General News
7 June, 2024
Crossley farmers join Master Breeders
CROSSLEY farmers Paul and Lynette Lenehan have been added to the Jersey Australia ‘Master Breeder’ honour board.
The Lenehan’s joined Geoff and Anne Heazelwood from Latrobe in north-west Tasmania as the latest farmers to be added to the board.
Paul and Lynette, from Murray Brook Jerseys in Crossley, were rewarded for their commitment to developing good cows.
Murray Brook Jerseys was founded in 2000, with Paul building on a strong herd started decades earlier by his father Patrick.
Although his son Adam now manages most parts of the farm business, Paul keeps the reins of the breeding program and remains committed and passionate about developing good cows.
His breeding goals haven’t changed much over time.
“I’ve always wanted a big-bodied cow with capacity to eat a lot of feed and produce a lot of milk and she had to have a good udder to carry that and to last in the herd for a long time,” Paul said.
Murray Brook cows have the Great Southern Challenge and has produced four cows classified as Excellent 93.
“I’ve always been a commercial breeder and this recognition is very much appreciated,” Mr Lenehan said.
Murray Brook has bred one jersey elite bull, 40 jersey elite production cows and two jersey elite brood cows.
The Master Breeder awards were introduced last year to recognise breeding excellence over the past 20 years and the commitment of farmers to the breed.
Jersey Australia general manager Glen Barrett said the Master Breeder award requires breeders to have been a member of Jersey Australia for at least 20 years.
Eligible breeders must also register 25 animals a year on average across those 20 years, along with producing elite brood, type and production cows and elite bulls.
