’s happening a lot all over northern Victoria – producers are selling water entitlements to clear debt and getting out. The exit package is being put forward fairly prominently in this area, but like a lot of others, I have farmed all of my life – I don’t really want to do anything else’ Les said. ‘This year we hope to milk around 90 cows – in a normal year that would sit around 120. At present we have around 40% Jerseys and 60% Holsteins in our herd – and I have to say that the Jerseys are holding up really well. The dairy is a 9 a-side swing-over herringbone, which works well with one operator. At the moment, we still have a bit of grass and are not feeding-out just yet, and if we’re lucky, we might even get a drop more rain. Nothing beats feeding the cows on green grass.’

Benlee Park JerseysBy Linda Houghton


‘Bulls we are using at the moment are ‘Blackstone’, ‘Spiritual’, ‘Larfalot’ and a couple of PT bulls. I don’t use a breeding service - I do the selection and AI process myself, and breed for production, while still looking to improve the traits of each cow.

‘The best in our herd has to be the daughters from ‘Adadale Brass Rowena’ – she won the NSW Dairy Spectacular at Lismore, and we bought her at the Leongatha sale in 1994 for $9,100. At the time, she was a well-known cow in QLD, just like her grand-dam. It seemed like a lot of money to pay at the time, but she turned out to be the cheapest cow we ever bought, she gave us four live heifers by Lester on her first flush, and her calves sold strongly too – she has owed us nothing. Another favourite cow is Benlee Park Biestar Gem 6 SUP – she won the club on-farm challenge in 2006 – it was the first time we’d won a class and club award. The prize was a ton of calf pellets – which was pretty handy’.

‘We hope to have success with a purchase from a recent Northern Lights sale (as a syndicate). We bought a calf - Kaarmona Legion Babe and we’ve been flushing her for embryos, and are hopeful of a successful outcome with her too. Our syndicate name is now ‘3 Men and a Babe’ in her honour’ Les said.

‘Surprisingly, despite the dry conditions, the farm is in a better state than last year, but now the milk prices haven’t remained stable. There always seems to be something dragging you down – I think the uncertainty of it all is the most worrying aspect to it. I am trying to remain positive and focussed on the future – looking to a time of more stability in the industry, and a return to normal weather patterns – but who knows what’s in store? Spring seems to arrive so much earlier now – maybe the seasonal pattern really is changing.’

‘However, a better price has to happen eventually - but in the meantime, the larger producers have the advantage of being able to negotiate and secure a higher price. It’s harder for the smaller operators – they don’t seem to have a voice. We currently supply Murray Goulburn, and hope there are better times ahead’ Les said.

At the time of the interview, Les was recovering from a chest infection. ‘Ann and the kids (Lauren 18, Ryan 16 and Casey, 11) have just been fantastic while I’ve been sick. They have really pitched in and helped out by feeding calves, milking and buzzing around doing what had to be done. Ann almost succeeded in not saying ‘I told you so’ when I finally agreed to be checked out at the hospital. She was right of course, I was sick!’ Les laughs. ‘Ann and I haven’t had a decent holiday since 2002, but we try to get a way for a couple of days at a time – we went to Corryong in July, and it was a beautiful area, but freezing! But it’s amazing what a couple of days off make – they can keep you going. Ultimately, I would love to just take off and go around Australia, with no set destination or timeline in mind – just stopping and staying where we please. Perhaps when we retire – but we’re not there yet’ Les said.

As a former footy player and self confessed mad ‘one-eyed’ Carlton supporter – Les may not have the ‘vision’ to see that he will probably be taking that trip around Australia a long-time before he ever sees his beloved ‘Blues’ hold the AFL premiership cup.

Les & Ann Bennett the partnership behind Benlee Park Jerseys


OFFICE MATTERS By Office Manager Lorraine Keating

Hi everyoneWell I’m impressed. The return rate on the Classifications has been very good. Most in on time, a few phone calls to register them over the phone (lost forms again), and a few late ones, but overall pretty good.

Best Boo Boo – sending your class application and cheque off with your electricity bill and only realising it when they return it to you. We’ve all had one of those days!

Registrations are starting to pick up again although only running at the same rate as last year at this stage and, let’s face it; last year didn’t break any records.

We have had some feedback from the University of Queensland re our DNA Applications.

“Could you please remind your members of the following when

submitting samples for DNA typing and parentage verification:

1) Only list the parents of the animal if parentage verification is required (otherwise leave blank)

2) If a nominated parent has been DNA typed by us, the nominated parent’s DNA Case Number is to be recorded in the appropriate section of the DNA typing application form (a stud name is not sufficient)

3) If a nominated parent has been DNA typed at another laboratory, it is the owner’s responsibility to request the DNA profile from that laboratory and ensure it accompanies the DNA typing application form to us.

Once an overseas DNA profile is entered into our database, it is assigned an Animal Genetics Laboratory case number (which will appear on the DNA results form

returned to Jersey Australia), and this number can be used for future parentage verification requests.”

Can you please get it right? You’re not the one who has to cope with angry academics attacking you. They can be brutal with their slaps on the wrist!!

Catch you next timeLorraine Keating

Dear Editor,I thought I would advise you of the Diamond Anniversary of the founding of the Farnborough Jersey Stud.Sixty years ago today, on 19 August 1949 my grandfather William ‘Bill’ Kingham and my father Howard Kingham formed a partnership with the objective of purchasing a property of 91 acres plus river frontage at Longwarry North. They adopted the name Farnborough from the village in Berkshire, England from where the Kingham ancestors came.Settlement on the property occurred one month later, 22 September 1949,whenachequeforthesumof£6920($13840)washandedtothe vendors R J & M O’Sullivan. I still have the original cash book, and perusing the payments a chequefor£4/15/-($9.50)waswrittenon30September1949andthe narration was “Registration Fees Jersey Herd Society”, and then on15December1949achequewithasimilarnarrationwasmadeout for£7/10/- ($15). I presume these chequeswouldhavebeenfor membership and transfer fees respectively, as it appears they immediately set about buying jersey cattle. The first purchase that I can detect was in December 1949 when they made a purchase of a bull and some cows from F. P. Maclean’s Ercildoune Stud at Harkaway. The narration says Bull £84, cows £93/10/-. The bullwas Ercildoune Lililites Oxford, and one of the cows was Ercildoune Junette. We still have cows in the herd today with the name of Junette.FredMacleansubsequentlyshiftedhisErcildouneStudtoLongwarry North to be a neighbour, had it still been in existence it would have been devastated on Black Saturday.

The original founders are both deceased, and by bequests and deeds of family arrangements I am now the owner of the property. Over the intervening years the property has expanded to 55 hectares. The property is divided by the Bunyip River, which means the property falls into two municipalities. During the 60 years of the stud there has been

just three share farmers, viz. (in chronological order) Jack Watts, Jack Wade (both deceased) and the current share farmer Noel Brereton.Over the years there have been of course some high lights and low lights, but probably the most devastating occurrence was the fire which affected us on Black Saturday, 7 February 2009.We were more fortunate than some of our nearby neighbours, especially in the Labertouche area who lost substantial amounts of housing, shedding, fencing and animals; we lost a large amount of fencing, fodder, burnt pasture and just one animal, but no loss of life, house or shedding. And we were thankful for the kindness of neighbours and others who donated hay and silage after the fire that kept our stockfedforquiteafewweeks.With best wishesRex KinghamFarnborough Jersey StudPh 9802 2292 Mobile 0414 232673Farm Phone 5629 9224Farnborough Jersey Stud Diamond Anniversary....Jersey Australia has presented the Farnborough Jersey Stud with the “50 years Stud Award” - congratulations to the Kingham family on their latest achievement a wonderful milestone.

The EditorAustralian Jersey JournalP O Box 292ASCOT VALE VIC 3032

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

the australian jersey journal october 2009

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