Jersey Breed Reaches New Levels of Production in 2024

Levels for all measures of Registered Jersey production reached new levels in 2024. Statistics released by the American Jersey Cattle Association show Registered Jerseys are now producing more milk, fat, protein and cheese than ever. The nutrient density of that milk is greater too, with record-high tests for both fat and protein in 2024.

The official lactation average is now 20,719 lbs. milk, 1,053 lbs. fat and 781 lbs. protein on a standardized mature equivalent (m.e.) basis. Component tests are 5.08% fat and 3.77% protein. On a Cheddar cheese yield basis (38% moisture), the average production is 2,671 lbs. and cheese yield per hundredweight stands at 12.89 lbs. The 2024 average is based on 77,622 lactations. The average number of lactations per cow in the breed average stands at 2.44, up from 2.36 in 2023.

As compared to 2023, the new breed average equates to an extra 9 lbs. milk, 15 lbs. fat, 3 lbs. protein and 14 lbs. cheese. Component tests are up 0.07% for fat and 0.01% for protein versus 2023.

Actual production is at record levels too, at 18,572 lbs. milk, 944 lbs. fat and 697 lbs. protein. Cheese yield is 2,386 lbs. and cheese yield per hundredweight is 12.85 lbs. The marks surpass those of 2023 by 170 lbs. milk, 21 lbs. fat, 8 lbs. protein and 32 lbs. cheese yield.

Expressed as energy-corrected milk (ECM), production is 26,386 lbs. on an m.e. basis and 23,630 lbs. on an actual basis. Versus 2023, respective yields for ECM are up 220 lbs. and 389 lbs.

Based on statistics from the previous 10 years, the breed lactation average is projected to reach 21,328 lbs. milk, 1,093 lbs. fat (5.12%) and 817 lbs. protein (3.83%) by 2030. Cheese yield is projected to be 2,792 lbs. On an actual basis, production is projected to reach 19,280 lbs. milk, 989 lbs. fat (5.13%) and 733 lbs. protein (3.8%), with a cheese yield of 2,511 lbs. ECM is projected to be 27,375 lbs. m.e. and 24,724 lbs. actual. Cheese yield per hundredweight is projected to rise to 13.09 lbs. of product on an m.e. basis and 13.02 lbs. on an actual basis. Lactation numbers are projected to drop to 66,202.

In the annual breed production summary released by the American Jersey Cattle Association, production is included from cows enrolled on AJCA performance programs (REAP, TPE and Performance Records) with a registry minimum of Generation Count 4. Records included in the average are between 180-305 days in length and have data collection ratings of 85 or higher. Herds identified in the Jersey Journal rankings have a minimum of 10 cows.