In 1997 there were probably 7000 recorded

Please click on comments (1) at the bottom of the page to read more comments

 

In 1997 there were probably 7000 recorded Guernseys as compared with approx 4500 recorded cows today. I have the 97 Herd book in the attic but don’t know if I am fit enough to climb the ladder anymore. I think we need ann award for those cows that are now producing more than 50,000 kilos lifetime, other breeds have awards for 60,000kgs, 80,000kgs and 100,000kgs. I did find a pair of cows that had given more than 90,000kgs, they were dam and daughter and had both had 15 calves. I believe the famous Shiwa Cherqui’s Doris gave over 200,000 lbs of milk, but she was no beauty at the end of her life. I agree about management being the key to fertility, the much vaunted Fertility Indexes that were published last year give a range of Plus or Minus 7 days for Calving Interval and as you would expect it is the lower yeilding daughters who have the better calving intervals.