The long-standing legislation has ‘closed’ the herd to imports of Jersey cattle semen from elsewhere.
However, a report presented to members of the Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society last night by an eminent geneticist, Dr Maurice Bichard, recommends that the controls should be revoked.The report reignites the long-standing issue of whether the Island’s herd should remain a closed herd.
This was an issue debated in the States in 1983, and has been discussed periodically since then.In presenting his report – entitled Sustainable Development of the Island’s Dairy Cattle – at an extraordinary meeting of the society, Dr Bichard said: ‘It would be of benefit to Island farmers and their customers if importation of Jersey breed semen (frozen) were permitted, with due attention to the exclusion of disease.’Application should be made to the States to revoke the long-standing prohibition on such imports.
Importation should preferably be under the control of individual herd owners, or failing that, of the RJAHS.’The RJAHS council will now prepare a recommendation from the report on which the members will vote by secret ballot.
The vote will follow a second general meeting on 25 September.
