Rohan Sprunt, one of the partners in Kaarmona stud at Bunbartha, explains the breeding behind several Jerseys for overseas visitors.
Northern Victoria was a target for Jersey breeders when their world conference brought 40 people onto our farms on April 16 and 17.
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The bus load of visitors included two people from the island of Jersey, the spiritual home of the Jersey breed, located between the United Kingdom and France in the English Channel.
Jersey is the largest of the Channel Islands and home to about 5000 cattle.
The breed has now spread to many countries all around the world — there are now more Jerseys in Australia than on the home island.
However, the former president of the Royal Jersey Agricultural Society, Steve LeFeuvre, pointed out to Country News there are no Holsteins on the island.
“If there are any, they can’t be milked, as the processor on the island can only take pure Jersey milk,” Steve said.
Steve LeFeuvre knows his Jerseys. He’s from the island of Jersey, where the breed originated, and he was visiting the Goulburn Valley last week as part of the World Jersey Conference.
Steve lives on Jersey but last week was visiting northern Victoria as part of the World Jersey Conference.
He was recalling the history of the breed, while we were wandering across the paddocks of Bunbartha Jersey breeders Graeme and Rohan Sprunt.
The group also visited Jugiong Jerseys at Girgarre, Brookbora Jerseys at Tennyson, Loxleigh Jerseys at Tallygaroopna and Wyoming Jerseys at Mayrung, NSW.
Each stud was asked to present their top 40 Jerseys for inspection by the visiting group.
Steve believes the Jerseys are an adaptable and profitable cow in all sorts of climatic and management conditions around the world.
“I’ve seen them all around the world and they suit any system you put them through,” he said.
“They produce quality milk with high butterfat and protein.
“Their resilience in all conditions is remarkable. Touring around Australia, you see them in drought conditions, and their maintenance level is much less than the black and whites.”
Sisters Ruby Sprunt, 17, and Jorja Sprunt, 13, helped present the herd for the overseas visitors at the Kaarmona stud. They are the daughters of Rohan and Claire Sprunt.
The group was impressed by the Jersey line-up on the Sprunt brothers’ farm, which has been in the family for four generations.
The 240-hectare Kaarmona stud is managed with biological farming practices, with the aim of improving soil biology and enhancing sustainability.
A further 148 hectares is leased for grain and fodder.
The business aims to hold the herd size at about 400 cows in spring and maintain no less than 230 through winter.
The family holds the distinction of being the only stud in Australia holding Master Breeder status simultaneously for both Jersey and Holstein breeds.
The World Jersey conference tour started in Melbourne on April 6, heading to south-west Victoria and Gippsland before the Goulburn Valley, then the NSW south coast and ending at the Sydney Royal Easter Show for the Jersey judging on April 21.
Steve LeFeuvre, from the island of Jersey, photographs the business end of the Sprunts’ herd during the World Jersey Conference tour.
Overseas Jersey breeders get up close to the Kaarmona Jerseys at Bunbartha for the World Jersey Conference tour.
Rohan and Graeme Sprunts’ Kaarmona stud at Bunbartha.
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