Excitement surrounding Genetic partnership for Jersey breed

Jersey New Zealand and CRV Ambreed have partnered up to establish an exciting new genetic venture, JerseyGenome, which will become an instrumental driving force in the advancement of identifying superior genetics within the breed.

“We see its potential as huge,” says CRV sire analyst Georgie Smith. “We have a very good relationship with Jersey NZ and its breeders.  They are very forward thinking and are willing to take on board aspects such as genomics and world-class breeding technologies that CRV Ambreed can bring to the table.”

The strong working relationship formed over many years between the two organizations has already enjoyed huge success. Jersey NZ and CRV Ambreed have partnered in the Jersey Genes scheme for the past 16 years. During this time it has provided the industry with no less than a staggering 19 graduate Jersey sires, including world-class sire Okura Manhatten, and has aided CRV Ambreed in emerging as supplier of the best Jersey bulls in the industry.

In the last twelve months they have also joined forces in JerseyJET, a nucleus herd scheme identifying potential bull mothers. However both parties have been working towards JerseyGenome, a new scheme which merges both concepts into one.

Already the response to the new scheme by Jersey breeders has been very positive, with breeder nominations of elite heifers for JerseyGenome reported to be flooding in to Jersey NZ, including ones for the 2011 season!

JerseyGenome introduces a slightly new format with its ‘open nucleus’ policy where heifers will remain on the owner’s farm rather than locating into a ‘host herd’. “This way the heifers remain with their ‘true’ contemporaries and environment they were reared in,” comments Ms Smith. “AEU then does the work to eliminate environmental influences and keep things relative.”

Running in tandem, top elite heifers are identified by Jersey NZ while it is hoped a good proportion of breeder nominated animals will also be available. “Outcross options are important,” she says. “There will always be more heifers out there that could fit into the JerseyGenome programme.”

Participating heifers will receive mating recommendations from CRV Ambreed with resulting bulls automatically advancing for consideration into the Jersey NZ and CRV joint venture bull team.

CRV anticipates the new scheme will add value and momentum for both Jersey breeders and the joint venture partners in driving genetics positively for the breed.

Final selection for the inaugural 2010 intake of heifers will be made after genomic screening, and will be announced at the Jersey NZ Conference in June.