A Drouin West jersey breeder was among 10 farmers named as the inaugural Jersey Elite Master Breeders at a special ceremony in Melbourne recently.
The Master Breeder awards recognise breeding excellence over the past 20 years and the commitment of farmers to the breed.
Four of the inductees are from Gippsland in eastern Victoria, four from Northern Victoria, one from Western Victoria and one from New South Wales.
The inaugural Master Breeders announced in Melbourne on Saturday 19 August were:
– Rob and Kerrie Anderson’s Kings Ville Jerseys from Drouin West, Victoria
– Wilson family’s Shirlinn Jerseys from Tamworth NSW
– Geoff and Natalie Akers’ Loxleigh Jerseys from Tallygaroopna in northern Victoria
– Kuhne family’s Bushlea Jerseys from Koonwarra, Gippsland Victoria
– Bacon family’s Brookbora Jerseys from Tennyson in northern Victoria
– Alan and Janine Carson’s Cairnbrae Jerseys from Colac in Western Victoria
– Lynton and Lisa Broad’s Broadlin Jerseys from Wonthaggi, Gippsland
– Nicholson family’s Jugiong Jerseys from Girgarre, northern Victoria
– Luke and Mel Wallace’s Wallacedale Jerseys in Warragul Victoria
– Sprunt family’s Kaarmona Jerseys from Kaarimba, northern Victoria.
Jersey Australia general manager Glen Barrett said the Master Breeder award was driven by data across the past 30 years on the cow’s individual and progeny performance and would be updated each year.
It requires breeders to have been a member of Jersey Australia for at least 20 years and to register 25 animals a year on average across those 20 years along with producing elite brood, type and production cows and elite bulls.
The new award is part of Jersey Australia’s Jersey Elite awards that also recognise elite cows and bulls.
During the awards night, presentations were also made to the breeders of Jersey Elite bulls and Jersey Elite brood cows.
It is expected that Master Breeder awards will be presented annually during the Jersey Australia AGM and Conference, subject to a breeder qualifying for the achievement.
