News from the American Jersey Cattle Association

November 22, 2006, Reynoldsburg, Ohio—January 15, 2007 is the deadline to submit nominations for four awards to be presented at the Annual Meetings of the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc. in Sioux Falls, S.D., June 28-July 1, 2007.

Master Breeder Award. The Master Breeder Award is bestowed annually upon a living AJCA member, family, partnership, or corporation, who, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, has bred outstanding animals for many years and thereby has made a notable contribution to the advancement of the Jersey breed in the United States.

Distinguished Service Award. The Distinguished Service Award is bestowed upon as many living AJCA members and/or members’ families, who, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, have rendered outstanding and unselfish service for many years and thereby have made a notable contribution to the advancement of the Jersey breed in the United States.

Award for Meritorious Service. The AJCA-NAJ Award for Meritorious Service is bestowed annually upon a living individual, who, in the joint opinion of the Boards of Directors of the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc., has made a notable contribution to the advancement of the Jersey breed and the livelihood of Jersey owners in the United States through research, education, development, marketing, or other significant activities of the allied dairy industry.

Young Jersey Breeder Award. These awards are bestowed annually upon as many living AJCA members and/or members’ families, who, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, merit recognition. Nominees must be active members of the American Jersey Cattle Association and must be at least 28 years of age but not more than 40 years of age as of January 1 of the contest year. Selection is based upon expertise in dairy farming and Jersey cattle breeding; participation in AJCA and NAJ programs; and leadership in Jersey and other dairy and agricultural organizations.

Lifetime members of the American Jersey Cattle Association may nominate qualified persons for these awards. Nomination forms may be requested by contacting Paula England in the AJCA office, phone 614/861-3636, ext. 332. Forms are also available on the USJersey web site.

Nominations and all supporting materials must be received in the Association’s office on or before January 15, 2007.

The American Jersey Cattle Association, organized in 1868, maintains identification and performance records for dairy herd owners and provides services that support genetic improvement and greater profitability through increasing the value of and demand for Registered Jersey™ cattle and genetics, and Jersey milk and milk products.

TEN JERSEY JUNIOR BREEDERS RECOGNIZED FOR ACHIEVEMENT BY NATIONAL JERSEY ASSOCIATION

Reynoldsburg, Ohio (November 10, 2006)—Ten young people actively involved in the Registered Jersey™ business have been recognized for their accomplishments in the National Jersey Youth Achievement Contest.

The honorees are Brett A. Barlass, Janesville, Wis.; Joshua M. Parks, Morristown, Tenn.; Renée E. Norman, Liberty, Penna.; Sara LaFever, Sparta, Tenn.; Brittany Marcoot Wheeler, Greenville, Ill; Katherine Rector, Turlock, Calf.; Neal Frerichs, LaGrange, Texas; Amanda R. Curtis, Anna, Ohio; Abe Caldwell Cobb II, Perkins, Okla.; and Mary Katherine TenBrink, Coopersville, Mich.

They were selected from 22 outstanding youth nominated by state Jersey associations, based on their cumulative record through 2005.

This national achievement contest has been sponsored annually since 1957 by the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA), Reynoldsburg, Ohio. It honors outstanding achievement by junior Jersey breeders in four areas: work with Registered Jerseys™, related dairy activities, relative progress, and future goals.

The awards were presented at the banquet concluding the junior dairy shows, including The 54^th All American Junior Jersey Show, on Saturday, November 4, 2006 during the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Ky.

First place in the National Jersey Youth Achievement Contest went to Brett A. Barlass, of Barlass Jerseys, Janesville, Wis. He has worked with Registered Jerseys™ for 15 years as a member of 4-H and FFA, building a herd of 14 cows averaging 20,111 lbs. milk, 981 lbs. fat and 718 lbs. protein in 2005. His cows have also earned various AJCA Hall of Fame and state production awards. Brett has also earned many awards for his Jersey animals at county, state, and national shows, including The All American Jersey Shows in Louisville, Ky. He held various offices throughout his years in 4-H, FFA, and in the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity in college. He recently graduated form Cornell University with a bachelor’s degree in dairy science.

Joshua M. Parks, Morristown, Tenn., ranked second in the contest. Over the past 15 years he has built a herd of 30 cows and 26 heifers. The lactation average on 26 cows in 2005 was 19,673 lbs. milk, 896 lbs. fat, and 736 lbs. protein. This group included the 2005 winner of the Pot O’Gold Production Contest, Long Distance Rogue Daisy-ET. Joshua is the breeder of several bulls entering A.I. sampling programs, including Sir Patrick of Aspen Grove proven at Genex. He was an active member in 4-H and the Cocke County FFA chapter holding offices in both organizations. He is a junior studying animal science at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

Third place was awarded to Renée Elizabeth Norman, Liberty, Penna., an 11-year participant in Jersey youth work. Her current herd consists of 15 cows and 14 heifers. The cows had a DHIR production average of 20,645 lbs. milk, 1,094 lbs. fat, and 728 lbs. protein. Renée was active in several leadership areas of 4-H in her club, on the Tioga County 4-H Council, as a 4-H Teen Leader, and as a Pennsylvania 4-H Ambassador. This past summer she completed a corporate communications internship with Select Sires Inc. She is currently a junior at Pennsylvania State University majoring in animal science with a business management option.

Organized in 1868, the American Jersey Cattle Association has sponsored educational programs and activities for young people interested in the Jersey breed since 1917. Junior members have the same registration privileges as Lifetime Members, and also the incentives of a comprehensive program leading to national recognition for their achievements with Jersey cattle.

The annual National Heifer Sale is the primary source of funding for the AJCA’s youth program. The 2006 sale, held July 1 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, featured 65 heifers and raised $17,940 for Jersey youth programs. Additional funds are available from the Maurice E. Core Jersey Youth Fund, the Carl Bourne Memorial Fund, the American Jersey Cattle Association scholarship funds, and the support of Jersey breeders and businesses from the United States and Canada.

For more information about the American Jersey Cattle Association’s youth development programs, contact Dr. Cherie L. Bayer, Director of Development, at 614/861-3636, or visit the USJersey web site at www.USJersey.com.

Reynoldsburg, Ohio, November 10, 2006—Betty Janine Thompson, Chandler, Okla., has been crowned the 2006 National Jersey Queen.

Thompson, active in Jersey youth projects for over 13 years, was presented the crown by 2005 National Jersey Queen Sara LaFever on November 4, 2006 during the All American Junior Banquet in Louisville, Ky. She will represent Jersey breeders throughout the United States for the next year with her participation in events such as the Annual Meeting of the American Jersey Cattle Association, World Dairy Expo and The 55^th All American Jersey Show & Sale.

The National Jersey Queen contest lasted two days with 11 young women from across the country competing for the coveted crown. Participants had to pass a general dairy knowledge test, were interviewed by a panel of judges, and prepared a two-minute video presentation that demonstrated their ability to represent the Jersey breed through public speaking.

Betty is a high school senior and a concurrent education student at Oklahoma State University considering a double major in animal science and elementary education. Her speaking skills and leadership ability have led to her being elected President of the Oklahoma Junior Jersey Cattle Club, the Northeast District of the Oklahoma 4-H program, and of her senior class at Davenport High School.

Selected as first alternate was Caitlin Kasper, Owatonna, Minn. She is the President of the Owatonna FFA Chapter and Reporter for the Minnesota Region 7 FFA. Kasper is working to achieve her Girl Scout Gold Award through a project that will fulfill a need within the community and create change. She is doing this by obtaining milk vending for local schools, not only promoting dairy products but also the dairy industry.

The second alternate is Stephanie Vostad, from Aberdeen, S.D. She is a junior at Northern State University majoring in political science and history. Stephanie was the 2005 South Dakota Dairy Princess where she promoted the industry through various interviews and public appearances. She has served three consecutive years as the President of the South Dakota Junior Jersey Association, and was the President of her FFA chapter in which she earned her State Farmer Degree.

After their selection on November 4, these three ladies presented awards for the National Jersey Jug Futurity and The 54^th All American Jersey Show, plus assisting with The All American Jersey Sale.

The American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) was organized in 1868 to improve and promote the Jersey breed of dairy cattle. It is the oldest dairy breed registry organization in the United States and provides services to approximately 110,000 cows in 1,100 herds across the country. The All American Jersey Shows and Sales are held each fall in conjunction with the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, KY. For more information on AJCA services, visit its web site at www.usjersey.com or call 614.861.3636.

Rector Family To Donate Proceeds from Consignment to
The 54th All American Sale to Stout Endowment Fund

Reynoldsburg, Ohio, September 22, 2006—High school graduates who have a strong desire to pursue a career in managing and/or marketing Registered Jersey™ cattle are encouraged to apply for the 2007 Fred Stout Experience award.

The award is presented annually in memory of Fred J. Stout Jr., Mt. Carmel, Ill., a lifelong Jersey breeder and member of the Jersey Marketing Service staff from 1978 to 1997 who believed that the best learning experiences happen in the everyday world. This award provides partial support for a two- or three-month internship with Jersey Marketing Service.

Previous recipients of the Fred Stout Experience Award are Tara Bohnert, Illinois (2003), Allison Waggoner, South Carolina (2004), Dan Bauer, Wisconsin (2005) and Aaron Horst, Pennsylvania (2006).

February 1, 2007 is the deadline for applications. To apply, submit a one-page resume listing previous work experience, skills and other qualifications, plus a separate cover letter stating your ambitions, goals and career aspirations, including plans for achieving them. The letter must also explain how and why the Fred Stout Experience will be of benefit in achieving future goals. A summary of involvement with and interest in Registered Jersey™ cattle is required.

Applicants must request two letters of support, one from an active breeder of Registered Jersey™ (excluding immediate family members), and the other from a teacher, mentor or past employer. These must be mailed directly to the AJCA office.

Applications and letters of support must be postmarked no later than February 1, 2007 and addressed to Fred Stout Experience, American Jersey Cattle Association, 6486 E. Main Street, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068-2362.

Financial support is provided by an endowment created in 2001 by friends and colleagues of Fred Stout.

The highlight of this year’s fundraising activities will be the sale of an outstanding December heifer calf donated by Benny and Janice Rector and Family, Turlock, Calif.

Sired by O.F. Montana Saber–ET, JPI +123, Bears Saber Margo is out of a VG-87% “Avery” daughter with 17,366–848–647 m.e., calving at one year, nine months of age. The next dam is D&E Poseidon Mary, scored Excellent-94% with a best record of 1,056 lbs. fat. She was the first place senior 2-yr.-old and Best Udder in the junior show at the 1998 Western National.

Bears Saber Margo will sell during The 54^th All American Jersey Sale, presented by IGENITY^® and starting at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 5 in Louisville, Ky.

The American Jersey Cattle Association has made strategic investments in Jersey youth since 1958 when it created the National Heifer Sale specifically to provide annual funding for educational programs and awards. The first of nine youth scholarship funds now managed by the AJCA was established in 1965. Two other permanent endowments, the Maurice E. Core Jersey Youth Fund (1993) and Carl Bourne Memorial Fund (1982), provide financial support for junior activities at The All American Show & Sale, the breed’s showcase event for 54 years.

Cash contributions may be made at any time to the scholarship, Core and Bourne funds and qualify as tax deductible gifts by the Internal Revenue Service. For more information, contact Cherie L. Bayer, Ph.D., Director of Development, at 614/861-3636, ext. 334.

Reynoldsburg, Ohio, September 7, 2006—The AJCC Research Foundation has issued a request for research proposals to be funded in 2007 addressing significant issues for the Jersey breed and Jersey milk producers.

Current priorities for research funding are:

Application deadline is December 1, 2006. The Research Advisory Committee of the American Jersey Cattle Association will evaluate the proposals, then forward its recommendations to the AJCA Board of Directors, which will award funds at its meeting in March, 2007.

Submissions are evaluated for (a) merit (e.g., potential to advance practical knowledge, creative approach to the problem); (b) competence (i.e., high probability of successful completion within the proposed time frame); and (c) relevance (e.g., problem derived from one of the areas of research priority).

Nine (9) grants were made in the 2006 funding cycle. A total of $587,500 has been awarded for Jersey-specific research in the past 16 years by the Foundation and the national Jersey organizations.

Detailed information about the Competitive Grants Program can be found on the Foundation's web site or requested from Cari W. Wolfe, Director of Research and Genetic Programs Development, at 614/861-3636.

July 25, 2006, Reynoldsburg, Ohio—The American Jersey Cattle Association announced today that it would revise trait weightings in its Jersey Performance Index™ for the August 2006 bull and cow genetic evaluations.

In the new method, 60% of the index’s value will be placed on production traits (PTA protein and PTA fat). The remaining 40% will be contributed by five fitness and longevity traits: the AJCA’s Functional Trait Index (FTI) and Functional Udder Index (FUI), and USDA PTAs for Productive Life (PL), Somatic Cell Score (SCS), and Daughter Pregnancy Rating (DPR). Of this latter 40%, udder traits account for 14.4% of the emphasis; longevity, 12%; female fertility, 7%; feet and legs, 4.3%; and the remaining functional type traits, 2.3%.

Specific weights for each trait in JPI₂₀₀₆, with changes from the current version noted in parentheses, are: 40% PTA Protein (-10%); 20% PTA Fat, 15% FTI; 12% PL (+8.25%); 7% DPR (+3.25%); 3% FUI (-0.75%); and 3% SCS (-0.75%).

“This is a new direction for our principal ranking tool, taking the very latest information available to us to identify which bulls and cows are likely to be more profitable,” remarked AJCA President Donald S. Sherman, following the decision reached by the Board of Directors.

“The changes may seem at first to de-emphasize some critical traits,” Sherman noted, “but there has been no decrease in the economic importance of udder traits and mastitis resistance in JPI™. They are being accounted for elsewhere, particularly in the Productive Life trait.”

The adjustments are based on extensive research conducted by Dr. Ronald E. Pearson of Virginia Tech, using lactation records for Jersey cows born after 1991 and in herds that continued on production testing programs for eight years after the cow was born. All lactations started by cows’ eighth birthday were included.

Relative lifetime net income was estimated for each cow, then adjusted for costs not directly measured in DHI records (for example, discarded milk, treatment and vet costs). An adjustment was also made for the opportunity cost of premature or delayed culling. Two types of milk pricing were studied, approximating Federal Order multiple component pricing and cheese yield pricing.

In addition to receiving the results of this research, the AJCA Board of Directors considered several other factors in making adjustments to JPI™ weightings. These include (1) a new method for Productive Life being implemented by the Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory (AIPL) of USDA in August; (2) updates to the economic weights for individual type traits in the Functional Trait Index; and (3) Jersey breed trends in reproduction and mastitis.

The change to Productive Life is of particular importance. “The trait has been expanded to include all days in milk for all lactations,” Dr. Pearson told the Jersey leadership. “However, each day is weighted by the relative milk produced by the average cow of that lactation and days in milk.”

According to Paul VanRaden of the AIPL staff, “With the new definition of PL, some emphasis is shifted away from fertility toward somatic cell score because longer lactations require more mastitis resistance.” He also reported that for the Jersey breed, Productive Life has a correlation of -0.28 with Somatic Cell Score, +0.38 for combined udder traits, and +0.25 for feet and leg traits.

The 2006 updates to the Functional Trait Index, calculated by the AJCA, were based on information gained from type records of 68,495 Jersey cows, born since 1991 and located in herds where they had the opportunity to reach their eighth birthday. Udder traits have the highest weighting, 56%, with 28% on feet and legs, 8% on rump, and 8% on stature and strength. Rear udder height and foot angle are the largest single contributors to FTI, at 19% and 21% respectively, followed by udder depth (14%) and rear udder width (12%).

The revised JPI™ includes a significant increase on Daughter Pregnancy Rate. Given the Jersey breed’s notable advantage in reproductive efficiency and the increased demand for Jersey cattle across the United States, Scott Wickstrom, chair of the Breed Improvement Committee, commented, “We are looking to the future with this action.”

Additional background information, plus updated weights to the Functional Trait Index approved by the Board of Directors, will be provided in the August Jersey Genetic Summary (the “Green Book”), to be published August 11.

The American Jersey Cattle Association was organized in 1868 and has provided herd identification and production recording services since 1928. The only dairy breed organization to show continuous growth over the past decade, the AJCA recorded an average of 71,079 animals in the most recent 3-year period. The AJCA now delivers service for approximately 110,000 Jersey cows enrolled on performance programs.

For more information on the association’s complete line of services for dairy business owners, visit the website at www.USJersey.com or call 614/861-3636.

NORTH AMERICA’S TOP JERSEYS WILL HEAD TO
54^th ALL AMERICAN JERSEY SHOW & SALE IN KENTUCKY

Reynoldsburg, Ohio, August 23, 2006, —Registered Jerseys^TM will once again take center stage when The 54^th All American Jersey Show and Sale returns to the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Ky., November 4 to 6.

More than 650 entries are expected in the open division of The All American Jersey Show, annually ranked among the largest single-breed dairy shows in the world. Last year, 365 cows and heifers were shown. The 2005 National Grand Champion was Llolyn Jude Griffen-ET, Excellent-94% with production of 27,980M, 1,456F and 978P, owned by Peter Vail and Budjon Farms, Lomira, Wis.

Larry Schirm, Columbus, Ohio, will judge The All American Jersey Show, with Terry Rawn, Charles Town, W. Va., serving as the consultant. Placing the 3-year-old cows in the 52^nd National Jersey Jug Futurity will be Dennis Patrick, Woodbine, Md. His associate will be Chris Hill, Mt. Airy, Md. Steve Hendress, Walcott, Ind., will officiate in The All American Junior Jersey Show, with Brian Schilling, Boggstown, Ind., as the consultant.

The three shows offer a total of $47,650 in premiums. All will be broadcast in streaming video from the NAILE web site, www.livestockexpo.org.

Two sales, both managed by Jersey Marketing Service of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, will occur that weekend. A total of 30 Registered Jersey™ heifers will be offered in the 49^th Pot O’Gold Sale for youth between seven and 20 years of age. Cow’s Match® Jersey Blend is the presenting sponsor of the Pot O’Gold Sales. The All American Jersey Sale, the premier showcase for Registered Jersey™ genetics in the United States, will offer approximately 80 lots. Presenting sponsor for this event is IGENITY®.

All events will be held at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, conveniently located near the Louisville airport. The schedule is:

Saturday, November 4
8:00 a.m.	The All American Junior Jersey Show, Freedom Hall
4:00 p.m.	49^th Pot O’Gold Sale, Newmarket Hall Presented by Cow’s Match® Jersey Blend
7:00 p.m.	Junior Banquet, South Wing Conference Center

Sunday, November 5
12:30 p.m.	52^nd National Jersey Jug Futurity, Freedom Hall
3:45 p.m.	Pre-sale sponsored social
4:30 p.m.	The All American Jersey Sale, West Wing Sale Arena Presented by IGENITY®

Monday, November 6
8:00 a.m.	The All American Jersey Show, Freedom Hall

The 54^th All American Show & Sale is an annual production of the American Jersey Cattle Association, Reynoldsburg, Ohio. More than 100 Jersey breeders from across the United States serve on the All American planning committees, which meet annually in March. The entry deadline is September 20. Premium lists and entry forms are available online at www.livestockexpo.org.

Nominations for the sales are now being accepted. Contact JMS Manager Herby Lutz at 530/304-4009.

Headquarters for Jersey exhibitors is the Hilton Garden Inn Louisville Airport. For reservations, call 502/637-2424 and mention the Jersey group for best rates. Room availability is limited due to the Breeders' Cup championships at Churchill Downs on November 4.

Reynoldsburg, Ohio, September 13, 2006—The 52^nd National Jersey Queen will be selected Saturday, November 4, 2006 at the conclusion of Junior Day activities at The All American Jersey Shows and Sale, held annually in conjunction with the North American International Livestock Exposition, Louisville, Ky.

The 2006 National Jersey Queen will begin her reign when she is introduced with a court of two alternates at the beginning of the National Jersey Jug Futurity on November 5. Later that evening, they will assist with The 54^th All American Jersey Sale, sponsored by IGENITY^®, then preside over The All American Jersey Show, the world’s largest Jersey show, on Monday, November 6.

There are three eligibility requirements to compete for honor of National Jersey Queen. Contestants must be at least 16 years of age but not older than 20 on January 1, 2006. They must be either a current state or regional Jersey queen, or be an exhibitor at the 2006 Western National Jersey Show or The All American Junior Jersey Show. All contestants must be a Junior Member in good standing or Lifetime Member of the American Jersey Cattle Association.

Candidates for National Jersey Queen are evaluated on the quality of their application, interview, general dairy and Jersey breed knowledge, and public speaking, both prepared and extemporaneous. Each of the contest elements is described on the USJersey website. Applications must be received in the AJCA office on or before October 15. Judging begins on Friday, November 3.

The National Jersey Queen represents the Jersey community throughout the year at local, state and national events, including the AJCA-NAJ Annual Meetings.

Financial support is provided by the National Jersey Queen Development Fund. Major funding comes from proceeds of heifer donated to the Fund and sold in The All American Jersey Sale. This year’s donation heifer comes from James Ahlem, Hilmar, Calif. JCJ Max 13779 is a P8 senior calf by Wilsonview Avery Max-ET, JPI +143, and out of a Very Good-88% “Mannix” dam with 22,950 lbs. milk, 1,114 lbs. fat and 829 lbs. protein on her second lactation. The next dam by “Dunkirk” is Very Good-84% and has two records over 1,000 lbs. fat.

For more information about participating in or supporting the National Jersey Queen Contest, contact Dr. Cherie L. Bayer, Director of Development, at 614/861-3636, extension 334.

Reynoldsburg, Ohio, September 8, 2006—Based on the August, 2006 USDA genetic summaries, Jersey continues to be the leader for Productive Life (PL) among the six dairy breeds evaluated in the United States (including Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein and Milking Shorthorn).

The trait of Productive Life is defined as “time in the milking herd before removal by voluntary culling, involuntary culling, or death.” Its evaluation combines information from direct longevity, measured by DHI data on calving dates, disposal dates, reasons for disposal and lactation lengths, with correlated traits. Cows having opportunity to reach eight (8) years of age are considered a completed observation, yet they can continue to add credits for productive life after this point under the new method.

Data published by the USDA Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory (AIPL) show that for cows born in 1997, Jerseys have the longest productive life of 34.4 months, or 1,048 days. A total of 36,669 Jersey cows were included in the evaluation. By comparison, the weighted average Productive Life for 659,675 cows of the other five breeds and born in 1997 is 28.5 months, or 869 days.

A new method for calculating Productive Life was implemented by AIPL in August to improve the accuracy of evaluating dairy cattle longevity.

When first defined in 1994, Productive Life took into consideration a cow's total number of days in milk only up to 84 months (7 years) of age, with a limit of 305 days in milk per lactation. Subsequent research by S. Tsuruta and I. Misztal, both at the University of Georgia, and T. J. Lawlor of the Holstein Association documented that most Holstein cows have lactations beyond 305 days (average 365 days for "survivors" and 386 days for culled cows). Lactation lengths for “survivors” in the next three calvings all exceeded 330 days. By including lactation days above 305, genetic correlations increased for milk production and decreased for days open. These researchers argued that “PL305 does not properly account for the longer lactation lengths that are routinely occurring with today’s cows,” therefore “PL with longer lactations may be preferable in routine evaluation.”

Research geneticists at AIPL incorporated these findings when developing the revised method for calculating PL. Complete lactation records have been stored by AIPL since 1997, making it possible to produce evaluations that include all days of production in every lactation. However, all days are not equal in value to herd owners. As stated by Paul M. VanRaden and colleagues in the August, 2006 Journal of Dairy Science, “Cows that begin a next lactation generally are more profitable than those that continue the previous lactation because a new peak yield is achieved.”

The method implemented with the August evaluations reflects this economic logic. Cows with multiple lactations get more total credit than cows with just one long lactation. As a cow's lactation is extended, the value credited to her production is diminished. On the AIPL website, VanRaden et al. comment that with the new method, “Some emphasis is shifted away from fertility toward somatic cell score because longer lactations require more mastitis resistance, and the correlations of PL with yield traits are slightly higher.”

Productive Life is a key component of the USDA Net Merit functions. For Jerseys, it receives 18% of total emphasis for NM$ and FM$, and 14% for CM$. In Jersey Performance Index₀₆, PL is weighted at 12%.

For more information on the calculation of Productive Life, see the “Documentation” section of the AIPL website (http://aipl.arsusda.gov). For Jersey-specific information on the August genetic evaluations, contact Cari W. Wolfe, Director of Research and Genetic Programs Development for the American Jersey Cattle Association, at 614/861-3636.

Expo's 2006 Virtual Farm Tours To
Feature Heartland Jerseys

Reynoldsburg, Ohio, September 8, 2006—Heartland Jerseys of Seneca, Kansas will be one of nine North American dairy operations to be featured in World Dairy Expo’s 2006 Virtual Farm Tour program.

Owners Jerry and Sue Spielman will narrate a video tour of their farm and answer questions from the audience, starting at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4 in the Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center, Madison, Wis. The American Jersey Cattle Association is the program sponsor.

After selling their 70-head grade Holstein herd in 1988, the Spielmans re-entered dairying within a year with Jerseys. “We felt a Registered Jersey™ herd was the way to go,” Jerry noted, “because fat and protein were beginning to make a difference in milk pricing.

Production of the Heartland Jerseys rivals that of any herd in the Great Plains and ranks among the very best Jersey herds in the United States.

This past January, the 286 cows were rolling at 19,363 lbs. milk, 889 lbs. fat (4.6%) and 693 lbs. protein (3.6%) on 3x milking with no BST. Average somatic cell count was 150,000. The milk is marketed through Wells' Dairy Inc. of LeMars, Iowa, manufacturers of Blue Bunny® ice cream products.

Heartland Jerseys is one of the top 125 herds in the U.S. for herd average Jersey Performance Index™ and averages $126 for Net Merit dollars. The most recent type appraisal was in June, with 308 cows averaging 80.8%. This included 25 Excellents and 175 scored Very Good, with 58 of those having a final score between 85% and 89%. All but 20 cows carry the Heartland prefix.

Almost entirely through internal herd growth, made possible by the Spielmans’ outstanding management and Jersey reproductive efficiency, the herd grew from 75 cows in 1994 to 320 cows at the end of 2004. That prompted a 95-head production sale in May of 2005 that ranked as the ninth highest average Jersey auction of 2005 reported to Jersey Journal. Milking cows averaged $3,397.73 in the sale.

Heartland Jerseys is enrolled on the American Jersey Cattle Association’s REAP program, and the Spielmans use one of its component services, JerseyMate™, to generate sire mating recommendations.

Other Virtual Farm Tours feature dairies located in Wisconsin, Minnesota, California, Michigan and Manitoba, Canada. They are being sponsored by Purina Feed, Vita Plus Corporation, Cover-All Building Systems, Page & Pedersen International, Ltd., Mycogen Seeds, Microgy Inc. and Engineering Storage Products Company. There is no charge for these programs.

World Dairy Expo opens Tuesday, October 3, with the Central National Jersey Show beginning that afternoon at 1:00 p.m. in the Coliseum.

Jersey events run all day on Wednesday, starting at 7:30 a.m. with the cow classes in the Central National show. Following the Heartland Jerseys program at 2:00 p.m. will be the Top of the World Jersey Sale at 4:00 p.m. in the IGENITY® Sale Pavilion. Jersey Marketing Service, Reynoldsburg, Ohio, is the sale manager.

The World Dairy Expo Dinner with the Stars concludes Wednesday’s schedule of events. Jersey breeder Janet Shank Stiles of Boonsboro, Md., will be recognized as the 2006 Dairy Woman of the Year.

The next day, October 5, brings the Dairyland Protein Sale, starting at 11:00 a.m. at the Rock County Fairgrounds in Janesville, 40 miles south of Madison.

Later that evening is the awards banquet of National Dairy Shrine Banquet, in the Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center. Scott Bohnert, East Moline, Ill., will receive the Progressive Dairy Breeder Award and Becky Martin, Stitzer, Wis., a $1,000 National Dairy Shrine-Dairy Management Inc. scholarship.

The American Jersey Cattle Association exhibit, located in the Coliseum at Arena Level 101, will be open throughout Expo.

Reynoldsburg, Ohio, September 8, 2006—Dairy producers seeking young Registered Jersey™ bulls of exceptional genetic merit for A.I. and/or natural service can locate them in two lists published each quarter by the American Jersey Cattle Association on its website, USJersey.com.

The first report lists all Registered Jersey™ bulls born after January 1, 2004 and assigned an NAAB stud code. It currently includes 276 bulls and is published as an Excel spreadsheet.

The other report lists the top 1,000 AJCA-registered bull calves ranked by Jersey Performance Index™ born within the past year. The current list is of bulls born after June 30, 2005. It is also in Excel format.

Both lists provide a summary of each bull’s Parent Averages for milk, fat, protein, USDA Net Merit dollars (NM$), somatic cell score (SCS), Productive Life (PL), and Daughter Pregnancy Rate (DPR). The two-generation sire stack and Expected Future Inbreeding (EFI) estimate are also given.

Ownership of bulls with NAAB stud codes is easily determined by entering the code into the search engine provided by the National Association of Animal Breeders.

Information about bulls that do not have an NAAB stud code can be found by entering the AJCA registration number in the association’s Herd Services website, www.infoJersey.com. Users must set up an account with the AJCA, then obtain a user name and password for the infoJersey system.

Lists are updated quarterly after release of the USDA-AJCA genetic evaluations. To receive notification of these updates, visit http://lists.usjersey.com, enter your email address, then select the box next to “jerseybulls@usjersey.com.” Bulls that enter A.I. sampling programs between each quarterly USDA genetic summary are listed in Jersey Journal, available by subscription.

For more information about the young sire development programs of the American Jersey Cattle Association, contact Cari W. Wolfe, Director of Research and Genetic Program Development, at 614/861-3636, extension 318, or by email with “Young Sires” in the subject line.

JERSEY ASSOCIATION COMMISSIONS OIL PAINTING
TO SUPPORT NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS

Reynoldsburg, Ohio, September 7, 2006—Award-winning artist Denise Rich of El Cajon, California has posted the first stages of her work on an original oil painting commissioned by the American Jersey Cattle Association.

The centerpiece of “Wide Load Ahead” is a mature Jersey cow, standing sure of her ground and flanked at some distance by two inquisitive herdmates. It is featured on the artist’s web site. The oil on canvas will measure 16” by 20” when completed.

“Wide Load Ahead” will be on display throughout World Dairy Expo, October 3 to 7, in Madison, Wis., in the USJersey exhibit area, located at AL101 in the Coliseum. It will then be used in a campaign to increase the endowment of the AJCA Scholarship Funds beginning at The All American Jersey Shows & Shows in Louisville, Ky., November 4 through 6.

A 501(c)(3) permanent trust, the AJCA Scholarship Funds support numerous scholarship and internship opportunities for Junior Members of the association. Contributions are tax deductible for Federal estate and gift purposes.

Denise Rich has studied with several internationally known art instructors in San Diego and most recently gained a sizeable following for her cow paintings. Her specialty is capturing the character, personality, and posture of each cow in a way that everyone can truly appreciate, especially those who know them the best. Explaining her passion for cows, Rich says, “I fell for them completely, and enjoyed just being with them so much that I carried that feeling home with the photos and set out to translate it through my paintings.”

Denise Rich’s work was included in a “Cowlendar” introduced at last year’s World Dairy Expo and more recently featured in advertising for Prince Agri Products Inc. She has just been commissioned by the California Milk Advisory Board to paint a series of the “Happy Cows” from its Real California Cheese campaign.

The American Jersey Cattle Association, organized in 1868, maintains identification and performance records for dairy herd owners and provides services that support genetic improvement and greater profitability through increasing the value of and demand for Jersey cattle and genetics, and Jersey milk and milk products.

For more information about the upcoming capital campaign, contact the AJCA Development Department at 614/861-3636, extension 334, or email info@usjersey.com with “Scholarship Campaign” in the subject line.

NATION’S FINEST GENETICS AWAIT YOUTH BEGINNING
A JERSEY PROJECT AT POT O’ GOLD SALES

Six of this year’s 38 Pot O’Gold heifers will sell on Saturday, July 22, 2006 at the Tillamook County Fairgrounds in Tillamook, Ore., in conjunction with the 18th annual Pride of the West Sale.

Presenting sponsor of the 49th Pot O’Gold Sales is Cow’s Match® Jersey Blend from Land O’Lakes Animal Milk Products Co.

The Pot O’Gold Program is sponsored by the American Jersey Cattle Association, Reynoldsburg, Ohio. Since its inception in 1958, the Pot O’Gold sale has offered the nation’s very best Registered Jersey™ genetics for purchase by youth ages seven to 20. The unique feature of this sale is that buyers have the opportunity to recapture a portion of the heifers’ purchase price through participation in the Pot O’Gold Production Contest three years later.

Seventeen percent (17%) of the gross revenue from the sale is directed into the “pot” where the prize money will be drawn from three years down the road. To qualify for competition, the heifer must calve before 30-months of age and remain in the junior’s ownership for the duration of her lactation. Completed records are ranked by their multiple component pricing (MCP) value.

The contest now pays 22 places. All awards are given as percentages of the pot and are as follows: first, 18%; second 11.5%; third, 8%; fourth, 6.5%; fifth, 6%; sixth, 5.5%; seventh, 5%; eighth, 4.5%; ninth and tenth, 4%; eleventh through thirteenth, 3%; fourteenth through sixteenth, 2.5%; seventeenth through nineteenth, 2%; and twentieth through twenty-second, 1.5%.

Joshua Parks, Morristown, Tenn., was the winner of the 2005 Pot O’Gold Production Contest with Long Distance Rogue Daisy-ET. From the $14,662.50 pot, he received $3,665.63—170% of his heifer’s $2,150 purchase price. All entries in the 2005 contest averaged 21,323 pounds milk, 964 pounds fat, and 743 pounds protein on a mature equivalent basis, with an average MCP value of $3,221.

The 2006 contest winners will be announced in the September issue of Jersey Journal.

Six Registered Jersey™ heifers born between August and December of 2005 will sell at 6:00 p.m. next Saturday, June 22. The Parent Average of the group for Cheese Merit dollars is +$340.

Woodstock Dairy, Beaver, Ore., has consigned a P6 Sunset Canyon Futurity-ET daughter out of a VG-87% “Jace” with an ME average of 20,947M—866F—692P. The grandam has an ME average of 21,903M—1,056F—800P.

Sun Valley Farm, Cloverdale, Ore., will offer a P9 Ahlem Lemvig-Abe-ET daughter out of a VG-84% “Daniel” with an ME of 20,588M—819F—710P. The grandam is a Very Good “Berretta” with an ME average of 23,526M—897F—807P.

Forest Glen Jerseys, Dayton, Ore., is sending a P9 Forest Glen Avery Action-ET daughter out of a VG-85% Forest Glen Hallmark Kirk-P-ET daughter with an ME of 18,286M—704—663P. The next three dams are Very Good or Excellent with impressive milk records.

Ahlem Farms, Hilmar, Calif., has consigned a P9 Windy Willow Montana Jace daughter out of an Excellent “Barber” with an ME average of 21,591M—1,015F—760P. The grandam is an Excellent-91% “Berretta” with an ME average of 22,551M—1,113F—878P.

Fallen Oak Jerseys, Molalla, Ore., will offer a P9 Long Distance Jace Bill-ET daughter out of a VG-86% “Mannix” with an ME average of 20,603M—919F—728P. The VG-87% grandam has a best record of 9-7 305 24,650 4.2% 1,023F 3.5% 867P.

Wilsonview Dairy, Tillamook, Oregon, has consigned a P9 “Abe” daughter out of a VG-87% “Jace” two-year-old with an ME of 19,210M—901F—661P. The next three dams are scored E-91%, E-93%, and VG-85% with high milk records.

The remaining 32 calves to be offered this year will be sold November 4, 2006 in Louisville, Ky.

For buying assistance or to place bids, contact Jersey Marketing Service Manager Herby Lutz at (530) 304-4009, JMS Assistant Manager Dan Bauer at (614) 216-5862, or your regional AJCA-NAJ Area Representative. Catalog requests can be made to Sally Stine at (614) 861-3636, ext. 325. Catalogs can also be viewed online.

Sixty-five of the nation’s finest Registered Jersey™ heifers grossed $179,400 at the 49^th Annual National Heifer Sale on July 1, 2006 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The sale averaged $2,760.

Sponsored by the American Jersey Cattle Association, Reynoldsburg, Ohio, the sale was created to support Jersey youth programs, with 10 percent of total sales revenue being directed into the national Jersey youth development fund.

The air-conditioned sale arena within the Middle Tennessee State University Livestock Pavilion provided buyers from across the country a refuge from the unrelenting Tennessee heat as Jersey Marketing Service Manager Herby Lutz made introductions and set the tone for yet another light-hearted but highly successful Jersey sale.

Tennessee natives Jack Holbrook, Murfreesboro, and Lynn Lee, Smyrna, shared auctioneering duties with Lutz reading pedigrees and seasoned JMS staff taking bids.

"Bebe" Shoots To Top of Sale

The P9 consignment from Jim and Janet Van Buskirk of Carleton, Michigan, JVB Red Hot Saber Bebe (PA JPI +186) circled the sale ring as bids poured in—all of them intending to secure a descendant of the world-renowned milk wagon, Sunny Day Yankee Becky, Excellent-90%, the first Registered Jersey^TM ever to complete four consecutive milk records over 30,000 pounds.

The October calf sired by O.F. Montana Saber-ET (JPI +141) hails from a Very Good-88% Wilsonview Khan Morgan-ET (JPI +124) two-year-old daughter who ranks 156^th in the nation on the Jersey Performance Index^TM and has five brothers in A.I. “Bebe’s” grandam is Sunny Day Bold Belinda-ET, Excellent-94% with a record of 6-1 365 38,557M 4.7% 1,802F 3.7% 1,411P 100DCR. The fourth dam is “Becky.”

Bidding last at $6,600 was the partnership of Bryan Marcoot and David Freeman of Pocahontas, Illinois. Buster Goff of Hobbs, New Mexico was the contender.

"Militia" Daughter Sells With A Bang

Militia Haze, consigned by Cedarcrest Farms, Faunsdale, Alabama, became one of the first daughters of Sunset Canyon RP Militia-ET (JPI +256) to sell at public auction. “Haze” comes from a Very Good-86% Sunset Canyon Marquee-ET (JPI +56) dam with a two-year-old record exceeding 23,000 pounds of milk and 1,000 pounds of fat. The grandam is an Excellent Bancrest Lester Avery (JPI +73) daughter with a list of impressive records as well.

A P9 heifer in her own right, “Haze” currently ranks 181^st in the nation with her parent average JPI (+209). The tall, stylish fall yearling lived up to her advertised photograph as she garnered the bids necessary to become the second high seller of the sale. She sold to Lloyd Heinz of Shawano, Wisconsin for $6,500. Craig Rhein of Pine Grove, Pennsylvania was the contender.

“Haze” was one of seven heifers showcased at the sale with Tenn Haug E Maid, Excellent-93% found in their pedigree. Bred by the University of Tennessee Dairy Experiment Station, Lewisburg, Tennessee, “Maid” has been embraced as a bull mother for her outcross pedigree and high milk and component yields. Her best record is 6-0 365 26,014M 7.0% 1,820F 4.3% 1,107P. With 63 progeny currently registered, “Maid” is set to have a lasting impact on the breed.

“Maid” is found twice in the second high seller’s pedigree, and her seven featured descendants brought nearly $200 over the sale average.

New York Heifer Is Third High Seller

Despite being less than five months old, the consignment from Michael Ooms, Valatie, New York, Oomsdale Brazo Gratitude Gemini-ET, drew plenty of buyer attention with her high index and deep pedigree. “Gemini” ranks 36^th in the nation with her parent average JPI (+236), has three Very Good sisters, and already has five brothers in A.I. progeny test programs.

She is a potential ninth generation Very Good or Excellent with her eight closest dams averaging 90 points. Selling for $6,400, the dark, open-ribbed daughter of Sil-Mist RMBM Buttons Brazo-ET (JPI +193) will call New Vienna, Iowa her new home at the farm of Charles Arlen.

As a Leadership Gift to the AJCC Research Foundation, Endres Jazzy Jerseys of Lodi, Wisconsin donated Jazzy Rebel 2052. She sold to Cedarcrest Farms, Faunsdale, Alabama for $2,700.

The sale was truly a national event, with animals going to 41 different buyers in 19 states. Heifers went as far north as Wisconsin and New York, as far west as California and Nevada, and as far south as Texas and Alabama.

The highly anticipated 50^th Anniversary National Heifer Sale will be held June 30, 2007 at the Lyon County Fairgrounds in Rock Rapids, Iowa.

Jersey Marketing Service is a subsidiary of National All-Jersey Inc. and was created in 1970 to provide marketing assistance to buyers and sellers of Jersey cattle and embryos. The company posted the fourth-best year in its history during 2005, with gross sales of $8.66 million and also set records for average prices at auction ($2,079.55) and private treaty ($1,693.81).

For a description of JMS services plus the calendar of upcoming auction sales, call JMS at (614) 861-3636, ext. 325; email jms@usjersey.com; or visit http://jms.usjersey.com.

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JERSEY SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS DUE JULY 5

The American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) announces the availability of seven scholarships for the 2006-2007 academic year. Individuals who have significant background in breeding, managing, and showing Registered Jersey™ cattle and who are also enrolled in undergraduate or graduate educational programs are encouraged to apply by the deadline of July 5.

The first William A. Russell Memorial Scholarship for advanced studies in the amount of $5,000 will be presented in 2006. Graduate students or undergraduate students who have completed at least half of the coursework required for their degree in the fields of dairy and animal science, large animal veterinary practice, dairy production or manufacturing, or dairy product marketing are eligible.

The $1,000 William A. Russell Scholarship is for high school graduates ready to enter college. It was established in 1977 to honor “Bill” Russell following his death in 1976. In 1971 Russell became Southeast Area Representative for the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc. He made significant contributions to increase the popularity and profitability of Jerseys.

The Cedarcrest Farms Scholarship of $1,000 was established in 1999 to be awarded to a student in large animal veterinary medicine, dairy production, dairy manufacturing, or dairy product marketing. Undergraduate and graduate students may apply.

Students who have completed at least one year of college are eligible to apply for the V. L. Peterson Scholarship of $750 and the Paul Jackson Memorial Scholarship of $300.

The V.L. Peterson Scholarship was founded to honor “Vic” Peterson, the dean of Jersey Area Representatives during his 25 years with the Jersey organizations. Paul Jackson was the 1961 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from The American Jersey Cattle Club Distinguished Service Award. For many years he managed Breezy Hill Farm and was a Jersey consultant at Wilmington College in Ohio.

The Bob Toole Youth Award will be presented for the third time in 2006. It honors the memory of Robert F. Toole Sr., and provides a $600 educational award related to the breeding, development or exhibition of Jersey cattle. This may be completed through either academic coursework or as a practical experience at a 2-year or 4-year college program.

The Reuben R. Cowles Jersey Youth Award is available for students that are at least a high school senior but not over 36 years of age as of January 1, 2005. Residents of Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia are eligible to apply for this award.

The award is a tribute to Reuben Cowles, past AJCA director and Distinguished Service Award recipient, was instrumental in developing All-Jersey® milk markets in the South that greatly influenced the demand for Jersey cattle in this area.

Applicants must be members (junior or lifetime) of the American Jersey Cattle Association. A minimum grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) is required to apply for these scholarships. A copy of the high school or college transcript must be included with the application form.

Applications and transcripts must be received at AJCA office at 6486 E. Main Street, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068-2362 by July 5, 2005.

Reynoldsburg, Ohio, May 15, 2006—Based on the May, 2006 USDA genetic summaries, Jersey continues to rank first among all dairy breeds evaluated for Productive Life (PL).

Data published by the USDA–Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory (AIPL) show that for cows born in the current genetic reference base year (2000), Jerseys have the longest productive life of 29.0 months, or 885 days. A total of 39,445 Jersey cows born in 2000 were included in the May evaluations.

Productive Life was defined by AIPL in 1994 as “time in the milking herd before removal by voluntary culling, involuntary culling, or death.” It is calculated as months of milk in each lactation, summed across lactations, with full credit for complete records and partial credit for short records. Maximum days in milk for a complete record is 305 days. The heritability for Productive Life is 8.5%.

Productive Life is considered to be complete at seven (7) years of age, therefore the analysis of cows born in 2000 is ongoing. The most recent Jersey data reflect an increase of 28 days in PL since the base change in February of 2005. By comparison, Holstein PL has increased by 4 days. The difference between Jersey cows and Holstein cows born in 2000 is 131 days.

According to Dr. Paul Van Raden of the AIPL staff, “For cows that are still alive, their future months of PL are estimated from life expectancy tables developed from Holstein data. Other breeds with better or poorer life expectancy gradually exhibit their full difference from Holstein as more cows complete their lives.”

AIPL’s statistics for Jersey cows born in 1999, the most recent group to have reached seven years of age, reveal a PL estimate of 29.73 months (907 days). Holstein cows born in 1999 have a PL of 24.82 months (757 days). That is a difference of 150 days.

“The PL calculations are scheduled to be revised in August,” notes Van Raden. Cows will now get credit for continuing in milk after 305 days of lactation and after 84 months of age. Previously, credits were limited to the first 10 months of each lactation because records for longer lactations had not been stored in the AIPL database. Also, improvements in herd management and genetics allow cows to remain productive and profitable without maintaining a yearly calving interval.

The new PL measurement “will affect individual bull PTAs, but does not seem to affect breed differences,” Van Raden added.

With the new definition of PL, some emphasis is shifted away from fertility toward somatic cell score because longer lactations require more mastitis resistance, and the correlations of PL with yield traits are slightly higher. In a memo now on the AIPL website, Van Raden also points out that the revised PL is more highly correlated to longevity traits defined by other nations. “The United States has highest average genetic correlation across countries for both the Holstein and Jersey breeds, which indicates that the new PL definition is an accurate summary of U.S. data and an excellent predictor of longevity in other environments.”

For more information on changes to Productive Life scheduled for the August summary, see the AIPL website or contact Cari W. Wolfe, AJCA Director of Research and Genetic Program Development at 614/861-3636.

Reynoldsburg, Ohio (May 10, 2006)—Daniel S. Bauer, Manawa, Wis., has been named Assistant Manager of Jersey Marketing Service, Reynoldsburg, Ohio, effective June 1, 2006.

In this capacity, Bauer will work with JMS Manager Herby D. Lutz and an experienced team of 10 regional representatives to deliver custom service for buyers and sellers of Jersey genetics. He will also become an appraiser for the functional type traits appraisal program offered by the American Jersey Cattle Association.

“We are excited to bring Dan’s talents to our team,” said Neal Smith, Executive Secretary and CEO of the USJersey organizations. “He is an enthusiastic young man with a first-rate aptitude for dairy cattle marketing and genetics. He also has an outstanding background in dairy cattle judging and linear evaluation, as demonstrated by his success in last fall’s national contests.”

Bauer will graduate May 13 with a B.S. in dairy science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A member of the winning UW-Madison team at the 2005 National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest, Bauer was the second high individual overall and third high in the linear evaluation contest.

This past semester he has served as an undergraduate teaching assistant for the UW-Madison course in dairy cattle selection, evaluating student papers and oral reasons in addition to preparing cattle for the class.

A four-year member of the Badger Dairy Club, Dan was a selection chairman for the 12th Badger Invitational Sale, which set a record for the series of $3,292.00 on 53 lots in March of 2005. He also served as the club’s yearbook editor and World Dairy Expo grounds chairman.

Bauer completed internships with Jersey Marketing Service in the summer of 2005 as recipient of the Fred Stout Experience Award, and in 2004 as progeny promotions intern for ABS Global Inc., DeForest, Wis. He was assistant herdsman at Wilstar Holsteins, LLC, Poy Sippi, Wis., during the summer of 2003, when he worked with its show string and assisted with extensive embryo transfer (ET) and marketing programs.

Jersey Marketing Service is a subsidiary of National All-Jersey Inc. and was created in 1970 to provide marketing assistance to buyers and sellers of Jersey cattle and embryos. The company posted the fourth-best year in its history during 2005, with gross sales of $8.66 million and also setting records for average prices at auction ($2,079.55) and private treaty ($1,693.81).

For a description of JMS services plus the calendar of upcoming auction sales, call JMS at (614) 861-3636, ext. 325; send email; or visit the JMS web site.

Reynoldsburg, Ohio (May 9, 2006)—The judges have been selected for The 54th All American Jersey Shows, sponsored by the American Jersey Cattle Association of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.

The largest exhibition of Registered Jersey™ cattle in the world, the three shows of The All American will be held November 4, 5 and 6, 2006 in conjunction with the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Ky.

The open show on November 6 will be judged by Larry Schirm, Dairy Analyst for ABS Global, Inc. and based in Columbus, Ohio. This will be his sixth appearance as a judge at the All American, having previously judged the open show in 1989 and 1997, the junior show in 1987 and 2003, and the National Jersey Jug Futurity in 1986. His consultant will be Terry Rawn, Charles Town, W. Va.

The 52nd National Jersey Jug Futurity, offering nearly $10,000 in premiums, will be judged by Dennis Patrick, Woodbine, Md. He is a partner in the family operation of Maple Dell Farm, has judged twice at World Dairy Expo (2001 and 2002), and is scheduled to judge the Eastern National Holstein Show in 2006. His consultant will be Chris Hill, Mt. Airy, Md.

The judge for The All American Junior Jersey Show will be Steve Hendress, Walcott, Ind. He is an animal science instructor and assistant manager of the dairy research farm at Purdue University. Hendress judged at World Dairy Expo in 2003 and has also judged in Colombia, Ecuador and Argentina. Brian Schilling, Boggstown, Ind., will be the consultant.

Two sales, both managed by Jersey Marketing Service of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, will occur that same weekend. A total of 32 Registered Jersey™ heifers will be offered to youth between seven and 20 years of age in the 49th Pot O’Gold Sale. Cow’s Match® Jersey Blend is the Presenting Sponsor of the 2006 Pot O’Gold Sales. The 54th All American Jersey Sale, the premier showcase for Registered Jersey™ genetics in the United States, will offer approximately 90 lots. Last year’s sale of 91 head averaged $4,565.29, with a top of $20,500.

All events will be held at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, conveniently located near the Louisville International Airport. The schedule is:

Saturday, November 4
8:00 a.m.	The 54th All American Junior Jersey Show, Freedom Hall
4:00 p.m.	49th Pot O’Gold Sale, presented by Cow’s Match Jersey Blend, Newmarket Hall
7:00 p.m.	All American Junior Banquet, South Wing Conference Center

Sunday, November 5
12:30 p.m.	52nd National Jersey Jug Futurity, Freedom Hall
3:45 p.m.	Pre-sale sponsored social
4:30 p.m.	The 54th All American Jersey Sale, West Hall A

Monday, November 6
8:00 a.m.	The 54th All American Jersey Show, Freedom Hall

The All American Show and Sale is an annual production of the American Jersey Cattle Association, the oldest dairy breed registry organization in the United States. Approximately 100 Jersey breeders from across the United States serve on the All American planning committees, which meet annually in March. Entry deadline is September 20. Premium lists and entry forms are available online.

Nominations for the sales will be accepted through early September. Contact JMS Manager Herby Lutz at 614/861-3636, ext. 328, or 530/304-4009.

Headquarters for Jersey exhibitors is the Hilton Garden Inn Louisville Airport. Rooms are limited because of the Breeders' Cup championships on November 4 at Churchill Downs. For reservations, call 502/318-2346 and mention the NAILE Jersey event for best rates.

Reynoldsburg, Ohio (May 9, 2006)—Aaron Horst, Chambersburg, Penna., has been selected as the 2006 recipient of the Fred Stout Experience Award.

The award was created five years ago in memory of Fred J. Stout Jr., Mt. Carmel, Ill., a lifelong Jersey breeder and member of the Jersey Marketing Service staff from 1978 to 1997. Stout was instrumental in the growth of the company’s marketing activities, and later added duties as type evaluator and customer field service for the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA).

Stout believed that the best learning experiences happen in the everyday world. This award honors that conviction. It will provide partial support for Horst’s internship with Jersey Marketing Service during the summer of 2006. Aaron’s responsibilities will include preparation of sale catalogs and advertising, working with consignors to meet health test requirements and arrange trucking, and providing service to buyers. He will also work on the crews for the 49th National Heifer Sale, July 1 in Murfreesboro, Tenn., plus the Pride of the West Sale and Western Pot O’Gold Sale, both scheduled for July 22 in Tillamook, Ore.

Horst has completed his freshman year of studies at Virginia Tech, majoring in dairy science with a minor in agricultural and applied economics. He has been a student employee at the university’s dairy complex since last August, feeding calves and heifers in the mornings and milking 150 cows in the afternoons.

As a 4-H and FFA member, Aaron took on increasing responsibilities at his family’s dairy, Mi-Rose Jerseys and Holsteins. In addition to daily cow and heifer care, he focused on heat detection and matings for 80 milking cows and 40 heifers. He managed the farm’s show string, fitting strings of up to 20 head by himself. Aaron has bred and exhibited three class winners at The All American Junior Jersey Show. He has also been a mentor to Pennsylvania Jersey youth starting off with dairy calf projects.

Horst has been particularly successful in dairy cattle judging, placing as high individual at both the national FFA contest in 2004 and the national 4-H contest in 2005. He was recipient of a DeKalb FFA Leadership Award and the AJCA’s Bob Toole Youth Award in 2005.

The Fred Stout Experience Award is one of nine educational awards for Jersey youth sponsored by the American Jersey Cattle Association, Reynoldsburg, Ohio. Applications for 2006-07 academic scholarships are due July 1. Deadline to apply for the 2007 Stout Experience Award is February 1 of next year. Information on these awards and applications are available on the AJCA’s web site, www.USJersey.com, or by contacting Dr. Cherie L. Bayer, Director of Development, at (614) 861-3636.

Reynoldsburg, OH (April 3, 2006)—Sarah Mullen, Davenport, Iowa, has accepted the position of Customer Service Coordinator with National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ), Reynoldsburg, Ohio.

In this position, she will provide a range of NAJ member support services, starting with preparation and distribution of market analysis publications to members and subscribers. She will also monitor milk marketing activity and trends, and assist General Manager Erick Metzger in keeping members, service users and staff informed about milk pricing and marketing, government and trade policies, and also research affecting milk pricing, component utilization and product development.

“Sara comes to our staff with a broad background of dairy industry experiences, academic excellence and leadership abilities,” Metzger said, “that will be of tremendous service to the members of National All-Jersey Inc.”

Mullen will graduate in May from Iowa State University with degrees in Dairy Science and Agricultural Business and a minor in English. Earning Dean’s List honors over six semesters, Mullen received the Alison Ciancio Memorial Scholarship and Ag Career Day scholarships.

This past weekend, Mullen was a member of the Iowa State team that received first place Platinum honors in the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge (NAIDC) on April 1, 2006 in Twin Falls, Idaho. Last fall, she placed fifth overall and third in oral reasons at the National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest in Madison, Wis.

A four-year member of the Iowa State University Dairy Club, Sarah was elected vice-president in 2005. She has also served on the university’s Agricultural Student Council as the Awards Committee and Recruitment Committee co-chair and was a member of the Ag Career Day Committee. She is involved with the honors program at Iowa State, where she organized and planned the orientation seminars for incoming freshmen.

Mullen will begin her NAJ responsibilities in late May. She was previously an intern at Lyon Jerseys in Toledo, Iowa during the summer of 2004, with responsibilities for calf care, administering medications and other daily herd management activities. She was the GMS intern with ABS Global Inc. in the summer of 2005, providing support on the data input and producing a video explaining the program.

National All-Jersey Inc. was organized in 1957 to promote the increased production and sale of Jersey milk and milk products, and to promote Jersey cattle and the interests of breeders of Jersey cattle. NAJ staff work nationwide to increase the dollars returned to dairy producers who market high-solids milk. The NAJ subsidiary, All-Jersey Sales Corporation, was incorporated in 1961 and expanded in 1970 to provide Jersey cattle marketing services to the U.S. dairy industry.

For more information on National All-Jersey Inc., visit its web site at http://naj.usjersey.com or call 614/861-3636.

Expo's 2006 Virtual Farm Tours To Feature Heartland Jerseys

"Bebe" Shoots To Top of Sale

"Militia" Daughter Sells With A Bang

New York Heifer Is Third High Seller

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JERSEY SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS DUE JULY 5

Expo's 2006 Virtual Farm Tours To
Feature Heartland Jerseys