Why Jersey cows are a good pick for local farmers

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Dear Daktari,

Thank you for your informative articles on livestock keeping. I am a dairy farmer who mainly keeps Friesian cows, but I have been thinking of switching to Jerseys.
My interest derives from their unique milk, which I am told is thicker and better compared to that of the Friesian cows. What do I need to know about this breed? For instance, is it prone to mastitis like Friesian cows?
Abalwa Geoffrey,

Kakamega
Dear Abalwa, thank you for the question and for reading Smart Harvest. Yes, Jersey is a good breed, and for many reasons, some of which you have already alluded to in your question. I will try to add more.

This beautiful breed got its name from its original home on Jersey Island. It is believed to be the oldest breed of cattle, going by its available records that date back to the early 1600s.
Due to its adaptability to different climatic conditions, the breed is found all over the world today. So, Abalwa, you should not be worried about the breed being able to survive in Kakamega.

Yes, the Jersey breed is unique for its milk, which has high butterfat content, and high-quality meat known for its tenderness and unique flavour.  

It has strong feet with a lighter body (400–500 kg), making it less prone to lameness, which is a common problem with heavier dairy animals.
Jersey cows are very distinctive both in colour and body configuration. They come in variations of brown (tan), grey and dark or black shades.

Dark shades are common around the shoulders, hips, head and tail switches; these areas may also have white shades.
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The inner surfaces of the legs are also normally lighter in complexion, while the skin around their eyes and noses is dark, with a white muzzle.
Jersey’s feet are normally black and strong, with a lighter body. Nonetheless, good husbandry is required to avoid other causes of lameness on farms. The farm should be kept safe and given quality, nutritious feed.

Being a dairy breed, it has an angular body and has a relatively longer lifespan if they are cared for well, living up to 25 years, and they also mature fast and  can calve down as early as 27 months of age.

Jersey cows easily give birth and are easy to handle, although bulls can be aggressive.

Jerseys produce milk with good butter content at 5.5 per cent. This is in addition to relatively higher protein and calcium content, making its milk the best in quality. 

With good feeding and health care, a Jersey cow can produce up to 30 litres of milk per day or 5000kg annually. In conclusion, with the changing market preferences and dwindling resources, many farmers are opting for the Jersey breed because of its relatively smaller size, which translates into fewer resources in their production.

The good demeanour, longer lifespan and low incidences of mastitis give this breed a competitive advantage over its heavier counterparts. But its greatest strength is in its quality of milk, which is rich in butterfat content.

[Dr Othieno is a veterinary surgeon and the current head of communications at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Kenya. The views expressed here are not necessarily FAO’s but his own]