Jersey Australia’s new president is coming into the job with serious ambition — she wants to make the Jersey Australia’s top breed.
Over the past decade Jerseys have risen from 11 per cent to 15 per cent of the national herd, and Lisa Broad believes the breed’s population will only continue to grow as farmers understand their profitability better.
“Jerseys keep proving themselves as the most profitable cows and as an organisation we have to find ways to educate the industry about this,” Mrs Broad said.
“The general dairy farmer wants a profit at the end of the day, and if the Jersey cow can provide the biggest profit margin, we all need to get on and milk her.”
Mrs Broad farms with her husband Lynton and son Garvin in Wonthaggi, Gippsland but previously spent 28 years living and farming in northern Victoria.
She joined the Jersey Australia board shortly after its inception in 2008 and is now going down in Jersey history as the first female president of the body.
“It’s definitely a good thing that a woman can take on such a role as we’re only had the door ajar recently for such opportunities, but, to me, what matters is that you can fit the role properly no matter who you are,” she said.
Mrs Broad said Jersey Australia played a vital role in advancing the Jersey breed and would continue to work on research and genetic development.
“There is so much more value in having a registered animal and I’m looking forward to working with fellow board members and building on projects and research.
“The industry has a very positive future with good milk prices and weather conditions — to start with an opening price over $7 is huge for every dairy farmer.”
Mrs Broad replaces Chris MacKenzie as president.
Source: Country News