April/May 2010 - Australian Jersey Breeders Society

ehindthescenes
A busy time of year as most regions prepare for Annual
General Meetings and I for one am looking forward to taking
part in the Jersey Australia AGM hosted by the Manning
District Jersey Breeders club between 18th – 20th May.
Jersey Australia has had a good year as you will note when
reading the Annual Report that was posted to all financial
members late April and I’d like to thank all members
who responded to our registration drive to reach 12,000
registrations. With your help we achieved our goal by
processing 12,154 registrations between 1st March 2009 – 28
February 2010, which of course represents our financial year.
This is a terrific result given the ongoing financial hardship
experienced by our members. Western Australian members’
registrations were up 37% (39), South Australia up 17% (72),
Queensland up 10% (91) and Victoria up 10% (679) on the
previous year. New South Wales members registered slightly
less down 3% (83) while the turmoil in Tasmania over milk
pricing during the past year saw members register 66% (472)
less than the previous year.
Its hoped the coming year will see our membership continue
its support by registering at least 35 animals per herd, if
members supported this goal it would translate to around
14,000 registrations and really set a strong foundation for our
coming year.
Beyond our membership one of the biggest issues raised
globally was the announcement from Neal Smith CEO US
Jersey regarding the discovery that recent Genome Testing
had revealed that Oomsdale Gordie Goldie Gratitude
contained 23% Holstein DNA. Essentially cow had a DNA
profile but her sire was dead at the time of original test so
the DNA profile was not parent (sire) verified. Combine
this situation with the enormous leaps being made in the
BOS Trading as the exclusive distributor
for CRI in Australia has been responsible
for the sale and promotion of Oomsdale
Jace Gratude GANNON better known as
BOSGANNON. Like everyone else involved
in the Jersey Breeding industry we were
disappointed and shocked when we
received the initial information in February
that Oomsdale Gordo Goldie Gratitude
(DAM of BOSGANNON) is not pure Jersey.
We respect the Jersey Australia decision to
affectively deregister BOSGANNON. Like
our supplier CRI in the US we will replace any
BOSGANNON semen still in customers’ tanks.
2
BOS GANNON
— JerseyJournal April / May 2010
accuracy of Genome testing technology and the Jersey
world has had to decide what to do with the Gratitude cow
and her male progeny.
Here in Australia the Board of Management have decided to
downgrade Oomsdale Gordo Goldie Gratitude registration
status to Foundation Cow meaning that normal Australian
Genetic Recovery rules apply to her progeny. This means
that the bulls 1JE604Gannon, 14JE431Grieves and Dale who
have been marketed in Australia to date will not qualify for
registration on the Australian registrar.
The Board took into account the amount of progeny on
the ground by the downgraded bulls and have made the
following concessions. Female progeny of the deregistered
bulls born prior to December 31st 2010 will be registered as
GR2, females born beyond this date will be considered GR3.
Members in this situation have been written to and informed
of the changed registration status of their animals.
Female progeny as a result of embryos sired by the
deregistered bulls collected prior to the 31st March 2010 will
be registered as GR2 and beyond this date GR3. All male
progeny of the effected bulls have been deregistered with
members informed by letter of the change of registration
status.
The media coverage of this situation has been sensationalised
as everyone comes to grips with the possibilities that may or
may not arise given the advances in the testing technology.
My thoughts going forward is that Genome testing due to
its superior accuracy will replace the previous status quo
being DNA profile testing technology, which as we all know
replaced Blood Typing technology - the world of science
moves along relentlessly and we must be flexible enough to
keep pace.
Contact your local BOS representative to
work out a suitable replacement option.
After careful deliberation with CRI, our
field staff and our customer base we
have decided to continue marketing
BOSGANNON. Apart from his pedigree
status he is still the same bull, offering milk
volume, frame and size. His new RRP will
be announced after the April proof run
together with other pricing for the 2010
season.
For more information contact Peter van
Elzakker on 03 9335 3499, mobile 0409 276
972 or peter@bostrading.com.au
WANTED TO
BUY
2 X Jersey Bulls
Suitable for August
joining of heifers
Bulls must be from strong
Cow Families.
Contact: John Rylance
after 7pm
0355 985 482