Local producers part of international tour

FOUR prominent Western Victorian Jersey breeders will open their herds to international visitors this month as part of a world tour.

Master breeder Murray Brook Jerseys, Australia’s number one genetics merit herd White Star Jerseys, Warrion Jerseys and Dornoch Jerseys will be visited as part of the 2025 World Jersey Conference on April 10-13.

Jersey Australia general manager Glen Barrett said South West Victoria was home to some of the best Jersey herds in the country.

“I think everyone will be impressed by what they see on local farms,” Mr Barrett said.

Paul and Lynette Lenehan established Murray Brook Jerseys near Koroit in 2000, building on Paul’s 35 years of breeding experience and his dedication to big, balanced cows with strong production.

The farm has achieved platinum awards every year since they were introduced and before that always managed gold, and the cows produce more than 7000 litres with 620-640 kg/Ms.

Murray Brook Jerseys also contributes bulls to the A.I system, including Jamieo currently the number two proven bull in Australia, Mo Tie, Bosa Khan, Motown and this year Sheehan was added to the catalogues.

Con and Michelle Glennen’s White Star Jerseys at Noorat is a highly productive commercial herd that sits number one in the country for Balanced Performance Index, Health Weighted Index, Sustainability Index and Australian Selection Index.

In the December 2024 ABV release, White Star Jerseys led the breed with a BPI of 270 and a SI of 577.

“Australian Jerseys are world class and it’s time the world saw more of them,” Mr Glennen said.

Lyn Parish’s Dornoch Jerseys has been rapidly rising through the BPI ranks over the past decade, peaking at number five on the latest list and Lyn believes she can go even higher.

Visitors to the Parish family’s Winchelsea farm nestled against the Otway National Park will see a herd that is constantly on the improve.

In the December BPIs release, Dornoch achieved a 214 BPI score but preliminary tests indicate that it might go higher next time around.

The Parish family’s Jersey herd dates back to the late 1960s when Ernie and Jean Parish invested in stud heifers.

Sarah Chant’s Warrion Jerseys is nestled at the foot of Warrion Hill, just north of Colac.

The stud was founded in 1972 by Sarah’s grandparents, then managed by her parents for 25 years before being passed to her in 2017. The farm spans 600 acres, milking 260 cows in a split calving pattern and has emphasised building strong cows with udders that are a pleasure to milk.

While in the region, national and international visitors will also tour Genetics Australia’s Total Livestock Genetics bull collection facility at Camperdown and attend a sponsor’s expo and high-performance cow display at the Noorat showgrounds. They will also get to visit Warrnambool and the Great Ocean Road.

Jersey Australia is hosting the World Jersey Conference for the first time since 2011 and the three-week event is attracting visitors from United States, Canada, New Zealand, Germany, Jersey Islands, South Africa and Colombia.

The tour starts in Melbourne on April 6 and finishes in Sydney on April 22 and will take visitors across the Gippsland, South West and northern regions of Victoria and the New South Wales south coast.