Jersey NewsJersey genetics prove an advantage in dairy beef trials
New findings are challenging the notion that Jersey genetics are less profitable when it comes to dairy beef says Waikato farmer and member of Jersey Advantage Ben Watson. Presenting at the recent Jersey NZ conference in Invercargill, Watson highlighted how Jersey blood in dairy beef has recently been proven to hold some advantages when crossed with quality beef genetics. Dairy beef trials carried out by the Rissington Cattle Company show dairy beef steers and heifers from 50% Jersey dams when crossed with their top beef genetics specifically selected for dairy were competitive on a feed to gain basis when compared to industry average pure beef animals. “Rissington are market leaders in beef genetics backed up by real data and genomic testing, not just in New Zealand but internationally. If they are telling me Jersey blood mixed with their beef is an advantage then that’s a big thing, and not what we have historically been led to believe as farmers or calf rearers supplying the beef market,” says Watson. “Jersey cows are more efficient converters of pasture to milk so it makes sense they would help a beef cross animal to be a more efficient converter of pasture to beef,” he says. Click here to see the media release
|
