Recording system for Jersey-influenced animals restructured
More pedigree information and genotyping to enhance Genetic Recovery
A restructuring of the Jersey Expansion identification program, plus amendments to rules for Genetic Recovery, have been announced by the American Jersey Cattle Association.
The revisions, explained AJCA President Chris Sorenson, Pine River, Wis., "will continue to define a clear pathway to registration for producers using these programs to identify their animals and provide information to all Jersey breeders in a reliable way so they can use it to meet their breeding objectives."
Genetic Recovery was created by the association in 1975 to record unregistered but purebred Jersey females and has been adopted by other dairy cattle associations across the world. Jersey Expansion was implemented in 1999 to identify animals with both Jersey and other-breed genetics in their pedigrees, allowing offspring of first-generation females sired by Registered Jersey bulls to be recorded through Genetic Recovery.
AJCA Board action on March 14 separated Jersey Expansion from the Genetic Recovery program retroactive to program implementation January 1, 1999. Under the revised rules, six continuous generations sired by Registered Jersey bulls starting with the first-generation female (J1) will result in an animal eligible for the AJCA Herd Register.
The descendants of J1 females now recorded by the AJCA will be assigned a new prefix according to their status in this recording system and replacement certificates issued to owners. Females will be recorded at all levels (J1 through J6). Males are only eligible at the J4, J5 and J6 levels, and only when the bull and both parents are genotyped.
Modifications to the Genetic Recovery program were termed "slight" by the AJCA president. "Genetic Recovery continues to serve the original intent of bringing purebred but grade Jerseys into the AJCA database," Sorenson said. "The changes made by the Board of Directors make it even stronger by adding another level of pedigree information or applying genomic testing tools. The result will be more complete pedigrees earlier and more accurate genetic evaluations."
These changes, effective March 14, 2015, now require an Original Animal (OA prefix) to have a Herd Register status parent (sire or dam) or else be qualified by genotyping. Males can now be recorded only at the third program level (GR), provided that the bull and both parents are genotyped.
In other action, the directors revisited prior decisions related to OA Oomsdale Gordo Goldie Gratitude 111224922 and descendants. The Board voted to add an identifying label to the name of these animals for six (6) generations, as soon as programming can be completed. "This Board action gives Jersey owners the additional information they requested about extended members of this family," explained Sorenson.
Actions were also taken regarding genetic evaluation reports published in the Jersey Genetic Summary (aka "Green Book") and eligibility of cows for national awards.
Starting with the April 2015 official genetic evaluations, "Green Book" reports for males and elite females will be split into two groups. One will list only animals with Herd Register status (no prefix). The second will combine the eligible animals that are recorded through the Genetic Recovery and Jersey Expansion programs. The cutoff for the female Genetic Recovery-Jersey Expansion lists will be determined by the lowest qualifying Jersey Performance Index (JPI) on the HR list. In addition, a reference list will be generated after each official summary listing A.I. bulls (codes A, F and G) with an ancestor of other-breed origin in their 7-generation pedigree.
Finally, effective March 14, 2015, only HR and GR cows will be eligible for Honor Roll, Hall of Fame, and National Class Leader recognition, and the President's Trophy, Hilmar Cheese Award, Living Lifetime Production Contest and National Jersey Youth Production Contest.
The American Jersey Cattle Association, organized in 1868, compiles and maintains animal identification and performance data on Jersey cattle 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. For more information on the association's complete line of services for dairy business owners, visit the website at www.USJersey.com or connect at Facebook.com/USJersey.
3.25.2015