110 year legacy of Jersey Cattle Breeding
Author: Karen Phelps
Waterford Press – follow them on Facebook
NZ Dairy
Central Taranaki is home to a 110 year legacy of Jersey cattle breeding, as the Muggeridge family celebrates over a century of dedication to advancing the breed. The milestone marks not just survival, but excellence in an industry that has seen dramatic changes since Frank Muggeridge established Homebush Stud in 1914.
Today, the latest generation, Lynden Muggeridge and fiancee Amy Cameron, are writing their own chapter in the history from their Ngaere farm. “The legacy of breeding goes far deeper than just the cattle themselves.” says Lyden Muggeridge. “Its about maintaining the knowledge and passion that’s been passed down through generations.”
The family’s breeding programme has evolved through multiple studs, each contributing its own distinct legacy. After Lyndens great grandfather Frank’s pioneering Homebush Stud, Lynden’s grandparents Doug and Bertha Rowe launched Rolanvale in 1946, followed by his other grandparents, James and Clarice Muggeridge’s Homeview in 1969. Lynden’s parents, Judith and Malcolm, established Truday in 1964, while Lynden and Amy founded Silverstone Stud in 2013.
Lynden and Amy’s herd today is the result of this history with their herd a mix of traditional Jerseys from Judith and Malcolm’s herd and the other half from Allandale and Kuku Stud of Peter and Kath Horn from Feilding. “The Horn’s cow are American and Canadian bred,” explains Lynden. “We focus on crossing bloodlines and don’t breed for figures. What we want is a cow with longevity, high milk solids and high type. So nice animals to look at that last.”
This philosophy has proven successful, with some of their bloodlines tracing back to the 19th century: “For example Golden View Katy traces back to a cow called Primrose in 1897 from Jersey Island,” says Lynden. The farm’s achievements include producing two 97-point cows including Truday Bounty Norma, who achieved champion status at the Taranaki Jersey Cattle Club in 2020, drawing international attention. “There was interest from Canada and America to take embryos from her” says Lynden.
“She did records up to 6,210 litres, 550kgsMS in 280 days.” Perhaps most remarkably, Norma’s lineage can be traced to a cow named Jenny, who made an extraordinary journey on foot from Whanganui to Bell Block, Taranaki, in 1876. This historical connection exemplifies the deep roots of the Muggeridge breeding programme. The farm itself has seen significant development over the generations. From Doug’s initial herd of 60 cows, Malcolm and Judith increased numbers to 120-140, with Lynden and Amy now managing 160 head on the 52-hectare property. In their first season, their herd achieved 58,500kgsMS, averaging around 380kgsMS per cow. And the family is not sitting still. Silverstone Stud is experimenting with new crosses including Silverstone Pure Gold, a bull representing both traditional Jersey and North American bloodlines. “His sire is Rivervalley CeCe Chrome, a North American breed bull,” says Lynden.
“We’re interested to see how the cross works in our herd.” The next generation is already showing interest in maintaining the family tradition. Lynden and Amy’s three son – Jack, Oliver, and Flynn – are actively involved with school calves and breeding, suggesting the legacy might continue for many more years to come.
