JerseyGenome™

Identification:

There are four main areas that we identify and select animals from, they are as follows:

1. Nominations from breeders
2. Female progeny from the two testing year groups of the programme
3. CRV and JerseyNZ work collaboratively to identify females from a CRV data request
4. JerseyNZ run a top cow report to identify any animals not captured from the above

Members are asked to send DNA samples of any animals identified above to JerseyNZ who subsequently send those to Genomnz for DNA testing. This cost is covered by CRV.

1. Genomic results are sent to the JerseyGenome™ Working Group and subsequently vote on each animal
2. Final team is compiled
3. Breeders are notified if their animal(s) are successful or unsuccessful, along with their genomic results (free of charge)

1. Current and previous year’s teams are sent sire recommendations. These are complementary matings for production performance, management and type traits. Genetic variance is used to minimise inbreeding levels in the resulting progeny.
2. Along with each recommendation, members are sent an expected progeny report free of charge
3. Sire recommendations are flexible, and each breeder has the opportunity to discuss alternatives
4. Once confirmed, CRV will supply semen to you for each mating at CRV’s cost, along with any delivery fees. All insemination costs are to be covered by the breeder
5. Members are to return the signed mating agreement sent from JerseyNZ

1. Members notify JerseyNZ of any resulting progeny from contract matings
2. Female progeny are automatically put forward to the JerseyGenome™ programme and male progeny are forwarded to CRV for consideration
3. All progeny are registered with ‘JG’ after their name and these registrations are free of charge
4. Members are asked to send DNA samples of all progeny to JerseyNZ

Heifers in the appropriate graduating team must meet certain criteria in order to graduate, these criteria are as follows:

Graduate

• Recorded in calf on national database and confirmed by owner
• Heifers have completed a minimum of four herd tests
• Minimum score of six (6) for Udder Overall
• Minimum score of six (6) for Dairy Conformation

Merit Graduate

• Recorded in calf on national database and confirmed by owner
• Heifers have completed a minimum of four herd tests
• Minimum score of six (6) for Udder Overall
• Minimum score of seven (7) for Dairy Conformation
• NZMI in the top 25% of the JG Graduate contemporaries

Elite Graduate

• Recorded in calf on national database and confirmed by owner
• Heifers have completed a minimum of four herd tests
• Minimum score of seven (7) for Udder Overall
• Minimum score of seven (7) for Dairy Conformation
• NZMI in the top 1% for both NZMI and BW for all Jersey 2-year-olds milked in NZ
• Minimum of J16

Performance Award

An award to one heifer. This heifer must meet the graduate criteria and have the largest lift from her ancestry NZMI to NZMI post 4 herd tests.

This award is to acknowledge the heifer who performs well above her expectations, this may not be the highest indexing heifer and gives the heifers with low ancestral (parent averages) starting points an opportunity for an award. Often these heifers are less related to the more common bloodline.

• Recorded in calf on national database and confirmed by owner
• Heifers have completed a minimum of four herd tests
• Minimum score of six (6) for Udder Overall
• Minimum score of six (6) for Dairy Conformation
• The highest NZMI increase from ancestry to completion of her first season

Matings – 2023 and 2024

Calvings – 2024 and 2025

Graduation – 2025

The 2023 Team have received sire recommendations and mating agreements. Females and males from these matings will automatically be put forward for the JerseyGenome™ programme or CRV bull selection. These animals will graduate in 2025.

Matings – 2024 and 2025

Calvings – 2025 and 2026

Graduation – 2026

The 2024 Team have received sire recommendations and mating agreements. Females and males from these matings will automatically be put forward for the JerseyGenome™ programme or CRV bull selection. These animals will graduate in 2026.

Matings – 2025 and 2026

Calvings – 2026 and 2027

Graduation – 2028

While we will be identifying animals collaboratively with CRV and through our top cow report in February, we still ask members for nominations. We are now taking your nominations for the 2025 JerseyGenome™ Team. Please follow the following steps:

Nominate and DNA sample your animals by 10th January 2025

1. Download and complete the Genotype Request form below
2. Take a wet tissue sample and ensure each DNA sample corresponds with the barcode on the side of each unit
3. Places samples in a ziplock bag before placing in an envelope
4. Post to JerseyNZ, PO Box 1132, Hamilton 3240 or courier to JerseyNZ, Level 1, 290 Tristram Street, Hamilton 3204

Please ensure you include the Genotype Request Sub Form —–> LINK TO PDF

JT Thwaites Sire of the Season 2024

JerseyGenome Bull is New Zealand’s top bull across all breeds