Unique Valleystream Genetics is Canada’s largest purebred Jersey operation but doesn’t shy away from trying other breeds
ROCHESTER, Alta. — Unique Valleystream Genetics is Canada’s largest purebred Jersey operation with a focus on family.
Owned by Dave and Tracy Morey and their adult children, Casey and Lee, the farm, an hour north of Edmonton, is a diverse operation of cropland and large dairy where about 300 registered Jersey cows are milked.
Dave had a career in the artificial insemination business and became a district sales manager and was in charge of the Canadian beef program for Select Sires. Tracy was a teacher when they decided to start the farm near Rochester. Having careers broadened their approach to farming.
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“It was a great opportunity because you get to see multiple farms and different attitudes in the industry and then you can bring that home,” he said.
They were determined to build a profitable business that would have a place for their children.
“This is a serious game. This is big business. It is just as professional as a CEO (chief executive officer) in any other business,” he said.
They had a small herd of Holsteins but Tracy wanted to add a Jersey. Dave decided one was not enough to properly estimate and compare a different breed in their program so they brought in six registered Jerseys.
“We saw what they could do as far as economic return. In the next two years we moved to 50-50 and split the herd so we could measure feed intake. After six months the Holsteins had to find a way out,” he said.
Among the Jerseys, a few Brown Swiss and Shorthorn cows have been added to the barn, partly due to Casey’s interest in trying new things.
“We like to diversify. We are not a one breed kind of family,” Casey said.
Four robotic milkers were installed. They wanted to milk more cows without changing their facilities and found the robots also saved on labour. The cows adapted well.
“We find Jerseys are so curious and they are not going to stay away from it. The robots are meant for Jerseys,” said Casey.
“They want to know what is going on. Once you get them trained and they get used to it, they understand they get a treat when they give milk and your visits increase,” she said.
They watch the cows’ behaviour and found milking times increased to 3.1 times per day.
The system also helps them focus on health traits, said Lee.
“We like cows that can make those dollars efficiently,” he said.
The farm has a free-stall unit for most of the cows, tie-stalls for high genetic animals and show cows and a pack system for special care or calving cows.
Expansion started from within the herd but in 2004 the family bought the Valleystream herd from Ontario breeders John and June White.
The Morey herd became known as Unique Valleystream Genetics.
As purebred operators, they also sell breeding stock and put bulls into artificial insemination studs. They sell embryos and have started providing genetics to South Korea.
At one point the farm had about 500 beef cows but the economic effects of BSE forced a change and the crop side expanded.
The farming side of the operation has grown to 2,700 acres where canola, barley, wheat and oats are grown. Corn silage was added five years ago.
“It is as good as barley silage as far as feed but there is a little more risk. But what it has done for us is provided more acreage for canola. We can produce our forage on less acreage and move some of it into canola and at the end of the day return a little more money per acre,” Dave said.
On a large operation like this, a division of labour is established where Tracy and Lee are more involved with the cattle and Dave and Casey focus more on the crop side.
“We are all able to do each other’s jobs, we are able to cover for each other,” said Casey, who returned to the farm three years ago after graduating with an agriculture business degree from the University of Alberta.
Dave is president of Jersey Canada and having a well-organized farm gives him time for travel and association work.
The family supports 4-H and participates in dairy shows. They enter local and international shows including the World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin.
Casey and Lee have been recognized with the Youth of Distinction award from Jersey Canada. Both were 4-H ambassadors and Casey has shown Jersey cows to the supreme champion level at the Alberta provincial 4-H dairy show.
Lee graduated from Lakeland College at Vermilion with an agriculture business diploma and also completed auctioneer school. He is involved with the association working on the breed association and breed improvement committee and is an aspiring judge. He is also an active showman, fitting cattle for breeders in Canada and the United States.
