The American Jersey Cattle Association has declared 2007 “the greatest year in the history,” for U.S. Jerseys! The association continues to see record numbers in all areas of its operation.
“It’s hard to imagine how 2007 could have been better for members of the USJersey organizations,” said Neal Smith, Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the AJCA and National All-Jersey Inc., headquartered in Reynoldsburg, Ohio. “The organizations achieved major milestones last year and each of the three companies operated in the black.
“The AJCA recorded 79,535 animals last year,” Smith reported. “That made 2007 the third-best year in our history and the fourth consecutive year that the association has recorded at least 70,000 animals.
Use of official Jersey performance evaluation programs surged to new heights in 2007. As of December 31, 121,049 cows were enrolled in one of seven programs available from the AJCA, breaking the previous record by more than 8,200 cows.
“REAP continues to grow to its ultimate potential,” Smith continued, “as evidenced by 2007’s numbers: 115,653 cows and 781 herds, both all-time records.”
Linear type evaluation services were delivered to over 60,000 cows for a sixth consecutive year. “Our staff visited 1,010 different herds in 2007 and scored 69,182 cows, second only to the 70,165 cows that were evaluated in 2005.”
The official Jersey lactation average increased to 18,391 lbs. milk, 842 lbs. fat, and 655 lbs. protein. On a Cheddar cheese equivalent basis, average yield is 2,208 pounds. All are new category records, as are the 72,094 lactation records processed by the AJCA for 2007. The lactation average is calculated on a standardized 305-day, twice daily, mature equivalent (m.e.) basis. Actual 305-day yield per cow for 2007 averaged 16,539 lbs. milk, 765 lbs. fat (4.6%), and 591 lbs. protein (3.6%). Actual cheese yield was 1,995 pounds per cow, equivalent to a yield of 12.1 lbs. per hundredweight.
“Dairymen in all parts of the U.S. were looking for, and paying top dollar for quality Jersey cows and close-up bred heifers,” said Smith. “Nationally, the average price paid for Registered Jerseys™ at auction increased by nearly $170 per head to set an all-time record of $2,425.
“According to the National Association of Animal Breeders, domestic sales of Registered Jersey™ bull semen stood at 1.4 million units annually, a 7.4% increase over the previous year and a 130% increase in the past 10 years.
The organization has set 2010 goals of 90,000 registrations and 150,000 cows on performance programs. In the short run, Smith is confident that 800 herds will be enrolled on REAP before the association convenes its annual meeting in late June, and that the total number of cows enrolled on AJCA performance programs will exceed 125,000.