Jersey Milk Becomes More Nutrient Dense in 2025

The American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) reports new records for all measures of actual production for Registered Jerseys in 2025. New records were also reached for standardized fat, protein and cheese yield in 2025. Standardized milk decreased slightly.

The official lactation average is now 20,711 lbs. milk, 1,059 lbs. fat and 788 lbs. protein on a mature equivalent (m.e.) basis. Components tests are 5.11% fat and 3.80% protein. On a cheddar cheese yield basis (38% moisture), average production is 2,694 lbs. and cheese yield per hundredweight stands at 13.01 lbs. The average is based on 78,288 lactations, up 666 lactations versus 2024.

As compared to 2024, the new breed average equates to a decrease of 8 lbs. milk and an increase of 6 lbs. fat, 7 lbs. protein and 23 lbs. cheese. Component tests are up 0.03% for fat and 0.03% for protein versus 2024.

Actual production stands at 18,669 lbs. milk, 954 lbs. fat and 707 lbs. protein. Cheese yield is 2,419 lbs. and cheese yield per hundredweight is 12.96 lbs. The marks surpass those of 2024 by 97 lbs. milk, 10 lbs. fat, 10 lbs. protein and 33 lbs. cheese yield.

Expressed as energy-corrected milk (ECM), production is 26,386 lbs. on an m.e. basis and 23,868 lbs. on an actual basis. Versus 2024, respective yields for ECM are up 220 lbs. and 238 lbs.

Based on statistics from the previous 10 years, the breed lactation average is projected to reach 21,725 lbs. milk, 1,125 lbs. fat (5.18%) and 848 lbs. protein (3.90%) by 2035. Cheese yield is projected to be 2,896 lbs. On an actual basis, production is projected to reach 19,849 lbs. milk, 1,029 lbs. fat (5.19%) and 767 lbs. protein (3.87%), with a cheese yield of 2,627 lbs. ECM is projected to be 27,780 lbs. m.e. and 25,346 lbs. actual. Cheese yield per hundredweight is projected to rise to 13.33 lbs. of product on an m.e. basis and 13.24 lbs. on an actual basis. Lactation numbers are projected to drop to 59,255.

In the annual breed production summary released by the AJCA, production is included from cows enrolled on 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.