Environment Benefit of Milk from Jerseys
Jersey milk leads to a hugely significant reduction in water use and greenhouse gas emissions, it was claimed at a South West conference.
Speaking at the Creating our Golden Future conference, organised by the UK Jerseys Cattle Society and held at the Royal Bath & West of England showground at Shepton Mallet, Dr Jude Capper, of Washington State University, reported on her research which compared Jersey and Holstein milk in the USA.
The conclusions showed that the smaller Jersey, at 450kg live-weight, requires far lower nutritional inputs and leaves less waste than their larger Holstein counterparts, which weigh an average of 680kg.
The Jersey's natural ability to convert feed more efficiently, and produce milk that is highly concentrated with protein and butterfat, results in only 68 per cent of the water requirement while emitting only 80 per cent of the greenhouse gas.
The conference, supported by Duchy College funding, was attended by representatives from 12 milk processors as well as Jersey breeders and other commercial farmers with an interest in improving their farms' use of resources.
Building on the US research, UK Jerseys has commissioned research at Reading University to glean a better understanding of the different properties between the two sources of milk. This is being supported by three Westcountry organisations - the Royal Bath & West of England Association, the Dartington Cattle Breeding Trust, and the Pocock Family Memorial Trust, as well as receiving practical assistance from cheddar makers, Alvis Brothers. The audience was given an overview of how this research, which commenced in early January, will be conducted.
Three additional presentations looked into consumer expectations, and ways to fulfil them.
DairyCo board member, Kevin Beaty, described how he set off on his Nuffield Scholarship as an organic herd owner, and returned to set-up a Jersey herd supplying Gold Top milk, cream and butter across the country. The move brought him closer to consumers, rather than just sending his milk off to the factory along with any other in the tanker. "The factor most important to retaining consumer support is trust," explained Mr Beaty. "Equally, farmers need to provide what the consumer pays for, constantly, or that same trust can be broken down slowly over time. Provenance of the product, animal welfare and showing a concern for the environment are all ways in which farmers must constantly provide their customers' wishes." The important role which Jersey milk can play in helping an ageing population enjoy a fit and healthy retirement was identified by Sandy Wilkie, marketing director for Bridgwater-based Robert Wiseman Dairies.
Mr Wilkie talked about the essential need to maintain the appropriate balance between nutrients and minerals in the diet. Jersey milk has a higher content of protein, fats and calcium - all of increasing importance as people get older, he said.
