World Jersey Conference participants visited farms in Victoria and NSW.
Dairy farmers from around the world will be spreading the word about the quality of Australian Jersey cows after a successful World Jersey Conference tour.
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Visitors from the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Germany, France, England, the island of Jersey, South Africa and Colombia took part in the tour across Victoria and NSW.
It was the first time since 2011 that the conference was based in Australia.
Jersey Australia general manager Glen Barrett said the conference, which started in Melbourne on April 6 and ended on April 21 at the Royal Sydney Show, had lived up to expectations.
“It has been a very successful world conference,” Mr Barrett said.
“The guests have been very impressed with the cattle they’ve seen and we’ve had some great engagement with industry facilities and researchers.”
Mr Barrett said positive feedback about the quality of cattle had already generated international sales interest for genetics export companies.
“People were impressed with the quality of the cows and the world-leading support of the dairy industry and we are confident this will lead to more sales of Australian Jersey genetics around the world,” he said.
Mr Barrett said he was aware of a 5500-straw order and more sales were expected to be confirmed in response to the tour.
New Zealand visitors were particularly impressed with the quality of the Australian cows and the way the dairy industry functions.
“People have seen that Australia has high-quality cows and they will take the message home that they should be using more Australian Jersey genetics,” Mr Barrett said.
Seeing some of Australia's best Jersey herds was a highlight of the conference tour.
Jersey Australia president Geoff Akers said he was proud to recommend Australian Jerseys to breeders across the world.
“Over the past 30 years, Australian breeders sourced the best genetics from around the world and today we are very proud of the Australian Jersey that is absolutely world-class,” he said.
Genetics Australia was premium sponsor for the tour and export manager Rob Derksen said the conference was a real success.
“As premium sponsor, it was a great opportunity to showcase Australian Jerseys to visitors from around the world,” Mr Derksen said.
“In my view, Australian breeders, through the use of the world’s best Jersey bloodlines and cow families, now have the best population of Jerseys available,” he said.
“As the need for sustainability puts pressure on current farming practices worldwide, the efficient Jersey breed will play an important role in feeding the world in future.”
Genetics Australia hosted several international visitors for the tour, including Edgar and Lynda Brotherton from Just Milk and Roy Dixon from CRV Xeed in South Africa.
“It was beneficial for them to see Australian Jersey herds, bull mothers, cow families, farming systems and the bulls,” Mr Derksen said.
Jean Macky from STNZ, as well as several NZ Jersey farmers, also attended and said the Australian Jersey had a real role to play in NZ.
“Jean was confident that as more farmers see the results of Australian Jerseys in NZ sales will grow,” Mr Derksen said.
Several of the NZ visitors ordered semen while in Australia.
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