A new association has been formed to promote the benefits of the Jersey dairy breed in Western Canada.
Joanne Edwards, president of Jersey West, a division of Jersey Canada, said the new association hopes to convince new breeders and existing Holstein dairy producers of the benefits of Jersey cattle.
The group hopes to raise the profile of the breed by attending trade shows and having extension field staff promote the breed, said
Edwards, of Nokomis, Sask.
The $4,000 budget for the regional association that includes the four western provinces was from the federal government’s BSE recovery program to help the cattle industry after BSE was found in a northern Alberta cow almost three years ago.
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With the money, the new association hopes to expand the base of Jersey cattle breeders in Western Canada and have a solid breed association established when the funding expires next March.
“This is supposed to be for new breeders and people looking at Jerseys,” said Edwards, who operates a 50-head dairy farm with her parents.
She said the group would have an extensive push aimed at Holstein producers who want to improve their butterfat to solids non-fat ratio by using Jersey cattle in their herd.
“We want to show how adding Jersey cattle to the herd can improve their bottom line.”
Recent pricing changes by different provincial milk associations are aimed at lowering the solids non-fat ratio of milk. Changes to the feed ration can help lower the ratio, but another way may be to add a half dozen Jersey cattle to the herd.
“We’re trying to promote Jerseys as a good solution to their fat problems,” said Edwards, who will also act as an extension worker for the province.
The goal is to get about five new members a year from each province, which will give the group a base to operate the association.
“The way things are set up for payment, I think Jerseys are the future.”
