Jersey farmers and enthusiasts from four continents will converge on Australia in April for the 2025 World Jersey Conference.
Jersey Australia will host the conference for the first time since 2011 and the three-week event is attracting visitors from the 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 NSW south coast.
Jersey Australia general manager Glen Barrett said participants would see some of the best Jersey herds in the world.
“I think everyone will be impressed by the Australian Jersey and the Australian hospitality,” Mr Barrett said.
“Every herd will tell a terrific story.”
The tour will include visits to the top BPI herds, Master Breeder herds and several younger farmers starting to make a mark on the Jersey scene.
It will also include visits to the 63rd annual Central Gippsland Jersey Fair, Ellinbank SmartFarm, Burra Foods, Total Livestock Genetics and Agribio research facility.
Guests can also participate in the annual Jersey Elite Awards, which recognise Master Breeders, Elite Cows and Bulls and announce the Great Australian Challenge winners and the Dairy’s Finest Sale will be on April 14 at Moama.
They will also hear about Jerseys in the South African dairy Industry, a research project by Daviesways on regenerative farming and the advantages offered by Jersey cows, and young scientist Mikayla Crouch, the first recipient of the Australian Dairy Youth Travel Scholarship to study at the University of Dublin as part of her ag science genetics major, will be a presenter.
Mr Barrett said the tour was made possible by the support of premium sponsor Genetics Australia, platinum sponsor Zoetis and many gold, silver and bronze sponsors.
The tour is happening at an opportune time with Jerseys increasing their share of the Australian dairy market over the past decade.
The latest DataGene statistics show Jerseys are continuing a steady rise in popularity.
The Australian national herd data recorded a two per cent increase in the number of Jersey cattle during the past year and an eight per cent in the past decade, rising to a total of about 17.4 per cent.
The World Jersey Cattle Bureau represents Jersey breeders and their organisations around the world.
There are five world regions of the bureau — Africa, Asia/Oceania, Europe, Latin America and North America.
World conferences have been held since 1949.
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