NATIONAL FUNDRAISER FOR JERSEY SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
AND YOUTH PROGRAMS SUPPORTED BY BEEF CHECKOFF PROGRAMS

May 25, 2005, Reynoldsburg, Ohio—The Beef Checkoff Program and the Pennsylvania and New York Beef Councils have added their support to the American Jersey Cattle Association’s National Heifer Sale, to be held in conjunction with the organization’s Annual Meeting June 22 to 25 in Pittsburgh, Penna.

For the first and only time in its 48-year history, the National Heifer Sale is an all-donation sale. Ten percent (10%) of the proceeds will go to the national Jersey youth fund (to a cap of $25,000). The balance will be added to the endowment of the AJCC Research Foundation, a 501(c)(3) trust sponsoring scientific research in high-priority areas related to Jersey cattle.

A record number of 97 heifers, two choice of flushes, and three embryo packages will sell on June 25 at the fairgrounds in Washington, Penna. The donor list includes 100 Jersey breeders, partnerships or operations from 28 states and also the state Jersey associations of Kentucky and Utah.

The Beef Checkoff Program and the Pennsylvania and New York Beef Councils are supporting the 48^th National Heifer Sale as Event Sponsors. Their backing is a cooperative gesture that will ultimately benefit all cattle producers in the United States and is deeply appreciated by the nation’s Registered Jersey™ breeders, said AJCA Executive Secretary and CEO Neal Smith.

“The Jersey membership and the Jersey organizations stand firmly in support of the Beef Checkoff Program because it creates better markets for everyone,” remarked Smith. “It’s worth noting that not only is a dollar invested every time a Jersey cow goes to the stockyards, it also happens every time an animal is sold at public auction in a Jersey Marketing Service sale.

In the past five years alone, JMS has marketed an average of 3,939 animals through public auction sales, Smith explained. “So from 2000 to the end of last year, Registered Jersey™ breeders have invested nearly $20,000 in beef marketing efforts just from sales of dairy breeding stock through Jersey Marketing Service.”

“The Beef Checkoff Program support of a once-in-a-lifetime fundraising effort for youth development and scientific research on Jersey cattle is proof that the best interests of all cattle producers are served when we work together,” concluded Smith.

Jersey breeders dug deep into their herds when selecting heifers for the donation sale. Fifty-eight (58) heifers rank in the top 10% of the breed for genetic merit. The dams of all 102 lots cataloged average 86.3% for final score and 19,925 lbs. milk, 898 lbs. fat and 699 lbs. protein on their best 305-day actual production records.

Sale manager is Jersey Marketing Service, Reynoldsburg, Ohio. The sale catalog will be available on the USJersey website (www.usjersey.com) on June 1, or may be requested by calling (614) 755-5857, ext. 325.

About the Beef Checkoff Program

The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. States retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents per head to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the national checkoff program, subject to USDA approval. The checkoff assessment became mandatory when the program was approved by 79% of producers in a 1988 national referendum vote. Checkoff revenues may be used for promotion, education and research programs to improve the marketing climate for beef.

About the AJCC Research Foundation

Founded in 1967, the AJCC Research Foundation has provided seed money for well-designed scientific investigations related to high-priority areas affecting the Jersey breed of dairy cattle:

• 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.