Argentina still has a small herd available for sale. Until 1979 the national herd was composed by a few cows of English origin in the beginning of the century. These cows were not always milked or controlled, for they were more an object for decoration in the country houses than a dairy cow with productive value. This is why the genetic growth went slow. As from the last years, the interest for the breed increased and animals were imported from the United States, Canada, Uruguay and New Zealand.

New generations of enthusiastic breeders created the AACJ (Argentine Jersey Breeders Association) in the year 1981. They began to spread the breed, improve its genetics and organize fairs and dairy contests. But the active Jersey cows in the country are still a few in relation to the current demand. New breeders are now enlarging their herds, opening new dairy farms, importing live cattle and implementing embryo-transfers, so there are only a few cows available for sale.

As from the year 2007, sexed semen becomes more popular among commercial herds. This increased the number of born female calves, which have a higher commercial value than male calves.

Reasons to breed Jersey

The Jersey cow benefits every part of the dairy production chain with a higher economic yield:

• The dairyman, with a higher margin per hectare or per feeding unit, since the Jersey produces more solids per hectare.

• The industry with a higher yield in the manufactured product.

• The consumer, for he consumes a milk richer in fat and protein, that is to say, more feed value.

The dairyman

The Jersey cow offers a higher economic return per supplies unit, based on its biological efficiency. This efficiency in production is measured by the percentage of intake that is derived in production.
Let´s take a look at the Oldenbroek essay (1986), in which the yield of 48 Jerseys is compared to that of 48 Holsteins with two types of diets. F (forage) with 60% pastures silage and 40 % corn silage, and C (concentrate) with 50 % 30 % pasture silage and 20 % corn silage, all of it ad libitum.

In the above chart we can observe that the Jersey derives more energy to the milk production than the Holstein in both cases. Researches agree in that this difference is not metabolic. It is directly related to its smaller size and its bigger intake capacity.
The production efficiency varies depending on the milk component.
Hence, the Jersey is more efficient in fat production, equally efficient in protein production, and less efficient in lactose production (and therefore, water production).