World Dairy Diary

The National Jersey Queen Scholarship Fund was established in 2005 by Jersey dairy women interested in expanding travel and educational opportunities for the National Jersey Queen and members of the court. It provided a $500 scholarship and all-expenses paid travel to three national Jersey events for 2010 National Jersey Queen, Lena Sweeney, Visalia, Calif. Scholarships of $300 and $200, respectively, were also provided to the two alternate Queens: Tera Koebel, Three Oaks, Mich., and Amber Ettinger, Kinards, S.C.

The 58th National Jersey Jug Futurity on Sunday, November 6 offers an estimated $10,000 in premiums. It will be judged by Chris Lahmers, Marysville, Ohio. His consultant will be John Erbsen, Lanark, Ill.

The open division of The All American Jersey Show is set to take place on November 7 and will be judged by Herby D. Lutz, Chester, S.C. His consultant will be Andrew Vander Meulen, Brighton, Ontario.

The first and second place entries in each class of all shows will be named the All American and Reserve All American winners for 2011 by the American Jersey Cattle Association. The shows will be streamed live from Freedom Hall via webcast.

Two sales, both managed by Jersey Marketing Service of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, will also occur that same weekend.

The 59th All American Jersey Sale, the premier showcase for Registered Jersey™ genetics in the United States, will offer 75 lots on the evening of Sunday, November 6.

· Nutrition of high-producing Jerseys, particularly practical feeding methods to maximize production of valuable milk components;
· Factors affecting management of Jersey calves;
· Factors affecting yield and/or quality of products manufactured from Jersey milk;
· Factors affecting economic impact of Jerseys: efficiencies, net income, longevity, and lifetime profit;
· Optimizing the genetic basis for improving animal health and/or enhancing product quality;
· Enhancing environmental impact associated with Jerseys;
· New technologies for safe and sustainable food production from Jersey cattle; and
· Feasibility of adding value and increasing consumer acceptance of Jersey-derived products through enhanced product quality and branding.

Application deadline is Thursday, December 1, 2011. The Research Advisory Committee of the American Jersey Cattle Association will evaluate the proposals, then forward its recommendations to the AJCA Board of Directors, which will award funds at its meeting in March 2012.

Johnson has been a dairy production specialist with Landmark Services Cooperative providing nutrition management services since May of 2010. She earned a B.S. degree in dairy science from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, with a minor in business and professional communications. In 2009, Johnson was a member of the UW-River Falls team that placed second in the National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest, and was the eighth high individual overall. She also served as president of the UWRF Dairy Club and co-chair of the 2010 Falcon Premier Sale.

Londa was selected for the inaugural class of Jersey Youth Academy in 2009. That same year, she was a participant in the International Collegiate Ag Leadership Program for China and Vietnam and completed a progeny promotions internship at ABS Global Inc.

A native of Minnesota, Johnson grew up on her family’s Holstein and Jersey dairy farm in rural LaCrescent. In addition to helping with ongoing herd management, she coordinated mating decisions for the herd and prepared cattle for shows.

The Knapps are the perfect example of what can happen when city meets country. Kevin worked with and owned dairy cattle off and on until he met Cari, who managed a 320-cow dairy herd. Cari received her bachelor’s degree in dairy science from South Dakota State University. When the couple married in 2002, they blended their knowledge and experiences to expand their herd to 50 cows.

“Kevin and Cari have a very strong interest in the genetic development of their herd and have the results to show that it is working,” said Eric Lyon, Lyon Jerseys, Toledo, Iowa, in a letter supporting their nomination. Today’s herd consists of 95 cows in milk with a 2010 AJCA lactation average of 19,202 lbs. milk, 928 lbs. fat, 673 lbs. protein with 2,313 lbs. cheese yield per cow. The couple has set a goal for their REAP herd to be at 20,000 lbs. milk with 5.0% fat and 4.0% protein.

David grew up on his family’s farm near Wilton, Wis., as a third-generation breeder of Registered Jerseys™. He started at the Jersey organizations in July of 1981 as Equity Specialist with National All-Jersey Inc. and later added responsibilities as AJCA-NAJ Area Representative for the Upper Midwest region.

Brandau’s work focused on educating producers and cooperatives on the benefits of high-component milk and the need for equitable milk pricing to improve cheese yields. A key part of this was to enlist the financial support for this effort through the Equity check-off. “The Jersey breed would not be enjoying the success it is today without people like David on the front line gaining financial support for the program,” said Calvin Covington, former Executive Secretary and CEO of the USJersey organizations.

A major victory occurred when the five Upper Midwest Federal Milk Marketing Orders implemented multiple component pricing. David played a key role in bringing all the major cooperatives and dairy organizations in the area together to discuss equitable milk pricing. An excerpt of the Upper Midwest final decision dated August 2, 1995 is still posted in Brandau’s home office.

Sherman is one of 11 people in breed history to receive the two highest awards—the Distinguished Service Award and the Master Breeder award—presented by the American Jersey Cattle Association and the first to be presented with them in consecutive years.

Donald Sherman grew up on Orestimba Dairy, a highly regarded Registered Jersey™ herd owned by his parents and uncle, and returned to the family farm in 1970 after graduation from Modesto Junior College and a four-year stint in the U.S. Marine Corp. He and his wife, Elsa, set out on their own eight years later and established D&E Jerseys with the purchase of 75 milking cows. That herd currently numbers 575 milking cows. A second dairy, Avi-Lanche Jerseys, was established in 2006 in Dalhart, Texas. This herd of 2,200 cows is owned with son-in-law and daughter, Richard and Jennifer Avila.

Sherman held key leadership positions during much of the period that has been dubbed the “Golden Decade of Jersey Breed Expansion” and helped pave the road for record-breaking performance by the USJersey organizations since 2000. He was elected to the Board of Directors of the American Jersey Cattle Association in 1996, serving two three-year terms. In 2004, he was elected President of the association, serving three one-year terms.

As a director, Sherman chaired the Breed Improvement Committee and co-chaired the Type Advisory Committee. He also served on the organization’s Investment Advisory Committee, where his business experience and service on a local bank advisory committee made him a particularly effective member.

Sherman is an untiring advocate of Jersey youth programs. Every year, D&E Jerseys can be counted on to consign to and/or buy at the National Heifer Sale, which provides ongoing financial support for the national program. To boost financial resources of general scholarship fund, they donated all proceeds from the sale of D&E Rebel Scholar-ET at the The All American Jersey Sale in 2005. Donnie and Elsa also sponsor the Nanette Sherman-Taylor Memorial Scholarship for California juniors, in memory of their late daughter.

The ability to develop outstanding Registered Jersey™ cattle runs in the family at Cascadia Farm. Christy purchased her first Jersey calf in 1985 at the Washington County (Ore.) Junior Jersey Sale, bidding on the first animal to enter the ring. After attending college and earning a Bachelor of Science degree in business management, Christy went back to Cascadia to join her parents and brother in operating the dairy.

Christy is responsible for the majority of the mating decisions at Cascadia, where she has developed a progressive breeding philosophy that takes into account both high production and type traits for fitness and longevity.

The average appraisal score of the herd is 83% and the December 2010 AJCA lactation average was 15,718 lbs. milk, 643 lbs. fat, and 567 lbs. protein on 143 records. The farm also has five heifers on the Top 500 Heifer list (May 2011), and one cow ranked on the Top 1.5% list for Genomic Jersey Performance Index (GJPI).

David and Beth met at the Ohio State Fair in 2000 and bonded through their love for the Jersey breed. A month after taking their marriage vows in 2004, David accepted a position as manager for a 200-head commercial dairy operation in northern Ohio and after a year, incorporated their Jersey herd into the farm. David’s knowledge of the breed eventually influenced the farm owner to change his breeding and soon they were using only high JPI Registered Jersey™ sires.

In 2009, David and Beth entered into a partnership with the farm’s owner and have increased their Jersey cattle holdings to 295 head, of which 170 are in milk. The 2010 AJCA lactation average on 134 lactations was 20,512 lbs. milk, 1,027 lbs. fat and 745 lbs. protein with a cheese yield of 2,560 lbs.

Chris is well on his way to achieving long-lasting success in the Jersey dairy business. Dave and the late Patty Endres, Lodi, Wis., gave Chris his first full-time job as assistant herdsman, and he eventually worked his way up to herdsman for their Jersey operation. Chris bought a small herd of 15 cows in 1999 and housed them along with Dave and Patty’s herd while he worked for them.

Over the next eight years, Chris was able to grow his herd to 100 head of Registered Jerseys™ setting up a move to his own operation in 2006. Today, he is milking 285 cows with plans to continue his herd expansion. He has incorporated AJCA programs into his business plan including the REAP service package, JerseyTags and JerseyMate.

The 2010 AJCA lactation average on Chris’s herd was 22,637 lbs. milk, 984 lbs. fat and 822 lbs. protein with a cheese yield of 2,690 lbs. His herd currently ranks within the top 25% in the nation for Jersey Performance Index™ herd average.

Brian has grown a two animal purchase into a 320-cow dairy that he operates with his parents, Jim and Wanda, and brother, Scott. The 2011 AJCA lactation average on 262 lactations was 21,404 lbs. milk, 1,081 lbs. fat and 819 lbs. protein, the equivalent of 2,799 lbs. cheese. Currently, seven cows in the herd rank on the Top 1.5% traditional Jersey Performance Index™ list.

Brian has sold eight bulls into A.I., and has utilized young sire programs. Using 25% young sires has enabled the Bohnert herd to have many first-crop daughters from prominent sires.

Wayne and Lisa of Golden Pride Dairy Farm have learned many lessons during their 15-year adventure with Jerseys. One of the first lessons they learned was the value of owning registered cattle. The Genetic Recovery program brought them to a fully registered herd in just four short years. Then they purchased additional fully registered Jerseys.

One of their greatest accomplishments has come from Golden Prides Jamaica Ginger, Excellent-90%, a homebred cow that placed in the top 10 at World Dairy Expo that was selected as the first Jersey cow for the Semex USA “Walk of Fame” exhibit at Expo. Fifty-percent of their herd is consistently bred to young sires, focusing on bulls that will provide quality udders, sound feet and legs and overall type.

David Parkinson’s commitment to the Jersey breed traces to his youth growing up on a Jersey farm in Waterville, Quebec. Early in his career he worked as a herd manager and a fieldman for the Ontario Jersey Cattle Club. He became one of the founders of the annual calf rallies in Canada and helped establish the Royal International Jersey Futurity.

In 1977, Parkinson was hired as managing editor of the Jersey Journal, then became AJCA-NAJ Area Representative for the northeast United States. He served in that position for a total of 25 years.

After managing the Comfort Hill Jersey Farm in Ferrisburg, Vt., and developing the great Greenridge FW Chief Althea-ET, Parkinson rejoined the AJCA staff in 1993. He helped as Jersey Marketing Service expanded its services into large volume consignment sales in New York and Ohio. David also worked with Jersey breeders in various countries as a cattle marketer, judge and type evaluator. He traveled to India, Denmark and twice to Guatemala.

Above all, he enjoyed helping young people get started in the Jersey business. Whether it was youth asking advice at the Pot O’Gold Sales, or new breeders purchasing at National Heifer Sales or private treaty, he devoted hours to teaching them what to look for in their purchases.

Robert Bignami, Orland, Calif., was elected to a one-year term as President of the American Jersey Cattle Association. Bignami, co-recipient of the 2007 AJCA Master Breeder Award with the late Harlan Askeland, owns and operates Brentwood Farms, a 1,300-cow Registered Jersey™ herd enrolled on REAP (registration, Equity, type appraisal and performance programs).

Elected as Vice President for a one-year term was Richard Doran, Jr., Newberry, S.C. Doran owns and manages Bush River Jerseys, a 700-head operation that bottles and markets All-Jersey® brand milk with partner Peelers Dairy.

W. Phil Gordon, Syracuse, N.Y., was elected to a three-year term as AJCA Director from the Seventh District, succeeding two-term director and retiring Vice President James VanBuskirk, Carleton, Mich. Phil is a third-generation Jersey breeder and operates Gordon Farms with his wife Marty, daughter Mary, and son and daughter-in-law, Josh and Jennifer.

Three sitting Directors were re-elected to a second three-year term. They are Robin Denniston-Keller, Byron, N.Y. (Second District); Jerry Spielman, Seneca, Kans. (Ninth District); and Jim Quist, Fresno, Calif. (Twelfth District).

David Endres, Lodi, Wis., was elected to serve a third term as president of National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ). James S. Huffard III, Crockett, Va., was re-elected Vice President of the organization.

Dan Bansen has become a second-generation Master Breeder Award recipient, after his father, Stanley, who won the award in 1990. They are the only father-son duo to win the award in AJCA history.

Bansen returned to the family operation after graduating from Oregon State University in 1973. The herd became full recorded with the AJCA after Genetic Recovery was introduced in 1976, and gained recognition through enrollment on official performance evaluation programs. The current Forest Glen herd has 1,500 milk cows and 1,770 heifers. The 2010 AJCA lactation average is 16,529 lbs. milk, 737 lbs. fat and 614 lbs. protein on 1,189 lactations. There are currently 78 Excellent cows and 877 Very Good cows in the herd. Forest Glen has twice received the President’s Trophy presented annually to the highest producing cow.

Forest Glen bred the all-time leader for Jersey semen sales at Select Sires, Forest Glen Avery Action-ET. Since 2004, the herd has sent 38 bulls to A.I. and there are currently nine bulls on the active A.I. list and one bull on the genomic young sire list bearing the Forest Glen prefix.

The heifer sired by All Lynns Vaughn-ET, the third-high genomically tested and marketed young sire for Jersey Performance Index™ at 244, is a maternal descendant of Reich-Dale Brigadier Sandra Dee, Excellent-94% and Grand Champion of The All American Junior Jersey Show in 1997.

More than 80 individuals and farms made donations of $10, $25 or $50 to select one or more of the 192 squares available. “Sutton” chose her new owner by making her “deposit” on a square taken by Richard Clauss, Hilmar, Calif. Clauss then donated the calf to the 54th National Heifer Sale on June 25, where she sold for $1,500 to Benjamin Colopy, Castile, N.Y. All proceeds went to Jersey Youth Academy.

These are not just ‘any’ Jersey heifers. They have been DNA genotyped to evaluate their genetic merit.

As of today, 13 heifers have been contracted by A.I. companies, and several have multiple contracts. Among them is the #3 female of the breed. Her owners are two sisters, Erica and Amber Ettinger of South Carolina, both involved in national Jersey youth programs.

The 77 donors reside in 26 different states and the Island of Jersey, the home of the Jersey breed of cattle.

Dr. Jude Capper, assistant professor at Washington State University, will report findings from the life-cycle assessment conducted with Dr. Roger Cady, Elanco Animal Health. “Not only does the Jersey population conserve finite resources needed for cheese production,” Capper observed, “the total environmental impact is lower.” Per unit of Cheddar cheese manufactured, Capper and Cady determined that the Jersey carbon footprint (total CO2-equivalents) is 20% less than that of Holsteins.

Two seminars will open the AJCA-NAJ annual meeting schedule on Wednesday, June 22, starting at 4:00 p.m.

Dr. Katie Olson will take the audience behind the scenes at the Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory to discuss some of the new directions being taken in dairy cattle genomics research. This program will be broadcast live as part of the ongoing webinar series, “This Month in Jersey Genomics.”

Stout believed that the best learning experiences happen in the everyday world. These awards honor that conviction by providing financial support for on-farm and JMS internship experiences.

Farm Experience Recipient: Amy Maxwell

Amy Maxwell, Donahue, Iowa, has started her on-farm Stout Experience at High Lawn Farm in Lenox, Mass. She received her B.S. degree in agricultural business and economics on May 7 from Iowa State University.

Amy’s roots are in the diversified farming and marketing operations of Cinnamon Ridge Inc., owned by her father, John. She has shown Registered Jerseys™ since the age of 8. Amy has taken advantage of numerous work and educational opportunities as she prepares for a career in the dairy business. These include working as an assistant herdsman at Bohnerts’ Jerseys in East Moline, Ill., and last summer at an 80-cow Holstein dairy.

JMS Internship Recipient: Joseph Fjarlie

Joseph Fjarlie begins his internship with Jersey Marketing Service June 1 assisting with the complete dispersal of K&K Jerseys LLC, Newton, Wis. The experience also includes work on the crew for the 54th National Heifer Sale, June 25 in Arlington, Wis.

Growing up on his family’s farm in the Tillamook, Ore., area, Joseph developed a passion for dairy cattle genetics and registered cattle sales for three breeds. When his family moved its herd to Wisconsin last summer, Joseph relocated with his six Registered Jerseys and began considering career options in addition to breeding and developing an elite herd of cows.