Introduction
The world economic crisis has
had a major effect on the dairy industry in Africa as with all other regions
of the WJCB. Luckily there are some positive factors emerging from this
worldwide catastrophe. The Jersey’s ability to produce milk more
economically, and especially from pastures rather than expensive bought in
rations, has resulted in a dramatic increase in Jersey numbers over recent
years across the region. Countries in the Africa with established
Jersey populations have a proven track record in the region and now the
Jersey has become the cow of choice.
South Africa
At the top of the list of Jersey countries is South Africa, with the worlds’
forth largest registered Jersey population of 90,787 registered and
approximately 100,000 grade Jerseys. Over the last year the Jersey has
surpassed the Holstein with total number of registered cows as well as with
total number of cows on milk recording. Total Jersey semen sales have
increased from 270,000 in 2007 to 320,000 in 2008. Animals are exported all
over Africa with the main destinations being Mozambique, Botswana, Rwanda,
Ghana, Swaziland, Tanzania and the Kingdom of Lesotho.
Kenya
Kenya is also one of the established Jersey countries in Africa, with a long
history of Jersey breeding. Annually 3,700 animals are milk recorded by 17
Jersey breeders. There are approximately 10-15,000 grade Jerseys in Kenya
and exports were completed to Zanzibar, Uganda and Tanzania.
Mozambique
Mozambique is a new Jersey country and with a number of Zimbabwe farmers
that moved across the border it should soon establish itself as a growing
Jersey population. Land-o-Lakes is busy with a similar project to the
extremely successful one in Zambia and the cow of choice is the Jersey with
400 on order from South Africa.
Zambia
David Harvey reports from Zambia that the Jersey is the animal of choice for
most dairy farmers. There are approximately 3,000 purebred and 2,000 Jersey
crosses in milk, with about 1,000 inseminations undertaken in 2008 using
Jersey semen on other breeds.
Tanzania
Tanzania is another country moving forward fast with Jersey numbers.
Approximately 1,000 purebred Jerseys are in milk and the A.I. station has
young Jersey bulls from South Africa and Kenya and is selling approximately
10,000 straws of Jersey semen per annum.
Rwanda, Uganda & Ghana
Rwanda are still going strong on their very successful Heifer Project
International, with Uganda also trying to get a similar project with Jerseys
going. Also Ghana made its first successful importation of Jerseys.
Conclusion
The Jersey in Africa is at an
extremely interesting growing phase and by controlling the quality of
animals sent into this new and exciting area, we the Jersey breeders of the
world are opening new opportunities to market our products as well as
proving to dairy farmers around the world that we have the best adapted
dairy breed for these challenging circumstances.
One of
the biggest challenges is to get contacts in these new Jersey countries and
to keep these contacts going. The benefits of our long term involvement in
Africa are starting to pay off and over the next few years we should see an
explosion in Jersey numbers all over Africa.
Respectfully submitted,
Johannes van Eeden
Vice President for Africa
(June 2009)
