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GRANTS AWARDED BY JERSEY RESEARCH FOUNDATION

Reynoldsburg, Ohio, March 11, 2004—Four scientific investigations on the nutrition and performance of purebred Jersey cattle and Jersey-sired crossbreds, plus an evaluation study of the Jersey Performance Index™, have been selected for partial funding by the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA).

The 2004 awards, totaling $18,000, bring the funds invested in Jersey-related research since 1990 to $523,500. Funding was provided from interest income of the AJCC Research Foundation.

A $5,500 grant was awarded to Michael R. Murphy and Wenping Hu of the University of Illinois, Urbana, to study effects of dietary cation-anion difference on the performance of Jersey cows in early lactation. Milk production and composition will be measured, as well as acid-base status and metabolism of macrominerals and nitrogen. Potential breed differences (Jersey vs. Holstein) will also be examined.

A grant of $4,000 will support one of the largest U.S. calf studies in recent years. The research, directed by Kent Weigel of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, is being conducted at the UW-Arlington experimental dairy and at a high-producing 300-cow Holstein operation in southeast Wisconsin. Birth weights, stillbirths, dystocia, calf mortality, scours scores, respiratory disease scores, serum immunoglobulin G and serum protein will be evaluated for approximately 300 F₁ Jersey x Holstein calves, 200 backcross (Jersey x Holstein) x Holstein calves, and 700 pure Holstein contemporaries. The reproductive efficiency and lactation performance of the dams of these calves will also be measured to assess indirect effects of the sire of the calf on production and reproduction.

Two additional projects on the performance of Jersey-Holstein animals were funded at $3,000 each.

Bennett Cassell and Raymond Nebel of Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg, will compare growth, health, and sexual development of 20 Jersey heifers to 20 Holstein calves, and also to calves resulting from reciprocal crosses of the two breeds (20 Jersey x Holstein, 20 Holstein x Jersey). This project is part of a longitudinal study to contrast the four groups for lifetime economic merit.

A team from the University of Minnesota, St. Paul, headed by Leslie Hansen and Tony Seykora, will collect data on a minimum of 20 Jersey-sired and 20 pure Holstein cows starting their first lactations this fall. Measurements will be made of calving ease, stillbirths, postpartum complications, plus production, feed efficiency and economic merit throughout the 305-day lactation. The study will extend ongoing crossbred research now involving nearly 200 head of Jersey-Holstein and Holstein females.

These four studies were selected from 11 proposals submitted in the AJCC Research Foundation’s competitive grants program. In addition, Ronald E. Pearson of Virginia Tech was granted $2,500 for directed research that will add Daughter Pregnancy Rate (DPR) to the AJCA’s Jersey Performance Index ™. This work will involve analyzing 15 years of production, reason for culling and average somatic cell score (SCS) records to calculate the economic value of DPR to be included in the formula.

About the AJCC Research Foundation

The AJCC Research Foundation was established in 1967 as a permanent trust operated exclusively to promote and sponsor scientific research in the dairy industry. The current funding priorities are in the areas of:

• Nutrition of high-producing Jerseys, particularly practical feeding methods to maximize production of valuable milk components;

• Factors affecting yield of products manufactured from Jersey milk;

• Factors affecting net income, longevity, and lifetime profit;

• Breeding plans to optimize genetic gain while maintaining genetic diversity;

• Biological and economic efficiencies of Jerseys; and,

• Factors affecting management of Jersey calves.

An advisory committee that includes Jersey producers, dairy scientists, and allied dairy industry representatives evaluates proposals. The final decision on funding is made by the Directors of the American Jersey Cattle Association.

The next Request for Proposals will be issued in August, with projects due by December 1. Detailed information about the Competitive Grants Program can be found on the web site or requested from Cari W. Wolfe, Director of Research and Genetic Programs Development, at 614/861-3636.

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AJCC Research Foundation
6486 East Main Street  Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068-2362 U.S.A.
614.861.3636 phone    614.861.8040 fax     info@usjersey.com
Copyright 2005 American Jersey Cattle Association