The Future of Jersey Genetics: How Select Sires and Jerseyland Sires Are Shaping the Modern Jersey Cow
In this episode of The Select Sires Podcast, Host Ethan Haywood sits down with Herby Lutz, Jersey Development Manager at Select Sires, Inc., and Tyler Boyd, General Manager of Jerseyland Sires, for an in-depth conversation on Jersey genetics, sire development, and the collaborative partnership driving progress in the Jersey breed.
With decades of combined experience in breeding, herd management, and genetic marketing, Lutz and Boyd offer a behind-the-scenes look at how modern Jersey genetics are developed, from genomic selection to proven sires, and how those decisions directly impact profitability for today’s dairy producers.
A Legacy of Jersey Genetic Progress
The conversation begins with the history of Jerseyland Sires, founded in 1980 by California Jersey breeders seeking access to elite genetics from the Northeast. That effort led to the discovery of influential sires such as 7JE177 DUNCAN, one of the most impactful Jersey sires in breed history and the starting point of a long-standing relationship with Select Sires.
That early collaboration evolved into the current partnership between Select Sires and Jerseyland Sires, now more than a decade strong. Both organizations share a commitment to transparency, data-driven decision-making, and breeder involvement, ensuring Jersey genetics continue to advance in a sustainable and profitable direction.
How Jersey Sires Are Selected Today
Lutz and Boyd explain that Jersey sire selection is driven by both genetic indexes and real-world performance. Select Sires emphasizes HHP$® (Herd Health Profit Dollars®
) while Jerseyland Sires places additional focus on JPI™, creating complementary approaches that strengthen the overall lineup.
Key traits considered in today’s Jersey sire development include:
Protein yield
Fertility traits such as DPR, HCR, and CCR
Mastitis resistance and udder health
Productive Life and longevity
Calf wellness and survivability
Functional Type and structural soundness
Both organizations stress the importance of maintaining genetic diversity and controlling inbreeding while continuing to push the breed forward.
Fertility Testing and Progeny-Proven Confidence
A major advantage of the partnership is its emphasis on sexed semen fertility testing and progeny testing. Jerseyland Sires member herds and Select Sires partner herds play a critical role in rapidly evaluating young sires under commercial conditions.
Rather than relying solely on genomic predictions, sires must prove themselves through:
Early fertility testing with sexed semen
Large-scale field use in Jerseyland member herds
Daughter performance and reliability over time
This approach provides producers with greater confidence that the sires they use will deliver consistent results, especially in a breed where population size can lead to greater proof movement.
Health, Calf Wellness, and the Next Generation
Looking ahead, the episode emphasizes emerging priorities such as calf wellness traits, mastitis resistance, and continued fertility improvement. By leveraging both Zoetis and CDCB data, the programs aim to develop cows that require fewer treatments, stay out of hospital pens, and perform efficiently across multiple lactations.
Defining the Modern Jersey Cow of the Future
Lutz and Boyd conclude by describing a shared vision for the modern Jersey cow:
Efficient, profitable, and long-lived
Fertile with efficient reproductive performance
Capable of high component production
Healthy, resilient, and low-maintenance
Balanced in type with functional udders and mobility
Rather than reinventing the Jersey cow, the goal is to elevate the breed’s strengths while adapting to modern production systems around the world.
Advancing Jersey Genetics Through Collaboration
This episode highlights how collaboration between Select Sires, Jerseyland Sires, and progressive dairy producers continues to shape the future of Jersey genetics. By combining genomics, proven performance, fertility testing, and real-world feedback, the partnership is building cows that work for today’s herds and tomorrow’s dairy industry.