Jersey

Jersey cows originated on the English Channel island of Jersey, just off the coast of France, and were first introduced to Australia in 1829. The breed quickly spread nationwide, with the first Jersey society established in 1898, and state associations coming together in 2008 to form Jersey Australia. In New Zealand, the non-profit breed organisation was established in 1902.

Today, Jerseys are a popular and hardy dairy breed, valued for their small size, production efficiency and rich, high-butterfat milk. Typically light cream to dark brown in colour, Jerseys are the second most common dairy breed in Australia. Their lower body weight, ease of calving and high fertility allow farmers to run more milking cows per unit area, making Jerseys an economical and sustainable choice for modern dairy systems.

Genomic testing for the Jersey cattle industry

We are proud to work with Jersey cattle producers to provide affordable, accessible and accurate genomic testing solutions.

We invest in cutting-edge technologies that empower producers to make breeding decisions that are faster, smarter, and more profitable.

Jersey cattle testing options

Cattle parentage verification

Cattle parentage testing uses DNA analysis to accurately identify the sire and dam of an animal. By comparing genetic markers from calves and potential parents, the test provides a reliable confirmation of pedigree, helping producers to:

Improve breeding accuracy
Preserve the integrity of breeding records
Enable efficient herd management
Identify underperforming animals, educating culling decisions
Long term genetic improvement within herds

Bovine VERSA 85K

A great fit for the Jersey breed, the Bovine VERSA 85K is 85,000 SNPs of both Bos Taurus and Bos Indicus content. This chip has been developed to increase accuracies for both pure bred and composite cattle and analyse traits of impact to the Jersey breed to assist with breeding decisions.