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HISTORY & OBJECTIVES

SOCIETY HISTORY

In 1879 the first volume of the English Herd Book of Jersey Cattle was published after the formation of the Society in 1878 and incorporated in 1883. It was in 1984 the Society changed its name to become The Jersey Cattle Society of the UK.

Amongst the very early Jersey herds in the UK were Audley End, Osberton, Brighstone and Windsor, with Windsor being the herd of Queen Elizabeth II, who became patron of the Society in 1954 proceeding the patronage that started with Queen Victoria 1895. The Society is extremely honoured for the continued patronage. Many of the cows from these foundation herds can be traced in the bloodlines of the cows in today’s UK pedigree herds.

To find out more about the History of the Jersey Breed: The Dairy Queen - A history of the Jersey Breed Worldwide is a beautifully written history of the breed by Derrick Frigot MBE and Hans Horgaard and published by the Royal Jersey Agricultural & Horticultural Society, Royal Jersey Showground, Trinity, Jersey, Channel Islands.

Today, the Jersey Cattle Society of the UK is committed to continuing to build a pedigree breed fit for the future of the dairy industry and in doing so offers its members a range of services to support the breeding, management and profitability of their Jersey herds.

SOCIETY OBJECTIVES

The services are driven by the principle objectives of the Society, which are:

  • To maintain the purity and improve the genetic merit of the Jersey Cattle breed in the United Kingdom.

  • Promote the breed of Jersey cattle, in particular to promote the knowledge and interest of the Jersey cattle breed to members of the Society.
In furtherance of these objectives the Society also:

  • Compiles and maintains the UK herd book of Jersey Cattle by:
    • Verifying the qualification as a pedigree animal to ensure authenticity and traceability of the Jersey breed.
    • Ensuring the purity and characteristics of the breed are preserved whilst developing the genetic merits of the breed.

  • Encourages the showing of Jersey cattle across the UK to maintain awareness of the Jersey breed by:
    • Ensuring the validation of a pool of qualified judges to judges at the shows.
    • Holding an Annual Jersey Cattle National Show.
  • Promotes the breed of the Jersey Cow, her quality milk and produce by:
    • Working to increase the awareness of the commercial viability of the Jersey cow.
    • Encouraging members to utilise the milk recording, type classification and management tools offered by industry partners to assist with their breeding decisions.
    • Working with industry partners who record and evaluate Jersey breed trait statistics to ensure the continued development of key breed traits of quality milk composites like butterfat and protein, whilst maintaining the breeds key health and management traits and efficiency of milk production.

  • Encourage future generations of Jersey breeders through its Jersey Young Breeders Membership.