jersey australia & NDJBC member
craigielea JERSEYS
Bill, Kaye and Andrew Cochrane own Craigielea Jerseys situated at Hansen Rd Bamawm. Craigielea’s first registered Jersey was born in 1971, “ Craigielea Gwitha” went to make VHC.The current farm consists of 220HA our farming methods have changed over the last five years as drought takes its toll we have gone from about 100HA of summer pasture to 25HA. We normally run around 380 milkers, five years ago grain was the only brought in feed ,drought has forced us to move towards a TMR ration for a large portion of the year using a wide range of by products.
The herd consists of 300 jerseys, the balance being the number 2ASI Holstein herd in Australia. The black and white’s were brought in 1992 when the farm went from 60 HA to 180ha, .The current herd average for our Jersey herd is 6234 lts 228 prt 313 fat. The Holsteins are bred solely on breeding index while the Jersey herd is bred for type first then index. Craigielea is a JDCAP accredited herd.
Craigielea has classified since its inception believing that production will follow correct dairy type. 50% of eligible cows made 90 points or better in our last classification .Our breeding philosophies are fairly simple; dairy bone, plenty of rib, wide muzzle; good feet and legs with a well attached vessel will give long life and heaps of milk. We embrace all that modern technology can provide in our quest for a better cow including mating programs, IVF and flushing. We progeny test every year choosing bulls we believe will fit our breeding aims and randomly mate these; we find we have a higher retention rate using this style of program.
Big Hollow Designs Meteor and Merriland Ideal Major thru their sons were the first bulls to have a major influence on our herd. Nerring Sultan Sam (54 daughters in a milking herd of 150) and his sire Gras left a valuable impression. Sultan Sam encouraged us to purchase 2 of his VHC sisters to begin the Silky family their dam being the famous Hillock View Sultan Silky Sup. IMP NZ .Descendants of these cows are among our best today 6 Barber daughters of Nerring Jay Silky had a top milk average of 6925 lts with the top milk of 8713 for Craigielea Barbers Silky 3. A Rebel 2yr old and a 400 kg 3 yr old Sambo are simply outstanding members of this family today.
Without doubt the best bull to have been used is Lester we couldn’t get enough of these cows nearly 1/4 of our herd at one time was by Lester, he was the greatest type bull we have ever used with a high milk flow of 9151 lts to Lesters Petunia. Berretta, Sambo, Taranak, Astound, , Jace . Augustus and Flowerpower are other bulls to make their mark in recent years.
Current sires with include Bosgannon, Action, Parade, ,BW Carrier ,Valerian Blackstone,Spiritual and T Bone.
Cow families of note include from USA Babes and Vicky (Valerian family) From NZ comes Doris, Silky, Olivia, Megan and Vera who descend from Heatherlea Oxford Vera (highest priced import in her time).Other families of note include Melys (our first 7000 lt cow Dreaming Melys born in 1982), Gay’s, Sybil, Ilagay, Eieleen and Lady’s who descend from Mt. Elliot Golden Lady 84 91pts EX and Vanessa.
We face the future confident that the jersey cow will be able to adapt to the circumstances that face her. We have a ongoing flush program continuing here with a daughter of BIE Lester’s Bouquet that classified 88 at 2yrs over 7500 lts milk daughters by Jace, Valerian and Parade embryos and pregnancies by Bosgammon (sexed) Action Parade and T-Bone. Members of the Vicky family (Taranak and Kody) are also being flushed with 10 heifer calves (4 Parade sisters) this year and embryos by Bosgammon (sexed) Lester Parade Action and Futurity we are also working with Broadlin Action Vanessa (with T-bone pregnancies) .
We face the future confident that the jersey cow will be able to adapt to the circumstances that face her. We have a ongoing flush program continuing here with a daughter of BIE Lester’s Bouquet that classified 88 at 2yrs over 7500 lts milk daughters by Jace, Valerian and Parade embryos and pregnancies by Bosgammon (sexed) Action Parade and T-Bone. Members of the Vicky family (Taranak and Kody) are also being flushed with 10 heifer calves (4 Parade sisters) this year and embryos by Bosgammon (sexed) Lester Parade Action and Futurity we are also working with Broadlin Action Vanessa (with T-bone pregnancies)
BILL, KAYE & ANDREW COCHRANE
RMB 3450 HANSEN ROAD
LOCKINGTON 3563
03 5486 5474
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