South Carolina Meeting 2019
Members of the South Carolina Jersey Cattle Association (SCJCA) met for their annual meeting on February 23, 2019, at the Piedmont Technical Center in Newberry. They heard from industry guests and honored achievements of their peers.Dr. Boyd Parr, Newberry, the state’s veterinarian, brought the group up to date on Clemson’s Public Service and Agriculture program. Dr. Kristine Vernon is the university’s interim department chair for the Animal and Veterinary Sciences department and Dr. Paula Agudelo has been named associate dean for research and development.
He also talked about the Mid-Atlantic Secure Milk Supply program, noting the biosecurity concept termed “line of separation” will be discussed at the Southern Animal Health Association meeting in Greeneville, S.C., in June. He also reported that Charlie Kelly has been appointed as a traceability inspector for livestock and poultry.
Rick Doran, chief for the agriculture division of the South Carolina Department of Corrections, gave an informative presentation on the corrections department’s farms program and products produced. The prison system’s dairy at the Wateree River Correctional Institution in Rembert is among the state’s largest, with capacity to milk 500 cows.
Milk cooperative updates were presented by Glen Easter, Laurens, who spoke about Dairy Farmers of America, and Kevin Satterwhite, who talked about Maryland Virginia Milk Producers Dairy Cooperative.
Tina Horn, secretary for the SCJCA, reported that a dozen heifers were requested by juniors for this year’s South Carolina Youth Dairy Heifer Project. Juniors receive a heifer in a lottery system that matches them to a donated calf in April, then sell her as a bred heifer 18 months later in a consignment sale. Now in its 45th year, the project gives non-farm youth opportunity to care for animals and learn about the dairy industry.
Erica Davis, area representative for the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc., talked about activities of the national Jersey organizations and highlighted performance for key programs in 2018.
Amanda Lutz, Chester, chair of the SCJCA youth and scholarship committee, told the group juniors helped to sponsor a dairy judging workshop in January that was attended by more than 100 young people from four states. They were also active with a display at the state fair and a showing clinic at the spring show.
Officers elected to serve the organization in 2019 included: Emily Waggoner, Pendleton, president; Marilyn Easter, Laurens, vice president; Tina Horn, secretary; and Mike Loveless, Newberry, treasurer. Glen Easter, Marilyn Easter and L.D. Peeler, Starr, were elected to serve two-year terms as directors.
Awards
Youth achievement, genetic and production awards based on m.e. milk production were also presented in an awards ceremony.
Eliza Terry, Fountain Inn, was named winner of the junior youth achievement contest.
Hobbs Lutz, Chester, placed second in the youth achievement contest and earned top laurels in the youth production contest with SAR Irwin Dolly. The Excellent-91% daughter of All Lynns Valentino Irwin-ET, GJPI +63, made a 4-4 record with an m.e. of 30,263 lbs. milk to win the contest. Actual production is 27,350 lbs. milk, 1,212 lbs. fat and 954 lbs. protein (3x milking). Lutz also earned the certificate for high-producing cow 48-59 months-of-age in the senior production contest with “Dolly.”
Clemson University was announced as the state’s high-producing Jersey herd, with a 2018 herd average of 19,404 lbs. milk, 922 lbs. fat and 723 lbs. protein on 54 cows. The dairy earned the award for largest increase in milk production as well, with an increase of 1,807 lbs. for 2018 versus 2017. Clemson received the genetic merit award, with a herd average JPI of +65 (December 2018) and earned the certificate for high genomic female, Clemson Disco 602-801, GJPI +151 (June 2018), as well.
Will Do Jerseys, operated by the Ettinger family of Kinards, received three certificates for individual cow production and one for genetic merit. Will Do Renegade Flo was the high cow under 24 months-of-age, with a 1-11 record with an m.e. of 26,075 lbs. milk. Will Do Archer Easter, Very Good-88%, topped her peers 24-29 months-of-age with a 2-0 record with an m.e. of 27,760 lbs. milk.
Will Do Jace Healer won the lifetime production contest for the third consecutive year. In 11 lactations and 3,729 days, the Excellent-95% daughter of Windy Willow Montana Jace {6}, GJPI +32, produced 252,868 lbs. milk. The 14-year-old has eight lactations over 20,000 lbs. milk and a best record of 9-3 305 25,050 4.4% 1,106 3.7% 922 97DCR.
Will Do Jerseys received the award for the state’s high female for traditional genetic merit, Will Do Chrome Elbert, JPI +139 (April 2019).
Glen and Marilyn Easter took home a pair of production certificates for their herd, Eastglen Farms. Eastglen Solo Snow Drop-Twin, Very Good-82%, was the high-producing cow 42-47 months-of-age. She made a 3-9 record with an m.e. of 25,893 lbs. milk. Eastglen Ballard Diet Pepsi, Excellent-93%, led matriarchs 60-month-of-age or older with a 5-9 record with an m.e. of 30,413 lbs. milk.
Emily Waggoner won a production award with Waggoner Topeka Pecan, Very Good-87%. She produced a 2-0 record with an m.e. of 30,622 lbs. milk to lead her peers 30-35 months-of-age.
The final certificate for individual cow production was awarded to Her-Man Jerseys, owned and operated by Amanda and Herby Lutz and their son, Hobbs. Seacord Farm Irwin Vivian, Very Good-88%, made a 3-0 record with an m.e. of 29,662 lbs. milk to earn the top prize among cows 36-41 months-of-age.