The Jersey is the most efficient of the dairy breeds that produce milk in this country. The small brown cow, she has roots to the Island of Jersey.
Iowa is home to some of the country's leading Registered Jersey herds, including the top herd for Jersey Performance Index (JPI): the 279-cow herd owned by Trans-Ova Genetics of Sioux Center. The fully-genotyped herd has a herd average JPI of +100 after the December 2019 genetic evaluations. Rock Bottom Dairy of Alvord ranks #29 in the country with a herd average JPI of +85 on 529 cows.
The top protein-producing Jersey herd in the nation hails from Iowa as well. The 198-cow dairy owned by John and Edwin Maxwell of Donahue has a 2018 lactation average of 26,523M, 1,252F and 1,003P. Actual production is 23,513M, 1,124F and 892P.
Doug Fairbanks, Anamosa, ranks third in the country for fat, sixth for milk and seventh for protein, with an actual 2018 average of 21,905M, 1,184F and 805P on 67 cows. David and Donna Kunde, Manchester, rank 10th for actual milk production with a herd average of 20,768M, 998F and 731P on 191 cows.
A Jersey matriarch from Iowa has also earned laurels in the 2018 Leading Living Lifetime Production Contest. Summetz Stephen Fence Fanny, Excellent-94%, owned by Summit Farm Inc., Lester, placed fifth for milk, seventh for fat and sixth for protein with 267,703M, 11,800F and 9,531P in 4,571 days.
Several other Jersey cows have placed well in show rings across the country. A few of the standouts are shown below.
Cinnamon Ridge Nitro Noble-ET
Very Good-87%
4-03 305 34,600 3.9% 1,360 3.6% 1,232
Nation's 4th high milk and fat records, 2019
Owned by Amy Maxwell, Cinnamon Ridge Jerseys, Donahue
Cinnamon Ridge Nitro Peppermint-ET
Very Good-87%
4-02 305 33,800 4.5% 1,529 3.6% 1,210
4,123 Cheese Yield
Nation's 5th high milk and 7th high protein and cheese yield records, 2019
Owned by Allison and Emily Maxwell, Cinnamon Ridge Jerseys, Donahue
Lyon Ajack Bay
2018 All American Premier Performance Cow
2018 Reserve All American Senior Three-Year-Old
2017 Reserve All American Senior Two-Year-Old
Owned by Glamourview-Iager and Walton, Walkersville, MD
Bred by Lyon Jerseys, Toledo, IA
Schulte Bros Tequila Shot
Grand Champion, New York Spring Carousel, 2018
All-Canadian Senior Three-Year-Old, 2016
All-Canadian Four-Year-Old, 2017
Owned by Budjon Farms, Peter Vail and David Jordan, Lomira, WI
Bred by Schulte Brothers, Blairstown, IA
Schulte Bros Teq Euphoria-ET
2016 Reserve All American Junior Calf
Owned by Schulte Brothers, Blairstown, IA
Lyon Duke Dutchy
2013 Junior All American Aged Cow
Owned by Ben Sauder, Tremont, IL
Bred by Lyon Jerseys, Toledo, IA
Gadget Jade of Edgebrook
Overall Premier Performance Cow, All American Jersey Show and All American Junior Jersey Show, 2010
Owned by Tera Koebel, Three Oaks, MI
Bred by Patty Dilly, Montour, IA
Fredestel Laser P Nelly Bly
2010 Reserve Junior All American Aged Cow
Owned by Andy Sauder, Tremont, IL
Bred by Mark Metzger, Larchwood, IA