The Jersey Breed. Ready for What Is Coming Next.
Excerpts from AJCA President Alan Chittenden’s comments to the membership meeting of the American Jersey Cattle Association on June 20, 2026, in Springfield, Mo.
The Jersey breed is ready for what’s coming next, and that’s really the approach the Board has been taking as well. We are focused on being prepared for the future. As we all know, the dairy industry continues to face challenges. The industry is shrinking in many areas, affecting not just Jerseys but all breeds, breed associations, and dairy organizations. There are challenges ahead, and we’re working to be ready for whatever comes next.
Financially, the year turned out to be much stronger than we expected. When we’re putting budgets together, there’s always some nervousness about how everything will work out, but once again, we finished the year in a positive position. Investments and the All American both had strong years. I’m also pleased to report that through the first five months of 2026, we’re still in the black. That’s always a good feeling.
Performance was down slightly, but not nearly as much as we saw during some of the more dramatic changes of the past few years. Registrations have generally leveled off, and program enrollment has done much the same. There are some encouraging signs, however. Looking at our numbers just the other day, I realized that for the first time in quite a while, we actually saw enrollment increase during the first half of the year. We were able to bring several larger herds back into our programs, which helped offset some of the herds we’ve lost. That’s a positive sign, and we’re encouraged by it.
Communication Efforts
Many of you have probably noticed changes in our communications efforts over the past year. One project we’ve been working on for quite some time was the new USJersey website. We’re happy to have that up and running, and I think most people would agree it’s a significant improvement. We’re making good progress there and are proud of what’s been accomplished.
You’ve also seen the continued growth of the digital Jersey Journal and now the USJerseyJournal Wire. There’s been plenty of discussion about the role of each of those communication tools, but the numbers are encouraging. The most recent “Wire” was sent to more than 10,000 email addresses, and 44% of those recipients opened it. That means more than 4,000 people engaged with the publication. By comparison, the digital Jersey Journal was reaching roughly 500 readers. For advertisers and members alike, that represents a tremendous increase in reach, and we expect that audience to continue growing.
Our Cow and Her Value
The Board has also spent time discussing some of the challenges facing both the Jersey breed and the dairy industry. There has been a lot of discussion lately about the gains some competing breeds have made. At the same time, some commercial dairy producers are asking whether Jerseys are still the right cow for their operations. We continue to believe strongly in the value of the Jersey cow. Part of what’s driving these conversations is the strong value of beef-cross calves and slaughter cattle. From a glass-half-full perspective, producers can only capitalize on those advantages if they reduce replacement inventories. That may create opportunities for Jersey breeders to help meet the needs of a declining national heifer inventory. It’s also encouraging to see heifer prices remain at historically high levels. That creates opportunities for profitability while helping support registrations and breed growth.
Another challenge is the industry’s current focus on butterfat production. Butterfat remains important, but we also need to keep emphasizing protein. John Metzger has consistently encouraged us to stay focused on increasing production and protein performance, and we continue to hear that protein is where the opportunities lie. The Board remains focused on keeping that in mind as we move forward.
If other breeds are trying to move their cattle closer to what Jerseys already offer, then we need to continue emphasizing our advantages. Efficiency remains one of the Jersey breed’s greatest strengths. We may need more research and more data to help demonstrate those advantages, whether it’s feed efficiency, production efficiency, methane emissions, carbon footprint, or overall sustainability. Those are discussions the Board has been having as we consider what steps we can take in the future.
Leadership Transition
The biggest topic we’ve dealt with over the past year, however, has been leadership transition. A year ago, we faced the need to replace more than 80 years of combined experience within the organization. That was a significant challenge.
The Executive Committee spent a great deal of time talking with people, evaluating options, and considering what the future might look like. Fortunately, we found an outstanding candidate from within the organization. We all knew Kristin was there; it just took a little convincing for her to see she was the right person for the position. There was a great sense of relief when she agreed to take on the role because it will help tremendously with the transition ahead and with preserving the expertise we would otherwise be losing.
Of course, one of the first things Kristin told us was that she wasn’t moving to Ohio. As a result, one of our major projects right now is determining how we restructure the office and how everything will work moving forward. I’m happy to say we have a very experienced team working through those questions, along with Kristin’s knowledge and leadership. There will be changes ahead. For members, some things may look a little different when you call the office, but we’re working through those details and have the next few months to get everything in place.
As for me, I’ve decided there are people much more qualified than I am to figure out exactly how that should look. I’ve told them I’m happy to help whenever they need assistance, but they’re doing an excellent job handling what comes next.
Thank you.
