Historically, Jersey cattle were (and still are) small sized cattle. The original cows were roughly 46 inches tall and weighed around 7-900 pounds; the modern day standard Jersey weighs around 1000 pounds and stands roughly 50-55 inches tall. Comparatively, Dexter cows are 34-46 inches tall and Holstein are 60-65 inches tall. Miniature Jerseys are 42 inches or under when measured at the Hook Bone at 3 years of age, Midsize Jersey from 42-46 inches (AMJA Registry) or 42-48 inches (IMCB Registry) at 3 years of age and Standard from 46-48 inches to 55 inches at 3 years of age. Cattle are measured for mature height at 36 months of age as that is typically when the upward growth stops; although a broadening and thickening may still happen for another year or two.
There are two schools of thought with regard to measuring the height of cattle; one is wither (shoulder) height and one is hook height. For the sake of argument, my cows are all measured over the hook (like the majority of cattle breeds are) after they turn three years of age. All my smaller sized Jersey cattle measure 48" and under at the hook.
Miniature Jersey cattle are extremely rare in Canada with population estimates of less than 60 breeding aged females and 10 mature breeding bulls. I know of only 1 breeder in BC, 2 in Alberta and in Saskatchewan there is only myself and one other that I am aware of! There is unverified rumors of a breeder in Ontario as well, but at this point it is only a rumor! Most of us have no more than 6 registered Miniature Jersey cows and only one or two mature bulls in our herds! As a result, herds grow slowly and availability of quality, breeding aged females is scarce as we try to build our own herds and work toward increasing the population. To say that breeding quality females are at a premium would be a great understatement.
I wanted Miniature Jersey cattle as they are a bit more hardy than standard Jersey and they also have lower impact on infrastructure and resources due to their smaller size; however, they are very costly to purchase and import. My desire to own and raise Miniature Jersey, and due to the lack of availability here in Canada, took me down the cross breeding road; utilizing the best of both males and females of the Jersey and Dexter cattle I owned. Make no mistake, the basis of my current herd *IS* a mix of Jersey and Dexter genetics and the very best offspring they have produced are currently working within my herd to produce more of the same type, structure, hardiness and work ethics.
Summer of 2018 began a new chapter of my small and hardy Jersey breeding program with the introduction of my very first registered, pure Miniature Jersey bull; with the who's who of Mini Jersey breeding stacking up his pedigree and the purchase of my first ever registered Miniature Jersey cow (currently being bred to a bull unrelated to my own).
Sadly, it will be quite some time before I have any milking, high percentage purity females on offer; however, we are hoping to speed things along by flushing some high quality, reputation bred, small standard Jerseys to some exceptional Miniature Jersey semen in early 2019. Breeding down the size and breeding up to purity takes time; 10 generations in fact or roughly 20 YEARS for 99.9% purity! With each successive generation, using Miniature Jersey bulls, we will see the height drop 1-2 inches in each generation as well.
Just for fun, here is how a Breeding Up Program works toward Purity using non pure females bred to Purebred Miniature Jersey bulls and breeding each successive generation of females to only Purebred Miniature Jersey bulls:
1st generation calf 50.00% pure
2nd generation calf 75.00% pure
3rd generation calf 87.50% pure
4th generation calf 93.75% pure
5th generation calf 96.88% pure
6th generation calf 98.5% pure
7th generation calf 99.2% pure
8th generation calf 99.6% pure
9th generation calf 99.8% pure
10th generation calf 99.9% pure ...20 years of dedication and commitment!
There are two schools of thought with regard to measuring the height of cattle; one is wither (shoulder) height and one is hook height. For the sake of argument, my cows are all measured over the hook (like the majority of cattle breeds are) after they turn three years of age. All my smaller sized Jersey cattle measure 48" and under at the hook.
Miniature Jersey cattle are extremely rare in Canada with population estimates of less than 60 breeding aged females and 10 mature breeding bulls. I know of only 1 breeder in BC, 2 in Alberta and in Saskatchewan there is only myself and one other that I am aware of! There is unverified rumors of a breeder in Ontario as well, but at this point it is only a rumor! Most of us have no more than 6 registered Miniature Jersey cows and only one or two mature bulls in our herds! As a result, herds grow slowly and availability of quality, breeding aged females is scarce as we try to build our own herds and work toward increasing the population. To say that breeding quality females are at a premium would be a great understatement.
I wanted Miniature Jersey cattle as they are a bit more hardy than standard Jersey and they also have lower impact on infrastructure and resources due to their smaller size; however, they are very costly to purchase and import. My desire to own and raise Miniature Jersey, and due to the lack of availability here in Canada, took me down the cross breeding road; utilizing the best of both males and females of the Jersey and Dexter cattle I owned. Make no mistake, the basis of my current herd *IS* a mix of Jersey and Dexter genetics and the very best offspring they have produced are currently working within my herd to produce more of the same type, structure, hardiness and work ethics.
Summer of 2018 began a new chapter of my small and hardy Jersey breeding program with the introduction of my very first registered, pure Miniature Jersey bull; with the who's who of Mini Jersey breeding stacking up his pedigree and the purchase of my first ever registered Miniature Jersey cow (currently being bred to a bull unrelated to my own).
Sadly, it will be quite some time before I have any milking, high percentage purity females on offer; however, we are hoping to speed things along by flushing some high quality, reputation bred, small standard Jerseys to some exceptional Miniature Jersey semen in early 2019. Breeding down the size and breeding up to purity takes time; 10 generations in fact or roughly 20 YEARS for 99.9% purity! With each successive generation, using Miniature Jersey bulls, we will see the height drop 1-2 inches in each generation as well.
Just for fun, here is how a Breeding Up Program works toward Purity using non pure females bred to Purebred Miniature Jersey bulls and breeding each successive generation of females to only Purebred Miniature Jersey bulls:
1st generation calf 50.00% pure
2nd generation calf 75.00% pure
3rd generation calf 87.50% pure
4th generation calf 93.75% pure
5th generation calf 96.88% pure
6th generation calf 98.5% pure
7th generation calf 99.2% pure
8th generation calf 99.6% pure
9th generation calf 99.8% pure
10th generation calf 99.9% pure ...20 years of dedication and commitment!
